How to Decrypt files (External Drive) that was encrypted on a laptop that had just been formatted (windows 10). No backed up Certificates and whatnot.

I did not use BITLOCKER. I used EFS. I can't locate the Encryption Certificate that I have backed up before. I can't make another back up because the laptop was already formatted.

Okay. Let me try to make the situation explained in a much simpler way or another scenario but will experience the same problem as I have now.

Let's just say I encrypted a file using my laptop. Then, I saved the file in my External drive. But an unfortunate event happened. My laptop got stolen and can no longer be retrieved. I still have my external drive with me though.

So, I buy a new laptop. Now, I want to access my encrypted file that I have saved in my External Drive. But unfortunately, my new laptop cannot access and neither decrypt my encrypted file that I have saved in my external drive. Now, I am looking for a way/solution to decrypt and access my file again.

If there is someone who can teach me how I can do it on my own, I would appreciate it.

Thank you for the responses but unfortunately, I don't think it will help.

Here's is my problem again.

I want to decrypt a FILE that I have saved and encrypted in my EXTERNAL DRIVE. External Drive is not the one that was encrypted.

I can't decrypt the FILE as of the moment because the laptop that I used when I encrypted the FILE was formatted by someone. If I had only known that it was going to be formatted, I should have decrypted the FILE first. But unfortunately, it wasn't the case. So, I am now faced with a terrible problem because my current OS is not giving me the permission to decrypt it or access this said file.

I have tried looking for solutions, like, Changing the ownership and giving full permission (Properties) of the file but I still encounter the same error 0x80071771. Now If there are anybody out there who can teach me how to decrypt my file on my own, I would appreciate it so much.

No BITLOCKER involved because it's not the External Drive that I have encrypted but a FILE that is saved in the External Drive.

I would say the file is lost if you don't have the certificate or didn't backup to external media.

So how or what did you use to encrypt the file. (you say it's not BitLocker related)

When you encrypt a file or use BitLocker it should have a key that is used to access the file otherwise you cannot decrypt it.