Hello! I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble decrypting your files. Let's try to troubleshoot the issue.
Firstly, make sure that you have the correct password or recovery key for the encrypted files. Without the correct credentials, it will be impossible to decrypt the files.
If you are sure that you have the correct credentials, follow these steps to try and decrypt the files:
1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer and ensure that it is recognized by the system.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the encrypted files on the external hard drive.
3. Right-click on the encrypted file or folder and select "Properties."
4. In the Properties window, go to the "General" tab and click on the "Advanced" button.
5. In the Advanced Attributes window, uncheck the "Encrypt contents to secure data" option.
6. Click "OK" to close the window.
7. In the Properties window, click on the "Security" tab.
8. Click on the "Advanced" button.
9. In the Advanced Security Settings window, click on the "Change" link next to the owner's name.
10. Enter your user account name in the "Enter the object name to select" field, and click "Check Names." If your account name is verified, click "OK."
11. Check the box that says "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" and click "Apply." This will change the ownership of all files and folders within the encrypted folder.
12. Once the ownership is changed, go back to the "Security" tab in the Properties window.
13. Click on the "Edit" button and select your user account from the list.
14. Check the box that says "Full Control" under the "Allow" column, and click "Apply."
15. Close all windows and try to access the files on the external hard drive again.
If the above steps don't work, it's possible that the encryption key has been corrupted or lost. In such cases, it may not be possible to decrypt the files without professional help.
I recommend reaching out to a data recovery specialist who can assist you in recovering your encrypted files. They have the necessary tools and expertise to handle such situations.
Remember to always keep backups of important files to avoid situations like this in the future. Good luck!
