Tips Security
Backing up and restoring EFS keys

This is the procedure that you should follow if you want to backup or restore one of your EFS keys (Files and Folders Encryption System available in Windows 2000 and later).

Windows XP Pro Windows 2000 Windows 2003
Tags : restoring EFS keys, EFS keys, Windows tip

Tips & Tricks : categories

Customization, Internet, Network, Optimization, Others, Security, System

Backing up and restoring EFS keys

April 04th, 2005 - 06:00 pm ET by Vanzetti44
  1. 1 - Backing up key - part one
  2. 2 - Backing up key - part two
  3. 3 - Restoring key - part one
  4. 4 - Restoring key - part two

After having encrypted a file or folder with EFS (see this tip), we will see how you can backup and restore your EFS key so that you can recover your files without any problems.

You will actually need to know that a file encrypted with EFS is dependant on both the user account and the Windows installation. If t he user account is deleted, or if Widows is inaccessible then you will not be able to recover your data, and EFS is unbreakable! You should therefore backup your private key.

Here’s how you can do this:

Click “Start”, “Run” and type “mmc”. Click “OK” and you will have access to the Microsoft Management Console.

Next go to File > Add/Remove Snap in

Image



Click Add and select the Certificates option.

Image

 

Click Add and then Close

Deploy “Certificates, users” \ “Personnel” \ “Certificates”:

Image

A certificate with the name of the user will appear. This is the certificate that you will need to save.

Select the certificate; right click on it, all tasks and Export:

 

Image

 

next page » Page 1 / 4 Post a comment
Previous tip and trick Next tip and trick
Saving offline webpage Open Windows explorer in the same location as your current DOS location