Encryption - Disable or Enable

INFO: Encrypting folders and files is a way to protect them from unwanted access. Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that allows you to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is enabled by default in Vista. If you disable encryption, no user account will be able to encrypt a file or folder. The Encrypt feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions.

WARNING: Be sure to decrypt all files and folders before you disable encryption. Once encryption is disabled, all user accounts will lose access to encrypted files and folders until it is enabled again.
RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Restore the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista

2. How to Backup the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista

3. How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu in Vista

4. How to Encrypt or Decrypt a Folder or File in Vista

5. How to Disable or Enable NTFS Compression in Vista


EXAMPLE: Encrypt Option grayed out after disabled
NOTE: See: How to Encrypt or Decrypt a Folder or File in Vista
Disabled.jpg


METHOD ONE:
Through a Download:
1. To Disable Encryption - Disable_Encryption.reg < Click To Download

2. To Enable Encryption - Enable_Encryption.reg < Click To Download
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click on the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.

5. Click on the Run button for the Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. You can delete the .reg file (On Desktop) when done.


METHOD TWO:
Through the Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
5. In the right pane, right click on NtfsDisableEncryption and click Modify.

FileSystem_Key.jpg

6. To Disable Encryption - Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)
7. To Enable Encryption - Type 0 (number zero) and click OK.

Modify.jpg

8. Close regedit.
9. Restart the computer to apply the changes.


That's it,
Shawn