Windows 10: File encryption won't disable due to permission issues

Okay, here's my situation:


I have my 500gb 475gb in reality hard drive partitioned into an OS partition roughly 65gb and a storage partition that makes up the rest. I do this in case I have a situation like I'm about to explain.


So let's say my windows install somehow gets corrupted, which it did. In theory, I could just wipe the OS partition and not lose or have to re-obtain all of my files on the storage partition. So when this occurred recently I did just that, wiped the OS partition and had no issues with the install.


I can't say 100% that the files on the storage partition were encrypted directly after the install, I noticed after I had been setting things up for awhile. I can't even say for sure thatall of the files on that partition were encrypted when I noticed. But after messing around for hours in the permissions, installing certificates, and trying to find a possible BitLocker key which seems to be a red herring, I still have some encrypted files. I have been able to unlock/decrypt some of the files I know were encrypted after the install.


When I try to uncheck the "allow this file to be encrypted" checkbox in the advanced general properties, I get an error message that says: "An error occurred applying attributes to the file: [file_name] The specified file could not be decrypted. When I try to access one of the files I get some variation of an Access Denied error message and a reference to permissions. I only had 1 user account, set as administrator on the fresh install. I was able to find that the files seem to be "owned" by the local account from the previous install of windows. I was signed in using my microsoft account.


I tried giving permissions, which seemed to apply successfully, but no matter what object I give permission and/or ownership of the file to, I can't disable the encryption.


I don't believe I had BitLocker enable prior to the reinstall, I've only turned it on twice, ever, and both times I used the same password. I'm pretty sure it wasn't on but either way the password doesn't work.


Is there anyway to save these files???

:)

 

Folder won't open due to permission issue

Hello,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft community. I understand your concern. Let me help you.

I suggest you to sign out from the current account, restart the computer and log in with Administrators account and

check if it helps to resolve the issue.

I suggest you to refer to the steps below and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

• 
  Press and hold or right-click the file or folder, and then click
  Properties.
  
• 
  Tap or click the Security tab.
  
• 
  Under Group or user names, tap or click your name to see the permissions that you have.
  
  To open a file, you have to have the Read permission. To change the permissions of a file or folder, follow these steps.
  
  Important you must be logged on as an administrator to change permissions on files and folders.
  

• 
  Press and hold or right-click the file or folder, and then tap or click
  Properties.
  
• 
  Tap or click the Security tab.
  
• 
  Under Group or user names, tap or click your name to see the permissions that you have.
  
• 
  Tap or click Edit, tap or click your name, select the check boxes for the permissions that you must have, and then click
  OK.
  

Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us with more information and we’d be happy to help.

 

Unable to view transferred files due to permissions issue

Hello,

I understand the inconvenience you are facing in Windows regarding accessing the backup files. We will help you.

How was the files backed up, using File history or Backup and Restore?

This issue might have occurred due to lack of permissions set to the drive/ folder.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to set provide permission of the folders to users and check if it helps.

Steps to give permissions to the drive:

• 
  Right-click on the folder which you’re unable to access and select
  Properties.
  
• 
  Click on Security tab and under
  Group or user names click on Edit.
  
• 
  Click on Add and type
  Everyone.
  
• 
  Click on Check names and then click
  OK.
  
• 
  Select Everyone and under
  Allow select Full control and click on
  Apply and Click Ok.
  

For reference go through the below article:

"Access Denied" or other errors when you access or work with files and folders in Windows

(Applies to Windows 10 as well)

Hope it helps. Get back to us with an updated status of this issue for further assistance.

 

Folder encryption

Hi Michael,



Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

Please provide the following information with us to understand the issue better.

• What is the user account type you are logged into? Is it an Administrator account or Local account?

I would like to inform you that this issue might be occurring due to user account permission or file permission.

Please follow below steps to check the file permissions.

• Right click on any file and go to Properties.
• In Properties click on Security tab.
• In Security tab click on Edit.
• In Edit go to Permission for System.
• Refer to allow and deny section and give permission
• Click on Apply.
• After changing permission check whether you are able to encrypt the file.

Hope these information helps, please get back to us for future support, we’ll be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.