I need to de-crypt folders from an old XP machine.

[Woody64]

Hi there...I recently obtained a newer Windows 7 Home Premium x64 machine (custom build) after my Windows XP Pro x32 machine (also custom) bit the dust. Now I'm using my old "C-drive" HD as an external HD. I want to access my old folders (very important stuff) but they are in green text. I've read that this means they are encrypted, which I never did intentionally. How do I access them now? I get a msg that I need permissions that I don't have. I've tried to grant my admin acct with "Full" permissions, but still can't access these folders. Thanks for any help with this.

 

[Ztruker]

See this article on how to do this. Download and run the .reg file and a Take Ownership selection is added to the right click context menu. Very nice:

Take Ownership Shortcut - Windows 7

Once you have done that and taken ownership, open an Elevated Command Prompt and uncompress the drive.

compact /u /a /f /i /s:x:\

Where X: is the drive letter assigned to the drive.

 

[logicearth]

If they are encrypted you are out of luck. You'll need to boot up that copy of Windows XP some how and decrypt them that way.

 

[Woody64]

@logicearth...If I have to replace the processor in my old XP machine, will that affect its ability to decrypt the folder?

@Ztruker...thanks for the "Take Ownership Shortcut" link. Will Uncompressing the drive (compact /u /a /f /i /s:x:\) affect it in any negative way if I have to re-install it in my old machine to decrypt the folder?

 

[bobkn]

@logicearth...If I have to replace the processor in my old XP machine, will that affect its ability to decrypt the folder?

@Ztruker...thanks for the "Take Ownership Shortcut" link. Will Uncompressing the drive (compact /u /a /f /i /s:x:\) affect it in any negative way if I have to re-install it in my old machine to decrypt the folder?

I don't recall that XP had a native encryption facility. I hope that the drive is simply compressed.

I suggest imaging the drive before doing anything major to it, if the data are of any value to you.

 

[logicearth]

Windows XP does have native file encryption. The green file/folder labels is indication enough.

 

[Woody64]

Thanks all! I'll update when I've tried things.

 

[bobkn]

Windows XP does have native file encryption. The green file/folder labels is indication enough.

Right.

I was unfamiliar with it because I was mainly used to XP Home Premium, which doesn't support encryption.

Apparently green text indicates encryption. Colored icons are commonly used for compress files or folders. (I never used that feature; never wanted to compress a HD.)

Looks like decrypting the files from Win7 Home Premium may be a problem. You may need Pro or Ultimate, or to resurrect the XP Pro machine.