post crash re-installation

[loganswell]

After a computer crash I had to re-install my Win XP Pro. It's in a different folder so I don't have all the old user names and settings. I do however have access to my old Documents. However, some of my files were encypted and I can't seen to be able to un-encrypt them. Does anyone know how I can do this? Also, how can I get my old browser favourites back and more importantly, my Outlook Express e-mails and address book back.

A big thank you to anyone who can help with this!

 

[bcastner]

The following MS KB article on restoring profiles applies to Windows XP and Windows 2003:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=324734

Keep in mind that the operating system fundamentally uses SIDs to keep track of users. When you created a new installation of XP you generated a new SID for any user that was added to this new installation. What you need to do is to reconcile the older Windows install for user "X" with the new user "X" under the new installation.

There might be ownership permission issues as well, so keep the following MS KB article in mind:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

And another article that will help:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

 

[linney]

To recover encrypted files you will need the original encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent from the installation under which they were encrypted. Without one of these, the files are not recoverable.


Is your original installation long gone or beyond repair?

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

If it was repairable that would sort out you Encryption problems.

Do you have any backup sets (ASR or Image)of the original install? That may restore your old XP and give access to any Encrypted files.

EFS Related Information.

241201 HOW TO: Back Up Your Encrypting File System Private Key in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;241201

242296 How to Restore an EFS Private Key for Encrypted Data Recovery

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;242296

http://www.surasoft.com/tut/xpefs.htm

Any lost certificates may be recoverable with these.

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

If you were able to convert the old partition to FAT32 the encryption might be removed (not sure if this is feesable but how desparate are you?).

http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/features.html

See if you can import files into Outlook Express from this location.

(Old location of Windows) Drive:\Documents and Settings\Usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{17FEF393-3749-43AB-ABF7-02D11325B676}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

See if you can copy your files from the old Favorites to the New Favorites folder after taking Ownership of folders.

 

[loganswell]

Thank you both for your replies. Since no backup was kept of my encrytion keys, I guess I must abandon all hope of unencrypting the files!

Thanks anyway. )