derrmc: According to what I read while I was poking around the key's that windows uses for encryption/decryption are randomly generated so a a later install on the same machine will have totally different keys. I'm really bummed about the whole situation as it looks like there is absolutely no way to get the data decrypted without professional data recovery services. Even programs that claim they can decrypt EFS files can only do so if you still have the installation of windows with the keys!
This seems like too much power to have over potentially important data to be initiated with a checkbox. My aunts family has no idea how it was even turned on. I dont have a problem with the system in general, but they should prompt you to save the keys when you turn it on and WARN you of the danger. I'll be on a much higher lookout for efs in the future, but it really sucks to get burned like that in the present!
>=o(
