Troubleshooting Windows® 7 Inside Out

Chapter 24. When You Can’t Recover Data

• Encrypted File System

• BitLocker and BitLocker To Go

• Creating a Copy of Encrypted Data

• Summary

SOMETIMES you might encounter a situation where the files and data you are trying to recover are encrypted. Windows provides some tools to aid with unlocking data, but you will need access to the recovery keys specific to the locked data. There are several methods that can be used in Windows 7 for encrypting files, data, and even entire hard disks.

Encrypted File System

The Windows Encrypted File System (EFS) has been around for over a decade and is used to provide file and folder encryption for individual users, for instance, two people who share a computer but want to keep their files private from one another.

EFS uses ...