Backing up a Bitlocker encrypted folder

[nabzblitz]

Hi, I desperately need some help here.

I had a folder with a bunch of important files that I once enabled encryption on (Properties > General > Advanced > Encrypt Contents To Secure Data is checked). Some time later, I backed up this folder to an external HDD, but completely forgetting I had encryption on and therefore didn't disable it before doing so.

I recently had my computer reformatted. But, now when I try to paste that folder back into my computer, it basically won't paste (transfer rate goes to 0bps). Just trying to open that folder from my external HDD causes File Explorer to stop responding for a few seconds, before allowing me to open the folder.

Properties of the folder right now looks like this:

When I try to simply uncheck the "Encrypt contents to secure data" checkbox, I will get an error:

Every file in this folder has a lock symbol on it's icon. When I try to for example open an image file, Windows Photo Viewer will open up, but the image won't show, instead giving me a message saying "Windows Photo Viewer can't open this picture because you don't have the correct permissions to access the file location."

Is there any way to get back my files? If there's also a more appropriate place to ask this, please do give me a link.

Update :
I have tried to use "Take Ownership", but that didn't work.

I also tried to use this software (https://www.crackpassword.com/aefsdr.html), but it doesn't really seem to be helping either, tells me there aren't any keys.

 

[drtweak]

I have not encrypted just a single folder with Bitlocker before but usually with hard drives it makes you create a recovery key incase of stuff like this.

Did you require any password before? Also what kind of PC you have. If it a OEM i need the model number, if custom i really need to know make of motherboard because if it had a TPM module, which stores the password for you and you don't make one, then you really need that recovery key.

 

[nabzblitz]

I have not encrypted just a single folder with Bitlocker before but usually with hard drives it makes you create a recovery key incase of stuff like this.

Did you require any password before? Also what kind of PC you have. If it a OEM i need the model number, if custom i really need to know make of motherboard because if it had a TPM module, which stores the password for you and you don't make one, then you really need that recovery key.

It never prompted me for any password, unfortunately. It's a custom build, I'm using a Gigabyte 970A-DS3 rev 3.0 motherboard.

Also you're right, it may have not been Bitlocker, but EFS. Now that I did some reading, I understand that Bitlocker is for an entire drive, not just a folder.

 

[hang-the-9]

There is no way to get around the encryption issue if you wiped the system without backing up the encryption keys. That is exactly how it's designed to work, otherwise encryption would be useless if anyone that can post on the internet can ask "how do I get around encryption" and get a work-around.

 

[nabzblitz]

There is no way to get around the encryption issue if you wiped the system without backing up the encryption keys. That is exactly how it's designed to work, otherwise encryption would be useless if anyone that can post on the internet can ask "how do I get around encryption" and get a work-around.

That is really, really heart breaking to hear.

Although, assuming I had the encryption key, how would I go about using them? I'm pretty sure I backed it up somewhere..

 

[hang-the-9]

There is no way to get around the encryption issue if you wiped the system without backing up the encryption keys. That is exactly how it's designed to work, otherwise encryption would be useless if anyone that can post on the internet can ask "how do I get around encryption" and get a work-around.

That is really, really heart breaking to hear.

Although, assuming I had the encryption key, how would I go about using them? I'm pretty sure I backed it up somewhere..

There are guides on Microsoft's site on how to deal with encrypted files.
This is for Windows 7 but is about the same thing https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/cannot-decrypt-previously-encrypted-files/5c04b2b7-9e01-4cb0-abbf-e83779ef57a5

Encryption does keep things secure, but you need to know what you are doing to use it. There are lots of posts about similar issues where people got locked out of their data because there were not steps taken to back up the data or encryption keys.

 

[drtweak]

Yea Bitlocker is mainly for entire drives. I don't think you can do just a folder. Double check to see what it was exactly that you used to encrypt the files.