Windows 10: I encrypted some files using a guide, but now windows has locked me out from accessing them

Hi guys,I encrypted some files using this guide here:https://www.technewstoday.com/password-protect-a-folder-in-windows-11/I followed the first section up to step 6, and then when there was a popup for "Back up your file encryption and key", I clicked it, and it didn't do anything. Now when I try and access the files, it won't let me. I can't remove the decryption, as it says "the specified file could not be decrypted".I tried to follow this guide: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/back-efs-encryption-key However, the option to export the private key is greyed out.I'm at a loss for what to d

:)

 

Windows XP file encryption

LOL thanks, I think its standard windows XP file encryption

 

Software encryption

read this:
The Encrypting File System (EFS) is a file system driver with filesystem-level encryption available in Microsoft Windows (2000 and later) operating systems, except Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Vista Basic, and Windows Vista Home Premium. The technology transparently allows files to be encrypted on NTFS file systems to protect confidential data from attackers with physical access to the computer.

User authentication and access control lists can protect files from unauthorized access while the operating system is running, but are easily circumvented if an attacker gains physical access to the computer. One solution is to store the files encrypted on the disks of the computer. EFS does this using public key cryptography, and aims to ensure that decrypting the files is in theory impossible without the correct key. However, EFS is in practice susceptible to brute-force attacks against the user account passwords. In other words, encryption of files is only as strong as the password to unlock the decryption key.

read more ...wikipedia Encrypting File System - Wikipedia

 

Software encryption

You expect people smart enough to reset your password to have physical access to your computer and care enough at the same time to bother?