There MUST be a way! EFS (after reformat)

Brink, a moderator on Vistax64, who I think contributes on here, has given endless amounts of awesome tutorials and workarounds.

Kudos for the slipstream how-to.

However, this one remains unsolved. I haven't tried his workaround, but am working on this third party app to solve the unsolvable:

I'm working in Windows 7 x64 (Home Premium,) and somehow managed using EFS and Encrypted several files that got moved to an External Hard Drive prior to reformat.

Now, no matter what I do (TakeOwnership via ICACLS/CACLS, etc.,) changing permissions, security tabs, nothing works.

Apparently, per Brink's article, if you DO, indeed, backup your certificate, you can decrypt them. If NOT, then it's more or less a definite NO.

Suggested at the end (after the workaround,) was an app: Advanced EFS Data Recovery.

I managed to find a friend with a full version... it does a great job of gathering-up all the encrypted files, locating the keys on the C:\ drive, and all that, but can't decrypt the other files.

In truth, I could always go back and re-download what I want.

This is just an interesting point of discussion; what's the workaround for this (and what am I NOT doing with this program?) BTW, it's Elcomsoft's Advanced (blah blah.)

Any input would be invaluable. Thanks, everyone.