help with encryped files

I know this might be move. ok i have win rar. i encryped some pictures. now i cant access them. it shows that my user name has permission to access but says access denied. the files names are green. recently my external gave out loosing all my pictures that were on there. lucky for me i had copied them to my current drive. i encryped them with windows vista. i was able to use them before until today that i found them again and i have tried everything i know to open them. with no luck. i would really apreciate it if anyone could help me with this.