I have large encrypted files on an external drive, and I want to reformat C: and reinstall XP. In preparation, I want to ensure I’ll be able to get at those external files again afterwards.
XP has the facility to allow other users access to encrypted files via properties – advanced – details – ‘add’ button. I figure I should export my current certificate, reinstall, import those certificates and use that ‘add’ button to give myself access again, or something.
But: although the button is active, it does nothing when I press it. I think (please correct me if I’m wrong) that is because I’m on a standalone laptop, hence no domain or active directory or recovery agents?
Therefore I also think that means there’s no way I can recover a file if the user is lost even if I have the certificates?
I don’t want to have to wrap the reinstall with decryption & reencryption if I can possibly help it, because of the time (days!) and space requirements.
A colleague suggested I instead wrap the reinstall process with a temporary join to the corporate domain. Might that work, and if so what steps do I take?