EFS Encrypted files coming up as Access Denied

I had been using Windows XP Pro's EFS to encrypt certain private files
on my desktop. I'd backed up the certificate/private key through the
Certificate Manager snap-in.

Several times before, I had formatted and reinstalled Windows. I was
assigned a new security ID with every user. The only thing I restored
was the certificate/private key PFX file.

I recently purchased some upgrades and upgraded to Windows 7 RC. I've
imported the PFX certificate and private key. I cannot open the
files--I actually get an "Access denied" error on anything that was
opened. I tried this on Vista on a laptop--same result.

One thing I will note is that I was using NT Backup to backup these
files before I formatted. However, this was the exact same thing I did
before--several times.

What I was running:
Windows XP SP3

What I am running or have tried:
Windows 7 RC
Windows Vista SP1

I have years of information backed up in these files, along with tax
data. It's my personal computer, luckily, and I'm not losing
money...that I know of. :-\

Can someone please assist me? I have spent the past 4 days trying to
figure this out.

From: "Kevin"

| I had been using Windows XP Pro's EFS to encrypt certain private files
| on my desktop. I'd backed up the certificate/private key through the
| Certificate Manager snap-in.

| Several times before, I had formatted and reinstalled Windows. I was
| assigned a new security ID with every user. The only thing I restored
| was the certificate/private key PFX file.

| I recently purchased some upgrades and upgraded to Windows 7 RC. I've
| imported the PFX certificate and private key. I cannot open the
| files--I actually get an "Access denied" error on anything that was
| opened. I tried this on Vista on a laptop--same result.

| One thing I will note is that I was using NT Backup to backup these
| files before I formatted. However, this was the exact same thing I did
| before--several times.

| What I was running:
| Windows XP SP3

| What I am running or have tried:
| Windows 7 RC
| Windows Vista SP1

| I have years of information backed up in these files, along with tax
| data. It's my personal computer, luckily, and I'm not losing
| money...that I know of. :-\

| Can someone please assist me? I have spent the past 4 days trying to
| figure this out.

microsoft.public.security.crypto


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

NT Backup is not compatible with Vista or Windows 7. Microsoft has
available " NTBackup Restore utility " for use with Vista - Not sure if it
functions with win 7.

David H. Lipman wrote:
From: "Kevin"

| I had been using Windows XP Pro's EFS to encrypt certain private files
| on my desktop. I'd backed up the certificate/private key through the
| Certificate Manager snap-in.

| Several times before, I had formatted and reinstalled Windows. I was
| assigned a new security ID with every user. The only thing I restored
| was the certificate/private key PFX file.

| I recently purchased some upgrades and upgraded to Windows 7 RC. I've
| imported the PFX certificate and private key. I cannot open the
| files--I actually get an "Access denied" error on anything that was
| opened. I tried this on Vista on a laptop--same result.

| One thing I will note is that I was using NT Backup to backup these
| files before I formatted. However, this was the exact same thing I did
| before--several times.

| What I was running:
| Windows XP SP3

| What I am running or have tried:
| Windows 7 RC
| Windows Vista SP1

| I have years of information backed up in these files, along with tax
| data. It's my personal computer, luckily, and I'm not losing
| money...that I know of. :-\

| Can someone please assist me? I have spent the past 4 days trying to
| figure this out.

microsoft.public.security.crypto



Thanks so much, Dave!

Al wrote:
NT Backup is not compatible with Vista or Windows 7. Microsoft has
available " NTBackup Restore utility " for use with Vista - Not sure if
it functions with win 7.

It does not actually. I had to use Vista to extract the files and try
the certificate in Vista...with no luck.

"Kevin" wrote in message
...
I had been using Windows XP Pro's EFS to encrypt certain private files on
my desktop. I'd backed up the certificate/private key through the
Certificate Manager snap-in.

Several times before, I had formatted and reinstalled Windows. I was
assigned a new security ID with every user. The only thing I restored was
the certificate/private key PFX file.

I recently purchased some upgrades and upgraded to Windows 7 RC. I've
imported the PFX certificate and private key. I cannot open the files--I
actually get an "Access denied" error on anything that was opened. I
tried this on Vista on a laptop--same result.

One thing I will note is that I was using NT Backup to backup these files
before I formatted. However, this was the exact same thing I did
before--several times.

What I was running:
Windows XP SP3

What I am running or have tried:
Windows 7 RC
Windows Vista SP1

I have years of information backed up in these files, along with tax data.
It's my personal computer, luckily, and I'm not losing money...that I know
of. :-\

Can someone please assist me? I have spent the past 4 days trying to
figure this out.

I'd suggest that you have an OS compatibility problem, and you should also
keep plain-version copies of the certificates, that aren't held in a backup
format.

Why would you install an RC version of an OS that is up for immediate
release, as a working OS? You already know that it's out of date and will
expire.