Windows 10: How do I restore a deleted file encryption key on Windows 10?

I deleted my file encryption key from User Certificates in the Control Panel. I understand that Windows does not delete the private key and that User Certificates only deletes the key from the registry. How can I recover my deleted key?

:)

 

Cant decrypt my files on my external drive from another computer, Lost my certificate key while changing computers.

My inquiry wasn't concerning the effectiveness of BitLocker / Windows encryption. Obviously, it works.

There is a serious flaw in the restore protocol.

I have the encryption key, the files, and the exact same computer. Same IP address. Same everything. The only thing that changed was the re-installation of Windows. Should not Windows know how to handle restoring encrypted files when all security criteria
is met?

 

Can I recover encrypted files with EFS without having key.pfx file ?

Today I installed Windows 10 on my machine

Then I delete all the old files of the old Windows

After that I surprised that some very important files

Encrypted on the old Windows

Now I can not access any old Windows files to get the encryption key

what can I do

please help

Encrypted files mean life or death to me

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

Hey and welcome to TenForums, have you tried to look in your Recycle Bin on your desktop?

Open the Recycle Bin and see if it's there. If it is, right-click on it and choose Restore.

Normal operation of Windows is to "delete" everything to the Recycle Bin, as a safety precaution.

 

I did, the key is not in the recycle bin.

 

See if this tutorial helps, Option Two seems to be what you are looking for...

Backup Encrypting File System Certificate and Key in Windows 10

 

First try to set these settings in File Explorer's Folder Option:




Follow step 1 to 5 - open Folder Options > set "Show Hidden Files" and Un-tick "Hide protected system files"

remember to click the "Apply" & "OK" after this is don. Then go and look again in your Recycle Bin!

If you still do not find the delete file (maybe a reg. file) there, - then if you have your System Restore activated, you can
use that to go back to a Restore point, just before you made the wrong delete of that key.
If you deleted the key today, then use a restore point from yesterday or what comes close to that.

Here is a tutorial that show you how to make System Restore to an earlier point in time - use Option 2 only:

System Restore Windows 10

 

I have tried changing the Folder Options to show hidden files and protected file. However nothing new in the Recycle Bin.