System Restore- BitLocker

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brendan T
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Brendan T

Thanks to the help of MICHAEL and others on these boards I managed to get
B/L up and running without TPM.
Having set-up to encrypt, using my USB key, printing a copy of my password,
and restarting my computer to enable encryption, I get an error message that
B/L cannot read from my key. There were some suggestions that I check my
BIOS. I'm getting out of my depth. Help please !
 
Brendan T said:
Thanks to the help of MICHAEL and others on these boards I managed to get B/L up and running
without TPM.
Having set-up to encrypt, using my USB key, printing a copy of my password, and restarting my
computer to enable encryption, I get an error message that B/L cannot read from my key. There
were some suggestions that I check my BIOS. I'm getting out of my depth. Help please !
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, BitLocker has a problem reading some USB flash
drives. If you are using BitLocker to protect your System Restore
points, you can go back into Bitlocker's settings and "turn-off" Bitlocker.
That doesn't decrypt your Vista partition- that's a separate option- but
by "turning off" Bitlocker, you will not have to go through the authentication
at bootup. But, your Vista volume will stay encrypted and the restore
points will stay protected.


-Michael
 
Thanks again, Michael.
Is it possible that my Vista volume was encrypted at all ?
1. I went through the process of setting up the USB key for password etc,
2. Message-" leave key in place, restart computer at which stage BitLocker
will start the encryption of your volume."
3. On restarting get immediate message that B/L can't read from USB key. B/L
switches to off.
Sorry for seeming so obtuse, but to repeat myself.- can the Vista volume
have been encrypted in this scenario?
Should I try a new USB key?
Regards.
 
Just skip that whole pre-checking of the USB key thing.
That is done prior to encryption. You'd know if your
Vista volume was encrypted because it takes a long time,
it does it while you are already signed into Vista.

After you encrypt Vista, just go back into the settings and
turn-off Bitlocker. You'll see an option to also decrypt- choose
to just turn off Bitlocker.

For safe keeping- print out or write down the long password Bitlocker
will give you, that can be used for authentication instead of the
USB key.

You can try another USB flash drive, if you want to.

-Michael
 
Thanks again Michael, but I'm afraid we have a more fundamental problem
here.
At stage 3 as outlined in my last message, the error message states, in
addition, that the drive cannot be encrypted and invites me to try again
(which, of course, I have several times). Something I'm missing out on ? I
believe that I've followed all instructions meticulously, but I cannot seem
to get my drive encrypted,

Regarrs and appreciation for your patience,
 
Michael- Sorry my mistake. On revision I followed your instructions again
and this time it worked. I should be put away.
Regards and Thanks
 
Michael,

I have noticed you and others mention using bitlocker to protect system
restore points. I am currently doing that but am asked for the "key" at start
up. This isn't a big problem since I use a USB drive and it works fine.

You also mention "turning off" bitlocker so that the key requirement isn't
needed. I just have a few questions:

1. When bitlocker is turned off will all NEW restore points be safe or just
the ones that were originally encrypted?
2. Is it safe to assume that if I want a fold on my Vista install (say my
documents) visible while in XP then I won’t be able to use bitlocker at all
(since now my vista drive shows as an empty drive)
Tnx Jeff
 
Jeff said:
Michael,

I have noticed you and others mention using bitlocker to protect system
restore points. I am currently doing that but am asked for the "key" at start
up. This isn't a big problem since I use a USB drive and it works fine.

You also mention "turning off" bitlocker so that the key requirement isn't
needed. I just have a few questions:

1. When bitlocker is turned off will all NEW restore points be safe or just
the ones that were originally encrypted?
Click to expand...

There are two separate things you can do when you go into
BitLocker's options and turn it off. When you select the option,
you can either "turn off" BitLocker or "Decrypt". By chosing
"turn off", all you do is turn off bootup authentication. Your Vista
volume stays encrypted. As long as you don't select "Decrypt",
Vista's restore points will be fine.

If you select "Decrypt", then *everything* on Vista's volume will
be decrypted. So, select "turn off" only, and not "decrypt".
2. Is it safe to assume that if I want a fold on my Vista install (say my
documents) visible while in XP then I won’t be able to use bitlocker at all
(since now my vista drive shows as an empty drive)
Click to expand...

That's correct. Vista will be able to see XP just fine. But, Vista will
look like an unformatted volume to XP.

Take care,

Michael
 
Jeff, you are given two options when turning off Bitlocker.

Turn off without decrypting- which only turns off bootup authentication,
but it does not decrypt Vista's volume.

Or, Decrypt.

-Michael
 
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