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Recovering Data from Original XP install

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by z1ironmike

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I recently installed a new motherboard and my current installation would not boot up and I would always get a fatal error. I tried to "recover using outlined steps from a website, but it would get to a point 13 minutes from the finish and computer would quit. I tried several times and it always stopped at the same point. I ended up installing XP again, alongside, not over the old settings so as not to lose my data that was encrypted under my username. The trouble is I cannot get the old username data to the newer install so I can recover my files. I know it must be a registry trick but if I can get my old username from Windows (original)to show up on my login screen in Windows2 (new) then my problem would be solved. I can then retrieve my files and put them on a second hard drive so I can reformat the main hard drive and reinstall XP fresh. Anyone with any hints?

Iron Mike

5 replies

by acattr

You must get the old installation up and running or else you loose your files. If this machine is on a domain, usually the Administrator account has the ability to recover encrypted files, I don't recall the tool used.

by z1ironmike

only the "original" administrator has the ability to copy of open those encrypted files. My original username and settings are still in the original install which I need to copy to re-stall from where I can then login and copy files. Mike

by goldjag

Did you repartition your hard drive to make a new NTFS partition for the new installation of XP? Either way, you installed XP so you must have administrator rights. When you have administrator rights you are able to decrypt any encrypted file on thedrive using a "recovery agent". The process is best explained by going to:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308993
(no spaces)

There is enough reading there to keep you busy for a while but it will explain everything for you far better than I can.

Good luck!

Here's something to think about...when you copy or move an encrypted file OFF an NTFS partition to a FAT or FAT32 Partition, the file is automatically decrypted. I am not sure if the same is true of justconverting an NTFS partition to FAT or FAT32 by using a third-party app such as Partition Magic. I suspect it would not be effective but I have never tested it. Any ideas?

by z1ironmike

Reading that website told me I had to be the "original" administrator which I knew, so I need to copy those settings, etc. to my reinstall and do some registry editting to get that username to my reinstall so I can access those files. Mike

by acattr

thats what i said. IF and only IF your computer was part of a domain, say goodbye to your files it not.

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