Cannot move encrypted files to new system.

FascinatingPH · 15 Nov 2016

Hey guys,

I have a unit with a dead motherboard but with other stuff working like the hard drive and power supply. So I decided to change the mobo only. Then I removed the hard drive and placed in on an enclosure to back up my previous files so I can perform a clean install of windows. However, I had encrypted files in there. Then this window popped up (screenshot below) I accidentally closed that window. How can I bring that window back up again cause can't move the files from my hard drive to another system.

Thanks

cyanna · 15 Nov 2016

AFAIK you only get that window the first time you encrypt a file. Since the encrypted files are on an external harddrive you might try to unplug it, reboot and plug it in again.
If you do have the certificate saved somewhere: Tutorial HERE
If you don't have a certificate, and you don't have an unencrypted backup, try and put the drive back and boot from the old system on the new mobo then follow the steps HERE to backup your certificate or just unencrypt the files.
If this is not an option either (although it should work, windows 7 is pretty good at booting on different hardware) you can try Advanced EFS Data Recovery but be prepared to loose files...Encryption on a personal system is a bad idea.

FascinatingPH · 15 Nov 2016

Hi cyanna,

Thanks for the quick reply. But unfortunately when I plugged the hard drive back in my new mobo. It wont boot up windows. So now I am trying to decrypt it with "Advanced EFS Data Recovery". However, I cant find a decent tutorial to decrypt my files.

Megahertz07 · 16 Nov 2016

Encrypted drives has their on boot loader.
As you placed in on an enclosure, try to boot from this external disk.

cyanna · 16 Nov 2016

1. hook up the drive to any working windows computer and boot into windows, make sure the drive is seen in Explorer
2. install the decrypter.
3. start the software, click Next. choose the I don't have the certificate option.
4. wait for the software to find the disk. in the list choose the disk with the encrypted files. For now just click next
5. when it has found the encrypted files/folders it will ask for user name and password. These are the username and password used to log into the windows account used at the time when you encrypted the files! click Add then Next
6. Click again Next on the next screen and you should have the list of the encrypted stuff. Select them and click next.
7. It will ask for somewhere to save the decrypted files.

If you are missing any files you can repeat the operation but at step 4 choose to scan sectors on the first scan. Be warned it's gonna take forever!