How to get access to hidden files on another drive after reformat

So I had some hidden files (media) on another drive, I reformated windows and now the hidden files wont open.
Are they lost for good or is there some way I may unlock them to open!

(WP10)

Thanks alot!

Open File Explorer, select the View tab, check the hidden items check block?

NavyLCDR said:

Open File Explorer, select the View tab, check the hidden items check block?

No the problem is I can see them(after enabling that), I can move them. I just cant open them. cant access file error.
(I think requires permission from my previous account, which i obviously dont have access to any longer)

Owner of Files and Folders - Change in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

You didn't encrypt them or the folder/drive they are in, did you?

NavyLCDR said:

Owner of Files and Folders - Change in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

You didn't encrypt them or the folder/drive they are in, did you?

I only ever marked them as hidden I assumed that didnt encrypt them. but im thinking i may be wrong..

Basically they were hidden went from Wp10 to linux mint. a week later went from linux mint back to wp10
I dont think i accessed the files when in linux. but regardless.
they wouldnt open.

If i try to move it to another hard drive it will say you need administrative permission to move the file.
and it wont allow me to do so.

ramen said:

I only ever marked them as hidden I assumed that didnt encrypt them. but im thinking i may be wrong..

Basically they were hidden went from Wp10 to linux mint. a week later went from linux mint back to wp10
I dont think i accessed the files when in linux. but regardless.
they wouldnt open.

If i try to move it to another hard drive it will say you need administrative permission to move the file.
and it wont allow me to do so.

Well, do the steps in the tutorial to take ownership of them. Hopefully that works.

NavyLCDR said:

Well, do the steps in the tutorial to take ownership of them. Hopefully that works.

Thanks, tried that yesterday, unfortunately didnt help either.

ramen said:

Thanks, tried that yesterday, unfortunately didnt help either.

K. In file explorer, click the view tab. All the way on the right of the menu bar, click options. In folder options that pops up, click the view tab. About 1/2 way down the advanced options list, click the check mark for show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color. Do the files in question appear in green (I think) for encrypted? I think compressed files are blue. IIRC.

Also, have you checked the security properties of the files?

There is also an extreme option you can try. Make an image file of the partition the files are on using Macrium Reflect Free. Then mount the image file back in Macrium Reflect Free and select the option that says "enable access to restricted folders". Try accessing the files from inside the Macrium Reflect Free image.

Macrium Reflect Free

NavyLCDR said:

K. In file explorer, click the view tab. All the way on the right of the menu bar, click options. In folder options that pops up, click the view tab. About 1/2 way down the advanced options list, click the check mark for show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color. Do the files in question appear in green (I think) for encrypted? I think compressed files are blue. IIRC.

Also, have you checked the security properties of the files?

There is also an extreme option you can try. Make an image file of the partition the files are on using Macrium Reflect Free. Then mount the image file back in Macrium Reflect Free and select the option that says "enable access to restricted folders". Try accessing the files from inside the Macrium Reflect Free image.

Macrium Reflect Free

Files are Green,
I have tried changing some security properties. But i dont think it helped unless i did something wrong..

thanks Ill take a look at that program tomorrow.

ramen said:

Files are Green,
I have tried changing some security properties. But i dont think it helped unless i did something wrong..

thanks Ill take a look at that program tomorrow.

Green means they were encrypted. If you didn't backup your encryption key from your previous installation, then there isn't much you can do now. The Macrium Reflect Free program won't decrypt files. It will only let you retrieve files while pretty much ignoring the security settings as in user access settings.

Did you make a system image backup of your previous OS? You could restore that to retrieve and backup your previous encryption key.