Can't remove read only attributes from XP folder :(

Participant · 1 Apr 2007 at 20:38

Hmm. I backed up all my Documents and emails from Outlook (2007) running under XP and then installed Vista Ultimate. When I try to recover my files (a .pst document) it says "You don't have permission to open this file. Contact the file owner or an administrator to obtain permission."

Well, this seems strange since I am the owner and administrator of this file, and am logged in as admin, have disabled UAC, etc etc.

Has anyone come across this?

ns400r · 1 Apr 2007 at 20:43

Search the forum for the answer.
Use 'Take Ownership'.

bledd · 1 Apr 2007 at 20:44

yup

Participant · 1 Apr 2007 at 21:37

Uh-oh

I've done some more reading and there is a big problem. The files were encrypted on my XP Pro system (don't ask me why, I didn't really understand it) and I have formatted the old system drive that presumably contained the key, thinking "oh well they're backed up on a DVD and a different physical drive, what could go wrong". I'm talking all my digital pictures forever, banking info, passwords, CVs, the whole lot.

Have I lost it all?

|Ric| · 1 Apr 2007 at 21:59

You could try:
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html

Personally I wouldn't hold out much hope because I assume no key = no access but you can try.

durbs · 1 Apr 2007 at 22:35

Robbie G said:
Uh-oh

I've done some more reading and there is a big problem. The files were encrypted on my XP Pro system (don't ask me why, I didn't really understand it) and I have formatted the old system drive that presumably contained the key, thinking "oh well they're backed up on a DVD and a different physical drive, what could go wrong". I'm talking all my digital pictures forever, banking info, passwords, CVs, the whole lot.

Have I lost it all?

I'm afraid that if you didnt first export the certificate before wiping the drive (and presumably then overwriting the data with a new OS?) then there is no way that i know of to recover that data. If there were a way then XP's EFS wouldn't be much use!

Thats the way i see it anyway, but seeing as its all your photos etc i hope someone proves me wrong.

Participant · 1 Apr 2007 at 22:47

Looking around it seems as though you are right and one this occasion MS did something right i.e. good encryption.

but...

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I backed up some of My Documents to a DVD also and forgotten that I had done so! I'm so happy and relieved I can't describe it. I have still lost a load of stuff but most importantly I have my passwords, pictures, and CVs etc. intact. Still a bit gutted as my girlfriend lost a load of stuff and I lost quite a lot of non-mission critical stuff.

The Outlook 2007 .pst file, which was the subject of the original post, is gone. However for the past year I've been using Gmail and luckily selected the "archive POP'd mail" option, so I've moved it all to inbox, marked as unread, and re-downloaded it.

Panic over to an extent, and lesson learnt. BE CAREFUL WITH ENCYRPTION AND BACK UP YOUR KEY IF YOU MUST USE IT!!!