EFS: How to decrypt encrypted files with a lost Recovery Agent

Hi, please help!

I was experimenting with EFS and encrypt some folders in my data hard disk (drive D, second hard drive).

After awhile I formatted my C: hard drive and reinstalled W2k Pro on that PC. And yes, I didn’t backup the Recovery Agent for those encrypted folders! 🙁

Now I cannot open or decrypt those encrypted files on my data disk.

Is there a way for me to open those encrypted files? I’ve tried copying the encrypted files to a FAT drive and open the files from there, but still got error message saying that the files are in use.

thx,