XP file encryption

[YadaYadaYada]

The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every kid on
the block seems to use our computer.
I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such as one
of those USB "pen" drives.

[Dan DeStefano]

this would depend on the drive: if you can format it with ntfs, then you
would be able to enable efs encryption. one thing about efs: make sure you
back up your efs certificate to removable media such as a floppy because, if
you need to reinstall windows, you will not be able to open any
previously-encrypted files - even if you create identical user accounts. to
find out how to do this, open help and search for "export certificate".
note: you do not need to use encryption to safeguard files, you can simply
use ntfs permissions.

Dan DeStefano


"YadaYadaYada" > wrote in message
t...
> The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every kid
on
> the block seems to use our computer.
> I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such as
one
> of those USB "pen" drives.
>
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

EFS will only work on an NTFS drive/volume. If you plan on using it, I would
suggest you do your homework first. EFS is very strong, if you lose the
system you can lose access to your data without proper precautions. I would
strongly suggest you read the help & support files on exporting the
encryption certificate and creating arecovery agent. This will also make for
some good reading:

HOW TO: Encrypt a File in Windows XP [Q307877]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307877

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"YadaYadaYada" > wrote in message
t...
> The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every kid
on
> the block seems to use our computer.
> I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such as
one
> of those USB "pen" drives.
>
>

[Richard]

When encryption is implemented, can it later be removed - or are you forever
bound to un-encrypt them for access? Say you don't need to use encryption
anymore because your significant other has gone!

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> EFS will only work on an NTFS drive/volume. If you plan on using it, I
would
> suggest you do your homework first. EFS is very strong, if you lose the
> system you can lose access to your data without proper precautions. I
would
> strongly suggest you read the help & support files on exporting the
> encryption certificate and creating arecovery agent. This will also make
for
> some good reading:
>
> HOW TO: Encrypt a File in Windows XP [Q307877]
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307877
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
> www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "YadaYadaYada" > wrote in message
> t...
> > The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every
kid
> on
> > the block seems to use our computer.
> > I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such as
> one
> > of those USB "pen" drives.
> >
> >
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It can be unencrypted permanently, you are not bound to premanently using it
for that file. The encryption certificate itself for each user profile will
always be the same however - once the user account is removed, that
certificate cannot be recreated (which is why backing up the key and
creating a recovery agent is sooooo critical).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Richard" > wrote in message
...
> When encryption is implemented, can it later be removed - or are you
forever
> bound to un-encrypt them for access? Say you don't need to use encryption
> anymore because your significant other has gone!
>
> "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > EFS will only work on an NTFS drive/volume. If you plan on using it, I
> would
> > suggest you do your homework first. EFS is very strong, if you lose the
> > system you can lose access to your data without proper precautions. I
> would
> > strongly suggest you read the help & support files on exporting the
> > encryption certificate and creating arecovery agent. This will also make
> for
> > some good reading:
> >
> > HOW TO: Encrypt a File in Windows XP [Q307877]
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307877
> >
> > --
> > Best of Luck,
> >
> > Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x -
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
> > www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> > "YadaYadaYada" > wrote in message
> > t...
> > > The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every
> kid
> > on
> > > the block seems to use our computer.
> > > I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such
as
> > one
> > > of those USB "pen" drives.
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>

[Richard]

Thanks!

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> It can be unencrypted permanently, you are not bound to premanently using
it
> for that file. The encryption certificate itself for each user profile
will
> always be the same however - once the user account is removed, that
> certificate cannot be recreated (which is why backing up the key and
> creating a recovery agent is sooooo critical).
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
> www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "Richard" > wrote in message
> ...
> > When encryption is implemented, can it later be removed - or are you
> forever
> > bound to un-encrypt them for access? Say you don't need to use
encryption
> > anymore because your significant other has gone!
> >
> > "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > EFS will only work on an NTFS drive/volume. If you plan on using it, I
> > would
> > > suggest you do your homework first. EFS is very strong, if you lose
the
> > > system you can lose access to your data without proper precautions. I
> > would
> > > strongly suggest you read the help & support files on exporting the
> > > encryption certificate and creating arecovery agent. This will also
make
> > for
> > > some good reading:
> > >
> > > HOW TO: Encrypt a File in Windows XP [Q307877]
> > > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307877
> > >
> > > --
> > > Best of Luck,
> > >
> > > Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x -
> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > > Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
> > > www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > > Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> > >
> > > "YadaYadaYada" > wrote in message
> > > t...
> > > > The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since
every
> > kid
> > > on
> > > > the block seems to use our computer.
> > > > I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media
such
> as
> > > one
> > > > of those USB "pen" drives.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

[Alex Nichol]

YadaYadaYada wrote:

>The built in encryption (NTFS format only) is very handy. Since every kid on
>the block seems to use our computer.
>I was wondering if the encyption carries over to removable media such as one
>of those USB "pen" drives.

No - because those are (as yet) too small for NTFS. But mine came with
some software that allowed you to set a password on access to it.

Note - if you use the encryption system be *sure* to read up about
backing up the certificates, in Help and Support, and go make the backup
at once. Otherwise something like reinstalling the system may lose the
keys, and the data will be totally irretrievable. that encryption is
strong


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows - File Systems)
Bournemouth, U.K.