A few FAQ about EFS: 1. When you crypt a file for the first time, a certificat is created combining your user SID & your NT passwd. 2. When NOT in a active directory environment, there's no "recovery agent" 3. When NOT exported, the certificat is not a file. 4. If admin or power user change your passwd, they will not able to access your data and you neither, your passwd must be changed by loging in and then Ctrl+alt+del or thru control pannel. My personnal opnion is that there's always a way in computing, but at witch price, how long a you ready to wait and do you have the knowledge to do it. I don't think Microsoft had developed a solution to encrypt data that Will be SO easy to hack. I think you should forget your data. To other msfn expert: correct me if i'm wrong