Can not un-encrypt files due to password change.

[emmaz]

I am experiencing a problem that appears to be unique.

I log in to XP pro with a domain account, I then encrypt files and directories. If I change the password on the domain account I can no longer access the encrypted files. If I change the password back, The files are accessible.

The problem I have is that I encrypted files a while back. I have since changed my password many times and can no longer access the encrypted files.

Can some one explain why this behaviour is happening?

[ESALADUANE]

Change your password through your User Account or with your Password Reset Disk. Windows uses your old password to decrypt the master key and then re-encrypts it with the new password, so your encrypted files and e-mail messages remain accessible.

If an administrator removes or changes the password for your local account, you no longer have access to your encrypted files and e-mail messages. That's because your master key, which is needed to unlock your personal encryption certificate (which, in turn, is needed to unlock your encrypted files), is encrypted with a hash of your password. When the password changes, the master key is no longer accessible. As you've noticed, to regain access to the master key (and, by extension, your encrypted files and e-mail messages), change your password back to your old password. Alternatively, use your Password Reset Disk to change your password.

[emmaz]

Change your password through your User Account or with your Password Reset Disk. Windows uses your old password to decrypt the master key and then re-encrypts it with the new password, so your encrypted files and e-mail messages remain accessible.

This does not appear to be working. I change my password at login and am no longer able to access the encrypted files. Email has no problems.

[ESALADUANE]

I was drawing a distinction between the User account and the Administrator account. You have to use the same account to change your password that you were using when you encrypted the files. If that's what you're doing then I'm out of ideas. Maybe, someone else has done this before and has another idea.