EFS sucks

[Zero Shift]

Hey all.
I think the data on one of my computers has fallen victim to the worst possible thing ever.
I had encrypted it using Windows XP's EFS file encryption for safe keeping, and some genious thought it was a good idea to back up the data onto a spare hard disk.
Ok, maybe the sarcasm is a bit misplaced. backing up my data is a good thing.
But...
It was stored in it's encrypted state.

I eventually re-installed Windows, and found my data was not accessible.
No certificates were exported or anything.
I have no encryption key. No recovery agent, since all that was backed up was the data to be protected.
Nothing but a good 3 Gb of files and movies that I have, but don't at the same time.

I've heard horror stories about this before, that it would take a hundred years to find the key through brute-force methods.
Is there any way, at ALL, to get this stuff back?
Even if i try brute force, I WILL leave a computer running silently in the corner, for YEARS, if I have to.
Any advice, links, or solutions will earn you my undying gratitude.
...and maybe a favor or two ;P

 

[RyanOldw83]

There is absolutely no way i can think of to unencrypt your files without the DRA.

 

[Apokalipse]

unless you can find the key, do you know your product key before? (don't tell us the key though)
if you don't know, it just might be possible to open in notepad or something and try and find the key