Encrypted Files on External Hard Drive

[RILLAMEISTER]

I have an Acer Aspire E360 with Windows XP Media Center Edition. My computer was running really slow, so I decided to re-install windows. I backed up my files onto my 1TB Seagate External Hard Drive using Seagate's backup software. Once everything was backed up, I re-installed windows. When I went to copy my old files from my external hard drive, I realized that the folder containing my music was encrypted (the folder was highlighted green). When I tried to copy them over to my internal hard drive, I got an error saying "Error Copying File or Folder, Cannot copy 'file name': Access Denied. Make sure that the disk is not full (which it is not) or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use." When I right click a file that is encrypted and click properties>advanced>details, it shows the name of my computer before I re-installed windows along with its thumbprint. I've tried using decrypting software but i keep getting errors in all of those. I've also tried opening the files in a different operating system (ubuntu) but it still didn't work. I would like to figure out a way to decrypt the files and be able to put them on my iPod.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kimsland]

Permissions
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/permissions.mspx

How to take ownership of a folder
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

 

[LookinAround]

Anyone using EFS (Encrypted File System) must use the Windows' tools that specifically backs up their encryption keys BEFORE they somehow lose their keys (e.g. disk / file corruption). Failure to do so results in files i have yet to see anyone recover.