File access trouble after backup to ext HD

[Nomad101]

And are you logging on as the same user that encrypted the files initially?

If you changed ownership of the folder using the procedure I gave earlier then you may want to set ownership back to the original owner by logging on using that account and repeating the procedure.

Sorry, I can't think of any other reasons why you wouldn't be able to open the files.

Regards
Tony

[TimWS6]

yes I only have 1 user built in so it's the same every time. I tried to do your procedure from before but I have no "security" tab when I right click the files/folder. I'm on my work PC right now and I can see what you are talking about but that tab does not exist on my folders on my home PC. The only tabs i have are "general", "sharing", and "customize". Do I have to do something to enable the feature for security?

Thanks for the help by the way.

[Torque]

Sounds like the external hdd was formatted as FAT, but that would mean all permissions are lost when copying the files over... therefore you shouldn't have a problem. Odd. If you right click your ext hdd and choose properties, what filesystem is it? How about your main hdd(s), what filesystems are those?

[TimWS6]

main HD is NTFS and ext is FAT32. I didn't know that made a difference.

[mikeneron]

Turn OFF simple file sharing and then you should see the Security tab.

To do this open any explorer type window (ie. My Computer, My Documents, etc), then go to Tools > Folder Options... Click on the View tab and scroll all the way to the bottom. Uncheck the option "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" and then click Apply and then click OK. You should now see the Security tab when you look at the properties of folders and files.

I think you if take ownership of those files, you will be back in business.

[HtV]

Turn OFF simple file sharing and then you should see the Security tab.

Do you have xp home installed? If so, it's a little more difficult to turn off simple file sharing. check this out:
http://www.wikihow.com/Disable-Simple-Fi...me-Edition

[TimWS6]

I'm back in business! You guys rock! First I disabled simple file sharing and took ownership like ya'll said and it still wouldn't let me remove the encryption. I remembered someone mentioning an account password change in a previous post and I did change my password fairly recently. I didn't think it would matter but I changed it back to what it was before and went through the taking ownership procedure again. It worked this time so I don't know if the password rollback fixed it or just the taking ownership but it's fixed and that's all I care about. Thanks a million guys. I'm no pc newb but I have had zero experience with the security features of windows in the past.

Thanks for the help.

[mikeneron]

That's great to hear.

[kayleigh]

Yep, I've seen that before. Strange how a password change would hose something like that up, but I'm glad it worked!