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Blocked files (yellow padlock)

pizzle413 Posted messages 144 Status Member -  
brucine Posted messages 25024 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -

Hello everyone!

A few years ago, I created a folder that contained private files, so I applied the "hidden" function to all these files. Then one day, in order to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, I backed up all my files on an external hard drive and installed my new Windows.

However, since then, I can't reopen my private files... They all show a yellow lock on their icon.

I tried with the help of a friend who knows much more about this than I do to change the access, permissions, users, etc... but nothing works. My friend thinks that maybe I should reinstall the old Windows to change the permissions (and I have an old computer where I could do this), but my installation file no longer works (probably because it was a pirated version unfortunately).

Does anyone have a solution? Has this ever happened to you? Do you think buying a Windows 8.1 would do the trick?

If you could help me, it would be really amazing.

Thanks

Matt

3 answers

  2.
    brucine Posted messages 25024 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 181
     

    Hello,

    We don't know how you encrypted the famous files, but if the reverse operation can only be done on Windows 8.1, we can perfectly do it with a generic key that will allow temporary work without activation:

    https://lecrabeinfo.net/telecharger-iso-windows-8-1.html

    The catch, if you don't have a second machine, is that you'll need to partition yours, then install Windows 8.1 in a dual boot, and finally restore the boot sector if it was affected by the operation, and of course after either burning a DVD or creating an installation key (with Rufus or equivalent) from the ISO.

    Not to mention, after achieving the desired result, to format the Windows 8.1 partition and reclaim the disk space to return to the original situation.

    So it's a significant task that's only feasible if these files are a casus belli; come back for clarification if you are considering this and need it.

    A second hypothesis, if these files simply had their attributes changed to hide them, suggests that on the Windows 10 installation in NTFS, user rights are not the same or considered different from those under Windows 8.

    Assuming these files are all placed in the folder E:\OLD where E:\ describes the letter of the external disk drive, open cmd.exe as an administrator.

    If you don't have a utility that fixes the letters of removable drives, be cautious; start by verifying that it's the right one by checking its contents with DIR E:\ /P

    Then enter ATTRIB -H E:\OLD\*.*

    and see if you get the expected result.

    If a question of file rights comes into play, try via

    TAKEOWN /f /r E:\OLD\*.*

    and repeat the ATTRIB operation if necessary.

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    1. pizzle413 Posted messages 144 Status Member 1
       

      Thank you very much for this detailed response!

      I tried the command prompt method but I'm getting error messages like:

      "The syntax of the filename, directory, or volume is incorrect"

      "Incorrect parameter format"

      "ATTRIB -H is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file"

      I'm going to attempt to install Windows 8.1 on another old computer I no longer use.

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    2. pizzle413 Posted messages 144 Status Member 1
       

      And when I try to move the files, I get the message:

      "You need permission from DESKTOP-8GLU9HD\Administrator"

      Isn't that the name of my profile on my old Windows?

      EDIT: I just realized that it’s the name of my computer… oh dear :/

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      1. brucine Posted messages 25024 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 181 > pizzle413 Posted messages 144 Status Member
         

        You must have made a syntax error, or me, not sure that the ATTRIB command accepts wildcards for directories; try:

        ATTRIB -H E:\OLD

        of course replacing with your own values, but not sure that the operation will apply to the files in OLD, in which case you would have to go one by one.

        ATTRIB -H E:\OLD\toto.txt

        but if you can't even move them, it's that you don't have user rights on these files.

        Try to assign them to yourself using the TAKEOWN command as above (normally, it accepts wildcards but do it one by one in the opposite case) or by CACLS (always running CMD as administrator):

        ECHO Y| CACLS E:\OLD /E /T /C /G "Me":F

        Where "Me" is your username (or that of the administrator if that's who is required).

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  3. pizzle413 Posted messages 144 Status Member 1
     

    Well, I've tried everything and unfortunately nothing works. I also can't install Windows 8.1 on my other computer (I get the message "failed to determine the installation choices supported by the installer" which comes up after entering the password and accepting the terms of the contract)

    Especially since I wouldn't know how to get 10 back afterwards!

    I think I should wait to know a hacker and have him come over to try to brute force the thing...

    Thank you for your help !!!!

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    1. brucine Posted messages 25024 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 181
       

      And how did you try to install your Windows 8?

      Through a downgrade from Windows 10 (which almost systematically triggers the message in question), or from an ISO on a USB/DVD on a formatted PC?

      In the latter case, the error is also documented for OEM Windows 8 licenses and there’s nothing we can do about it, because the installation needs to read a file in the computer's boot sector, which has been formatted; one can then attempt the installation with a generic key that installs temporarily without activating, but we don’t want more than that.

      https://lecrabeinfo.net/cles-de-produit-generiques-pour-installer-windows-10-8-7-vista-xp.html

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