ridiculous...can someone help

sandeep108 said:

Usually when encrypted files are being copied to external media, windows (or the OS) always asks that doing so would remove the encryption.

If this was true, what would be the point in encrypting them at all? If I got physical access to your computer and copied files off (which would break the encryption)...then they weren't really encrypted.

Ok, well thanks for trying everyone, I appreciate it. I suppose the thing is that confuses me the most is that this wasn't always the case - Go back 3-4 days ago, the pictures were fine, then bam, turned green and gone.

Again I appreciate all the time you guys/gals have put in trying to help me.

I sent a message to a Mac friend of mine, asking for something like Recuva, but for OSX, just as an option.

Thanks, I appreciate that :)

And on to the next wall... As you are aware I am the only "user" on here, and have full administrator rights.

Thought I would try "restoration" on here but am faced with yet another box telling me i need admin rights. Which I clearly have

mikamika said:

Thanks, I appreciate that :)

And on to the next wall... As you are aware I am the only "user" on here, and have full administrator rights.

Thought I would try "restoration" on here but am faced with yet another box telling me i need admin rights. Which I clearly have

Just restart your system and check back !

Have you made a lot of System settings changes which might have borked your User Accounts or OS?

If so you might try System Restoring to your earliest Restore point, or to a System Image you hopefully made after install.

If you keep getting these annoying Admin prompts and suspect it is from a series of random settings changes which can't be reversed, I would consider clean reinstalling. We can help you get a perfect reinstall.

DeaconFrost said:

sandeep108 said:

Usually when encrypted files are being copied to external media, windows (or the OS) always asks that doing so would remove the encryption.

If this was true, what would be the point in encrypting them at all? If I got physical access to your computer and copied files off (which would break the encryption)...then they weren't really encrypted.

You will require to login with your user name/password.

The way default is set up, the files are not encrypted and anybody putting in a simple Linux Live CD can access your files, even if you have put a login user name/p'word or any admin can take ownership and access.

Once you encrypt the files in Windows, even if you get local access (say somebody steals your laptop), nobody can access / copy your encrypted files without you logging in. It is only once you log in and select copy that windows will ask you to break the encryption on the files being copied. And this is only on the target media, your original files remain encrypted. Unless of course you choose 'cut'.

Coming back to the OP's issue, if everything was ok 3-4 days back, then apparently seems to be a case of data corruption as I do not think files would simply get encrypted on their own and that also all reduced to 8kb size. Probably running a chkdsk in this case would help and in no way cause any harm.

sandeep108 said:

Once you encrypt the files in Windows, even if you get local access (say somebody steals your laptop), nobody can access / copy your encrypted files without you logging in. It is only once you log in and select copy that windows will ask you to break the encryption on the files being copied. And this is only on the target media, your original files remain encrypted. Unless of course you choose 'cut'.

That isn't really encryption, then. Encryption involves a key...and without said key, there's no way to unencrypt. It has nothing to do with login of the system. Anyone can take a laptop/desktop and reset a password to allow them to login, gaining access to files. That wouldn't be possible if those files were encrypted.