text: i need to decrypt files on an external hard drive to gain access to them.? i formated my computer and reloaded the original soft ware; my files had already been backed up onto an external hard drive and were encrypted using winows xp pro. i have tried to gain access to my files on the external hard drive by un checking the encrypt contents to secure data box in the advance section of properties; but it keeps coming up "access denied". the folders can be decrypted but not the files. i would please like to know if there is any way to decrypt my files, thank you very much. from the information that you give answer is no  if you backed up your key it is possible  read the first link