Microsoft KB Archive/890951

= You cannot access EFS files after you change the user password to a new password on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer =

Article ID: 890951

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario:
 * 1) You use a Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer.
 * 2) You log on to the computer as a local user.
 * 3) You receive a password expiry notification message.
 * 4) You change the password to a new password.

In this scenario, after you change the password, you cannot access the Encrypting File System (EFS) files on your computer. Additionally, you may notice that you can access the EFS files if you change the password back to the old password.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the user profile for the current user is not loaded correctly after you change the password.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
This hotfix requires Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.   Date         Time   Version           Size     File name --  10-Dec-2004  18:25  5.1.2600.2580     721,920  Lsasrv.dll

You can also resolve this problem by running the following command at a command prompt:

WindowsXP-KB924270-x86-ENU.exe /B:SP2QFE.Execture &quot;WindowsXP-KB924270-x86-ENU.exe /B:SP2QFE

To download the WindowsXP-KB924270-x86-ENU.exe file, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f4c8e767-4ed2-4e36-aa43-612f3017efc7&DisplayLang=en



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
This problem also affects applications that use Data Protection API (DPAPI). To prevent this, apply the hotfix described in this article. If you have already experienced the problem, change the password to the old password after you apply the hotfix. Then change the password to blank. After that, EFS will encrypt the files correctly even if users change their passwords.

For more information about standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbwinxppresp3fix kbfix kbbug KB890951

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