Windows 10: EFS encryption can not be removed after a windows reset

So here is the situation... I updated some pc parts on my computer including MOBO, cpu, etc. And I flashed my bios and did everything well however upon loading the windows OS there was a lot of buggy things going on and I thought what better way to clear all the bugs than to reset windows. Completely forgetting I had an encrypted drive. I reset my windows machine and now I cant get access to my old files.

I have three drives

Main windows SSD: contains windows OS

Personal portable drive SSD: contains all my personal documents. This is the one thats encrypted. I am able to unlock it with the password however there still shows the Yellow lock when I try to access files.

Software and dataHDD: This is where I keep the .pfx file that contains the encryption key I believe. Which I also cant access


Please someone help, I have a lot of personal information I need access to on the portable drive and everything I have researched so far has not worked

:)

 

Win 10 pro EFS Encrypting File System Problem (Dell)

Hi,

Thank you for being a part of Windows 10.

I appreciate you for providing details about the issue and we are happy to help you.

I suggest you to start the Encrypting File System (EFS) Service and check if it helps.

Follow the below steps:

• Press Windows key + R from the Keyboard.
• Type services.msc and hit Enter.
• Search for Encrypting File System (EFS) Service.
• Double click on Encrypting File System (EFS) Service and click on
  Start button.
• Click on the dropdown list and set the Startup type to
  Automatic.

If the issue still persists then, I suggest you to post the same question in TechNet forum for further assistance with this issue. Follow the below link to post your question in TechNet forum.

Technet forums

Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance with Windows. We are glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

Confused about EFS encryption

EFS encryption has never been anything but trouble for me (and probably for most people), and I would love to be able to turn it off completely. I followed the steps on this page:
Disable Auto Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders in Windows and I'm wondering how free I am from encryption now. The note says the system will still encrypt when copying files, and I'm only safe from encryption when moving files. I'm not sure if that means my system will continue to encrypt a file every time I copy it, or if I'll be free of the problem now. Could anyone please tell me in which circumstances my system will continue to encrypt my files? Thank you for your help!

 

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So If i lost my certificates (because of a disk failure, for example) and i restore my encrypted BackUp folder (EFS BackUp) from my removable drive to Windows it should work to open the folders i have encrypted
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