New functionality is available for Cipher.exe in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (827014)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

The release versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2000 include the Cipher.exe command-line tool. Cipher.exe can be used to manage Encrypting File System (EFS) data, but it cannot back up EFS certificates and registry keys.

RESOLUTION

Windows XP

Service pack information

This feature is available in the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Update information

A supported feature that modifies the product's default behavior is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to modify the behavior that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that specifically require it. This feature may receive additional testing. Therefore, if your system is not severely affected by the lack of this feature, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this feature.

To obtain this feature immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

PrerequisitesNo prerequisites are required.Restart requirementYou do not have to restart your computer after you apply this update.Update replacement informationThis update does not replace any other updates.File information The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version   Size     File name
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   02-Sep-2003  13:21  5.3.18.6  392,800  Windowsxp-kb827014-x86-enu.exe  
   02-Sep-2003  13:23  5.3.18.6  592,480  Windowsxp-kb827014-ia64-enu.exe

Windows 2000

Update information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.PrerequisitesNo prerequisites are required.Restart requirementYou do not have to restart your computer after you apply this update.Update replacement informationThis update does not replace any other updates.File information The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
     Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   04-Sep-2003  15:28  5.0.2195.6816      40,208  Cipher.exe       
   01-Sep-2003  23:23  5.0.2195.6815     514,416  Ntfs.sys
   04-Sep-2003  15:06  5.0.2195.6801   5,232,128  Sp3res.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Windows XP

This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 version of Cipher.exe enables an administrator to use the /x switch to back up an EFS certificate and its associated keys to a file. This functionality is now available for Windows XP and Windows 2000.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbWinXPsp2fix kbSecurity kbMiscTools kbQFE kbfix kbBug kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbWin2000preSP5fix KB827014 kbAudITPRO
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