Cannot Open Encrypted Files on a Computer with Multiple Windows 2000 Installations (256168)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q256168 SYMPTOMS If you have a Windows 2000-based computer with more than
one installation of Windows 2000, you may receive the following error message
when you try to open an encrypted file: Access is
denied. This behavior can occur if you log on to the computer
without a roaming profile and you have either a domain user account or a local
computer account. When you restart your computer, log on to a second
installation of Windows 2000, and then try to open the encrypted file, you
receive the error message. CAUSE This issue can occur because when you log on to the second
installation of Windows 2000, you do not have the appropriate certificate to
open the encrypted file. RESOLUTION To resolve this issue, restart the computer and log on to
the first installation of Windows 2000. Export the certificate and the related
private key to a floppy disk, or to a non-encrypted folder on the hard disk.
Restart the computer and log on to the second installation of Windows 2000 and
import the certificate. For additional information
about private keys, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base: 241201 HOW TO: Back Up Your Encrypting File System Private Key in Windows 2000
242296 How to Restore an EFS Private Key for Encrypted Data Recovery
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 9/8/2006 |
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| Keywords: | kbEFS kberrmsg kbprb w2000efs KB256168 |
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