The potential for this problem is why I once suggested in another thread that I would never use windows encryption. It is tied to the user security ID and that will always be lost if you completely remove the OS. No good encryption algorythm is breakable unless you have the key. Before you replace the OS, the key still exists somewhere in the entrails of windows, and it is probably possible to retrieve it with the right software, once you format and reinstall, I can't imagine anything being able to get it back. Sorry. FYI there are 3rd party applications that can save and encrypt your data and that don't tie themselves to the windows user. With one of these, you could always just reinstall the application and then recover your data. But that's for next time.

And next time, please accept that blank CDs are not only extremely inexpensive, they are the best security your data can have. If data is crucial, it deserves daily backups.

Thanks For Everything!

Bye