Windows 10: Serious problem with files encrypted with EFS, inaccessible after an update

I commented on my problem in the community because in Support they could not give me a solution to the problem and they suggested that I seek advice in this community.

Since my previous notebook with all my personal files was stolen, in the new one I created a folder with activated EFS to encrypt the content. This was back in 2015.

I never had any problem with EFS or anything else, until a Windows 10 update that was made in late December 2018 early January 2019.

After it, ALL FILES previously encrypted were inaccessible. It is not possible to edit them, copy them, or perform any operation with them, except to delete them.

The user did not change, nor was it erased, the user's password was not changed, and the encryption certificates were not deleted (I verified it with certmgr.msc).

It seems that the user's certificate had been disconnected, and therefore when the user (original creator and owner of the files) tries to decrypt them, the system does not allow it.

Someone has had a similar problema?. Any idea or suggestion will be infinitely grateful, since the encrypted files are almost totally familiar images, of no monetary value but irreplaceable affectively.

From now on I advance that I have backup of the files ... also encrypted, as is logical. Greetings,

:)

 

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.

 

Backup the EFS encryption key file


Yesterday I installed OneDrive app and linked it to my office 365 enterprise University account. Since then, every time I turn on my pc, I receive a warning about backup of the encryption key from EFS application. But I have never used bitlocker.
I did some search online and I got the list of all encrypted files: there are thousands of files and belongs to Apps, like facebook, onedrive, inkscape and so on.
So my questions are:

• why did that message suddenly appear?
• why are those files encrypted?
• do those files have to be encrypted?
• bitdefender has just found Gen:Trojan.Heur2.GZ.@FZ@bq2Abpn in temp folder. Could I have got a ransomware that is encrypting all files?

Thanks in advance!

 

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

Hi Michael,

The Encrypting File System (EFS) is a built-in encryption tool for Windows. It is used to encrypt files and folders on your computer. You can reverse the encryption to access your files again. To decrypt folders, follow the steps below:

• Right-click the folder or file, then click Properties.
• Click the General tab, then click Advanced.
• Uncheck the Encrypt contents to secure data checkbox.
• If you are decrypting folders, select the option Apply changes to this folder, subfolder and files.
• Click OK, then click OK again to exit the window.

Let us know if the solution above works for you.