Urgent Help with Lost data (odd)?

JaFFa · 31 Aug 2006 at 17:28

My amtes computer is here as he has been having problems with it. During a power cut it seems he has lost a lot of his files.

They are all still listed in the directories but a lot of them are unaccessable. The files that do not work have green writing for the description instead of the normal black. Windows makes no explanation as to why they cannot be accessed.

I have put his HD in a different computer and the files still appear gree and do not show any content eg If a picture is opened it says in windows pic viewer that thhere is 'no preview available'. I ve attempted using a data recovery tool on it but its come up with the files still in green. Google doesnt show up much for this error, does any body have any ideas and/or just what does the the green text mean ?

Thanks for any help.

TriedandTested · 31 Aug 2006 at 20:24

I believe green text indicates the files are encrypted...and, FYI, blue is compressed.

Memphis · 31 Aug 2006 at 20:27

As above, green means they are encrypted. Login as the Administrator and un-encrypt them by clicking the Advanced button on the file properties window.

If the local Admin account isn't a Data Recovery Agent, or it has somehow managed to stuff up the certificates, all the data is stuffed.

JaFFa · 31 Aug 2006 at 21:07

ok thanks guys, ill try un encrypting them. Is there absolutely no way to unencrypt them if I cant get it to work IE access being denied. ? Even if thje method is underhand.

bledd · 1 Sep 2006 at 00:32

login with the user that encrypted the (with the SAME password) -change the password to its original if you have to, and you should be able to un-encrypt them

as memphis said, the data is 'stuffed' if you can't unencrypt them, unless someone has some new uber 1337 hax0r tool that can undo them (unlikely!)

JaFFa · 2 Sep 2006 at 23:41

Well here is the big problem, the wholoe thing happened becuaswe in a power cut his user account got totally wrecked and wouldnt login any more. Its on a diff install of XP now. He aint gonna be happy its all his photos frop the summer. He claims he didnt encrypt them and doesnt even know how to do things loike that. In his defence the folders taht are encrypted are almost totally ranom which makes me think he is telling the truth.