trying to decrypt an encrypted folder with a new windows installtion but with the exported key

[Peter Heilrath]

Ok, here is my problem:



Just a few days ago I had a kind of a crash on my notebook running Windows
XP Pro. Green Tea and the effort to dry the computer on a radiator led to
the following:



After a few runs of chkdsk in the recon.console I had access to the hard
drive again. I found that the whole windows-folder was missing.



What was still there and that's what my problem is about was the "documents
and settings"-folder. I was looking for my "my documents"-folder there and
realized that I encrypted that folder: "access denied"



Funny: Also I couldn't look into the folder I could backup the whole folder
with the backup-tool.



BUT: Before that crash happened I exported a key-file with the private key
of mine and saved it on a floppy-disc. That file is named
encryptkeywinxp.pfx



Of course I tried to import the key-file again and Windows XP accepted the
import, but the File system still seems to ignore the presence of the key. I
tried it both as administrator and as user.



What did I wrong? Any help? Thanks a lot! A LOT!



Greetings,

Peter.