How to Encrypt and Decrypt Files and Folders in Windows 10 The is the built-in encryption tool in Windows used to encrypt files and folders on NTFS drives to protect them from unwanted access. This is the strongest protection that is available in Windows to help you keep your individual files and folders secure. This is a guide about how to encrypt and decrypt files or folders with Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows 10. How to Encrypt Files and Folders Encrypted with EFS in Windows 10 Use these steps, you can easily encrypt files or folders in Advanced Attributes. Step 1: Right-click the folder or file you want to encrypt, and then click Properties. Step 2: In the General tab, click on the Advanced button.
Step 3: Check the Encrypt contents to secure data box, and click on OK. Step 4: Click OK and close Properties window. Apply changes to the folder, subfolders and files when prompted. If it is a file, select to either Encrypt the file and its parent folder or Encrypt the file only for what you want, and click on OK.(see picture) Tips: The first time you encrypt a folder or file, an encryption certificate is automatically created. If you lose access to your encrypted files and folders, you will not be able to open them again unless you first for them.
Files are encrypted with public key. If you want to decrypt them, you need to have the associated private key. The files are decrypted with the private key. If you want to import certificates or PFX files (certificates with private keys), you should always open the CERTMGR.MSC console and righ-click on the Personal store.
How to Decrypt Files and Folders Encrypted with EFS in Windows 10 Conventional way to decrypt a file and folder: Step 1: Right-click the folder or file you want to decrypt, and then click Properties. Step 2: Click the General tab, and then click Advanced. Step 3: Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, click OK, and then click OK again. Step 4: Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files, and click on OK.
Install new windows from the same partition drive but the other partition is lock or encrypted with the old user, for somehow i back-up the user profile but how can i install the certificate from the new os? If i were to copy the old Documents and Settings User Folder to the new installed windows xp how can i be able to obtain the certificate and install it to the new user or make it as recovery agent to remove the encryption. Please help me to troubleshoot or make a way just to recover very important file.
I did this but with no luck because i don't have the.cer file in my back-up all was there is a file system in the%user profile% system certificates folder. I did install new windows into other hard drive with the same SID and Computer name then copy%user profile% to C: Documents and Settings then log into windows, my desktop is back and those other display but still no access to the file then try the administrator - run cipher and stuff - import to cert.mgr - secpol.msc - update group policy - switch user. Still access denied and the Recovery agent is not working. By following the directions here. All of this is covered when you first enable EFS in XP for those who read the Warnings.
Those very same warnings also tell you if you do not follow these directions you will loose your data. Well strictly speaking that's not quite correct but as most people do not have access to International Law Enforcement that is what you should do. If you want to submit the Data to International Law Authorities they can decrypt it but the reality is they don't do that for the fun of things they need to be very sure of a person/company that they are investigating before they attempt something like this. Of course if you know someone who works that type of thing you can always ask them to do it for you but it will take a lot of Bribery in the form of Payment/Gifts to get them to agree. Of course they could always give you a copy of Coffee and you could do it yourself but that's not likely either.
That piece of software while being free from M$ is more closely guarded than the Windows Source Code.