Hi Ian,

Here's an overview of EFS
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/encrypt_overview.mspx?mfr=true

Interesting line:
" Encrypted files can become decrypted if you copy or move the file to a 
volume that is not an NTFS volume."

Maybe you could try this:
Boot up with a LiveCD (For Windows I prefer an XP - or PE based one,since 
the file system is the same)
Maybe a Linux based one will work ,so long as it supports mounting a USB 
drive.
The USB drive must be formatted as FAT.
Try to copy or move the files/folders to the USB drive and then open them.
If successful ,fine. If not , you'll have to search for an EFS cracker of 
some sort.

http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/

http://blog.wisefaq.com/2010/08/30/bulk-efs-decryption-encryption/

The web is full of queries about this. Haven't found a free and effective 
tool ,but maybe Cipher (above link)
might work too.

Peter E.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "ian-c"
Sent: Sunday, 19 June, 2011 11:19 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] File Permissions issues

Drive was bootable before pulled from old system.  Was master drive in
two-drive XP/Ubuntu dual boot PC.  But tried booting it on a Thinkcentre
9637-Q2U and it did not.  Most of the files I want are encrypted with
EFS, even simple ones like a frequently updated plain text file of book
titles I want to read.

This morn' I booted off a Ubuntu-based livecd and both the drive in
question and my system drive mounted with R/W allowed.  But same issue.
I could read/wrtie to/from system drive but still could not open or copy
anything from the My Documents folder (neither to livecd desktop nor
system drive folders).

So I guess I have to find something to decrypt EFS on XP drive from Win7
system.


Ian Carmichael





 

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