So I have an lost encryption files problem...

Trying to keep it short and to the point.

I used Free Folder Password Lock (https://www.ilike-share.com/free-folder-password-lock.html) to not only encrypt but "hide" a file.

Free Folder Password Lock (FFPL) was installed on C drive which was a low capacity SSD. Windows was also installed there.

The encrypted and hidden folder was on my large storage drive D.

C drive, the SSD where windows and FFPL was installed crapped out. I installed a new SSD and fresh windows and also reinstalled FFPL.

The problem is that I guess FFPL stored a list of the files that were encrypted and hidden on the drive that FFPL was installed. So now the fresh install of FFPL doesn't show the hidden file from D drive.

The encrypted file is intact. I know the password to decrypt it. I just can't get the encryption software to recognize/find/show the file so that I can unlock it. I'm assuming it's just sitting there on drive D playing a really long game of hide and seek lol.

I've contacted the developer of the software but I don't think they are in business anymore.

Anyone have any clever work arounds or tactics to recover by encrypted folder?

Thanks in advanced!

Edited by Criosdh, 01 October 2023 - 05:58 AM.

Hello,

Sorry to hear of your failed C drive.

Contacting the developer of the protection software you're using is a good plan; in their absence (e.g. out of business, lost source code, etc.) it may be necessary to reverse engineer the protection software to determine exactly how it works.  Been there, done that -- many times.

Good news: Since your D drive is working and you have the requisite password, I'd say there is a likely a very strong chance of decrypting all your data successfully.

However, if the developer did something silly (like requiring a piece of data stored on the broken C drive to decrypt) things may or may not be feasible.

Let us know what you hear (or don't hear) from the developer.

Hello,

 

Sorry to hear of your failed C drive.

Contacting the developer of the protection software you're using is a good plan; in their absence (e.g. out of business, lost source code, etc.) it may be necessary to reverse engineer the protection software to determine exactly how it works.  Been there, done that -- many times.

 

Good news: Since your D drive is working and you have the requisite password, I'd say there is a likely a very strong chance of decrypting all your data successfully.

 

However, if the developer did something silly (like requiring a piece of data stored on the broken C drive to decrypt) things may or may not be feasible.

 

Let us know what you hear (or don't hear) from the developer.

Unfortunately this is an old problem and the developer has gone weeks without responding to several emails. :-(

What about fixing the C drive? I had never had any problems out of it, then all of a sudden one day my PC froze and the SSD hasn't worked AT ALL ever since. It won't show up when connected to my PC either internally or externally. Any idea what might have caused the drive to fail and if that is fixable?

Thanks!

Edited by Criosdh, 02 October 2023 - 09:11 PM.

That is annoying when developers don't reliably support their software

I'd hold off on attempting to repair the C drive until it was definitely determined it was needed to decrypt your files.

SSD is a great technology for its resistance to bumps and drops (compared with the mechanical disks it is replacing), but I've never liked the idea that a disk has a limited number of writes when so much our core software (even the operating systems) write and re-write regularly without any need.  Most of the SSDs have a wear leveling controller to help ensure data is writen evenly across the disk, but that itself lead to other security headaches.  Anyways, some professional data recovery companies can usually recover most data from dead SSDs, but the cost can be steep.  I'd wait until you knew it was absolutely necessary.

Is the protection software you use a paid product?  How long ago did you begin using it?

That is annoying when developers don't reliably support their software

 

I'd hold off on attempting to repair the C drive until it was definitely determined it was needed to decrypt your files.

 

SSD is a great technology for its resistance to bumps and drops (compared with the mechanical disks it is replacing), but I've never liked the idea that a disk has a limited number of writes when so much our core software (even the operating systems) write and re-write regularly without any need.  Most of the SSDs have a wear leveling controller to help ensure data is writen evenly across the disk, but that itself lead to other security headaches.  Anyways, some professional data recovery companies can usually recover most data from dead SSDs, but the cost can be steep.  I'd wait until you knew it was absolutely necessary.

 

Is the protection software you use a paid product?  How long ago did you begin using it?

It was paid but fairly cheap if I remember. I've been using it for a couple of years now.

It was paid but fairly cheap if I remember. I've been using it for a couple of years now.

I downloaded a trial version of the software you referenced to get a better idea of what it offers.

(Without payment, the trial version only permits "encrypting" and "decrypting" once along with "disguising" and "undisguising" once.)

You mentioned your files had used the "encrypt and hide" mode so that is what I initially experimented with. I also tried the "encrypt with fast encryption" mode to compare results.

Good news: I believe your files are easily recoverable, even without a password.

Bad news: The software you're using to encrypt data doesn't seem to encrypt ANYTHING *at all*. It merely moves the files/directories you select for encryption/hiding to a location that is not viewable by simplistic file managers (e.g. Windows Explorer) or the bulk of common application software.

I suspect the following will enable you to access your "encrypted" and hidden files:

1) Make note of the drive letter that Windows currently has assigned to the disk containing your "encrypted" and hidden files.

(You stated this previously was D:, but it is possible it may have changed after reloading Windows. I'll use D: in instructions below, but beware that it could be E: or F: or something else...)

2) Identify or create a folder where you want your your "decrypted" files placed; e.g. D:\MyFiles

(The "encryption" software seems to keep files on the same drive they originally existed on. If you want them on another drive, like C:\MyFiles, that works too)

3) Install 7zip, if you don't already have it installed.  Once installed, launch 7-zip File Manager.

4) In 7zip File Manager, by default you'll probably see a listing of your C: drive.  Highlight the "C:\" at the top of the listing and change it ot "D:\" and press Enter.

5) Navigate to D:\RECYCLER.BIN1\MICROSOFT-7701091-6666888-16826688....\$$$\com8.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}..\

6) You should now be looking at a folder named "local" which contains all of the folders and files (residing on your prior D: drive) which you previously "encrypted" or "encrypted+hid".  To access them, you first need to move them to a simple path that most software will understand.  You can select the "local" folder and Press F6 (or click the Move icon at the top). You'll be prompted to specify where to move the data; Enter (for example):  D:\MyFiles   Click OK and the files should be moved to D:\MyFiles.

7) Now you should be able to browse to D:\MyFiles using whatever software you usually use to access your documents.

Good luck!

Edited by ctigga, 06 October 2023 - 05:41 AM.

 

It was paid but fairly cheap if I remember. I've been using it for a couple of years now.

 

I downloaded a trial version of the software you're using to get a better idea of what it offers.

(Without payment, the trial only permits encrypting and decrypting once along with disguising and undisguising once.)

 

A few more questions for you:

 

1) When you encrypted files, did you select them one-by-one/individually (providing a password for each one) or did you choose to encrypt folders (so that all files/folders contained within the selected folder were encrypted)? Or maybe you encrypted some files individually and some folders individually?  Said another way: before your C: broke, if you wanted to decrypt all your data, how many times would you have to run the Decrypt operation/type your encryption password?  (Once? More than once?)

 

2) I think you mentioned earlier you had used the Encrypt&Hide option for all your files? (Not the Encrypt only or Portable encryption options?)

 

3) Regarding the disk that you refer to as your D: drive (the disk with your encrypted data) -- I assume you're still still able to view the contents of that disk from your new install of Windows Did you have any other data stored on the D: disk [before the C: crash] besides the Encrypted&Hidden files that you are still able to see today when viewing the D: disk contents? (This is to confirm that disk isn't encrypted with something like BitLocker/hasn't been reformatted, etc.)

 

First off I really, really, REALLY appreciate the efforts you've taken already. Thank you very much.

To answer your questions:

1. I encrypted the folder that had files under it. So to view my encrypted files I would go to decryption on the software, decrypt that one folder and could then see all the files in that folder. So only ONCE. I did the encrypt and hide option which is where the problem comes in. The new install can't see the hidden encrypted folder to decrypt it.

2. Correct, I used the "encrypt and hide" for the folder with my files in it.

3. Also correct. I still have very much usable data on the D: drive where the encrypted folder is. That drive is still in use on my PC.

Thanks for the update & confirmation.

I edited my message (#6) above with instructions I believe will allow you to access your files.

(They side-step the "encryption software" altogether since nothing was actually being encrypted by that software)

5) Navigate to D:\RECYCLER.BIN1\MICROSOFT-7701091-6666888-16826688....\$$$\com8.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}..\

I also meant to mention that Step 5 from above:
The folder named 

MICROSOFT-7701091-6666888-16826688....

May be named differently on your computer. (It will likely still end with the four periods so you'll have to select the correct folder (if it's different) as you navigate with the 7zip Manager tool.  The rest of the steps should be accurate.