File Encryption certificate and key

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Starting yesterday on my Windows Vista Ultimate PC I have this message showing up in the notification area saying

"Back up your file encryption certificate and key"
"Creating this backup file helps you avoid permanently losing access to your encrypted files if the original certificate and key are lost or corrupted"

Then the options: "Back up now: You should back up the certificate and key to removable media" "Back up Later" and "Never back up: You could lose access to your encrypted files"

I havn't a clue what this is about, I've never encrypted any files and I don't have any removable media that's encrypted either

Any thought or ideas what this could be about?

[Simetrical]

It sounds like something on your machine is indeed encrypted. No idea how to tell what, though, on Windows.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Well, whatever it is that's encrypted it's not something of mine so I suppose I could just ignore the notification then right? Or do you think windows could have gone and encrypted files on my computer in which case I should back up the key.

[Simetrical]

I have no idea how Windows encryption works, sorry. It might be something of yours, I have no idea.

[Freddie]

What happens when you press "Back up now"?

[Top-Tier-Tech]

I seem to have solved the issue, an attachment that I had viewed from a post on these forums was saved to my documents and apparently it was an encrypted file. After I noticed it in my documents and deleted it the message hasn't popped up again.