Encrypted files and folders

Hi I recently reformatted my laptop from windows 8 to windows 8.1.
Before reformatting I backed up folders and files onto my external drive. Whilst doing so I forgot that most folders and files were encrypted using the normal encryption windows uses (right click on folder>properties>advanced>advanced attributes>ticked the "Encrypt contents to secure data")
Now that I have done the reformat I cannot open any of those files and I have tried giving it full access permission but I always get the error message saying access denied (see screenshot attached)
Could anyone advise me on how to proceed ? This is really annoying and I am talking about 76.8 GB of files here including pictures, documents, films etc.
Thanks !encryptionproblemerrormessage.PNG
 
You are in DEEP KAKA. The only way to get those encrypted backups opened is to use the Recovery Agent and it must have been created when the filesystem was still viable.

see this write up.

Our personal PCs should never use EFS - - it is intended for Domain users.
 
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