Unable to Recover Encrypted Files After the Domain Controller Is Demoted (276239)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
- Microsoft Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
This article was previously published under Q276239 SYMPTOMS
When a Windows-based computer that is a domain controller is demoted to a member server by using the Active Directory Installation wizard (Dcpromo.exe), you are unable to recover Encrypting File System (EFS)-encrypted documents.
CAUSE
This issue can occur because the private key for the recovery agent for the local EFS-encrypted documents is lost during the demotion when the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) is recreated on that computer. You are unable to recover encrypted documents on this computer unless the recovery agent is changed to an existing domain account before encryption.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods:
- If you have previously exported the recovery agent's certificate, including the private key, reimport it.
-or- - Follow these steps:
- Decrypt all documents on the local computer. If there are files that were encrypted by a different user account, they can only be decrypted when you log on as that user.
- Log on as an administrator.
- Start the Certificates snap-in, and then request a new personal certificate that is suitable to use with EFS.
- Start the Local Security Policy snap-in, remove the administrator, and then reassign it as the system recovery agent.
- Reencrypt all of the documents.
STATUSMicrosoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 1/20/2006 |
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| Keywords: | kbbug kbDCPromo kbEFS kbnofix w2000efs KB276239 |
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