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Question

How to decrypt files as a user who cant access them?

Jun 16, 2019 11:22PM PDT

So a while ago I encrypted some files on a USB, a few months later I had to fully wipe my PC now when going into the USB and looking at the encrypted files I can no longer view there contents nor decrypt them as the only user that has access no longer exists. Is there anyway I can recover the files? I sort of really need them.

Edit: I used the build in advanced attributes from file explorer

Post was last edited on June 16, 2019 11:57 PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Since only you know what the encryption is
Jun 16, 2019 11:39PM PDT

Only you know how to decrypt. As of the beginning of the year I counted dozens of encrypted file methods.

So with only what you told, no.

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Answer
Re: encrypt
Jun 17, 2019 12:48AM PDT

It seems you need your encryption key at least. Do you have a backup of that?

But I doubt if that's enough. https://windowsreport.com/encrypt-files-folders-windows-10/ is rather clear: "But before we show you how to encrypt your files with EFS, we have to warn you that you’ll be able to access the encrypted file only with the login of the account you encrypted the file with. Other user accounts (if with administrative permissions) won’t be able to access it."

Our advice is to always keep an unencrypted backup of everything important.

Post was last edited on June 17, 2019 1:17 AM PDT