My encryption box is still greyed out.
Encryption - Disable or Enable
- 29 Oct 2007 #1
Encryption - Disable or EnableHow to Disable or Enable EFS Encryption in Vista and Windows 7
Published by
29 Oct 2007Encryption - Disable or Enable
How to Disable or Enabled EFS Encryption in Vista and Windows 7
InformationEncrypting 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.
NoteThe EFS Encrypt feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise and Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editons.
This option will remain grayed out in the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium and Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium editions.
WarningBe 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.
EXAMPLE: Encrypt Option grayed out after disabled
NOTE: If you have the Compress contents to save disk space option checked, then the Encrypt contents to secure data option will also be grayed out since you can only use one or the other and not both.
METHOD ONE
Using a REG File Download
1. To Disable Encryption
A) Click on the download button below to download the2. To Enable Encryption
Disable_Encryption.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.
A) Click on the download button below to download the3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
Enable_Encryption.reg file.
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
6. Restart the computer to apply the changes.
7. You can delete the downloaded .reg file when done if you like.
METHOD TWO
Manually in Registry Editor
1. Open the Start Menu.That's it,
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem5. In the right pane, right click on NtfsDisableEncryption and click on Modify.
6. To Disable Encryption
A) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)7. To Enable Encryption
B) Go to step 8.
A) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK.8. Close regedit.
9. Restart the computer to apply the changes.
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Restore the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista and Windows 7
- How to Backup the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista and Windows 7
- How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu in Vista
- How to Encrypt or Decrypt a Folder or File in Vista and Windows 7
- How to Disable or Enable NTFS Compression in Vista
- How to Create a Encrypting File System Manager Shortcut
- How to Find and See a List of All Encrypted Files on All Local Hard Drives
Published by
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Texas, USAPosts: 30,529ArrayTutorial Tools
Applies to
Business,Enterprise,Ultimate 64 Bit & 32 Bit
- 21 Jun 2008 #1My System Specs
Re: Encryption - Disable or Enable
- 21 Jun 2008 #2My System Specs
Re: Encryption - Disable or Enable
You have Home Premium if thats correct then you cant use Encrypting File System as it is only available in the Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate version of Vista.
Originally Posted by dmaj 
- 12 Jul 2008 #3My System Specs
Re: Encryption - Disable or Enable
thank you
- 19 Sep 2008 #4My System Specs
Re: Encryption - Disable or Enable
I encrypted several hundred pictures when I had Windows XP. I upgraded to Vista Home Premium and I found out that I can't decrypt them. Any ideas? I was thinking about taking the HDD to a friends house that has XP on it and trying to decrypt from his OS, since I don't want to downgrade to XP...
- 19 Sep 2008 #5
Administrator 
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,529 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 09:40 AM
My System SpecsRe: Encryption - Disable or Enable
Hello Tetsujin210,
Unless you have the EFS certificate from your old XP to add to your friends XP so that you can decrypt them, you will not be able to access them. I'm not sure if this is the exact same method for XP, but this shows you how to add (restore) a EFS cetificate in Vista if you have a copy of it.
Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate Restore
Hope this helps,
Shawn
- 28 Jun 2009 #6My System Specs
Encryption File System needs your Smart Card
Please help: I read in PC Magazine that Vista Ultimate has a nice feature to prevent reading\theft of personal files (i.e. encryption tool) in case a notebook gets stolen.
So, I followed the PC Magazine recommendations and encrypted my personal documents, music, and pictures by right clinking each folder, Advanced, Properties, and Clicking Encrypt. The process took about 2 hrs. I thought all was well but then when I started my computer the next day, and when the desktop loads, there is a message indicating, "Encryption File System needs your Smart Card". When I click this message, a window pops up stating:
Encryption File System
You are encrypting a file or trying to access an encrypted file using a smart card
Enter your Smart Card PIN
Insert Smart Card or
Swipe Finger to Log On
Now, I cannot access my files that I encrypted
My guess is that once I encrypted the files, Vista needs to export the encryption certificate to a Smart Card. Without this, I cannot decrypt my files again. I went to Best Buy, Radio Shack etc and no one sells these cards or card readers. Found a few websites to purchase a Smart Card Reader and Smart Card.
My questions are:
1) Can I decrypt without a Smart Card/Smart Card Reader. I tried going to each folder, right clicking, properties, advanced, and checking decrypt but the above window pops ups.
2) If I do purchase a Smart Card Reader/Smart Card will the certificate be exported and can I then decrypt to make my files as they were prior to the encryption?
3) Is there anything else I can do?
Thank you for your assistance!
Steven
- 28 Jun 2009 #7
Administrator
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,529 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 09:40 AM
My System SpecsRe: Encryption - Disable or Enable
Hello Steven, and welcome to Vista Forums.
Could you post back the link for that article? That does not sound like it was the EFS feature in Vista.
In the mean time, you might be able to use the 30-day trial of the program Advanced EFS Data Recovery to decrypt the files.
- 28 Jun 2012 #8My System Specs
Re: Encryption - Disable or Enable
It's so funny Steven, history repeats....
I have exact same problem in 2012 in Vista.....
I do not know how did you resolve that problem.. Unfortunately I used that option for important files on my laptop and I am stuck...
Brink what do you suggest?
Thank you
Hemant
- 28 Jun 2012 #9
Administrator
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,529 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 09:40 AM
My System SpecsRe: Encryption - Disable or Enable
Hello Hemant, and welcome to Vista Forums.
Could you give some more details about your specific problem?
Encryption - Disable or Enable problems?
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