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Disk Encryption/CD Boot

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by marc.watters

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I have a user who has corrupted WinXP Pro system files. To resolve, I typically boot from the XP cd and run a repair. However, this user has 3rd party disk encryption software installed which requires pre-boot authentication. As soon as the credentials are entered, it boots straight from the HDD with no option to boot from CD. Now, if you login and then hibernate, you can turn the laptop back on without having to enter the encryption password. Is there a way to boot from a CD after coming out of hibernation? Is there a file I can edit that would point Windows to load from CD rather than HDD? Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

13 replies

by jon

Are you hitting F12 doing the initial first bios screen to select boot options? If you aren't I would try that first. Second you can change the bios to boot CD first. Other than that I would use BartPE or another build with buiilt in tools for system recovery. If you are worried about ruining the partition I would suggest imaging it first.

by ---tk---

if the boot sector/entire disk is encrypted, even if you are able to boot to CD you will not be able to view the file system. That is the point of disk encryption! but if you boot to CD to reinstall the OS you can blow it all away and reinstall the OS, but you will lose all their data.

If you can log into the box, I would Decrypt the HDD then boot to CD.... or Call the software vendor's helpdesk...

by marc.watters

having to decrypt, as the process takes between 7-12 hours. I have contacted the vendor as well and that was their recommendation, although I feel it is only because they cannot advocate making changes to any type of Windows system files to bypass the boot straight to HD function. It was my thinking that there must be a file that Windows creates when hibernate is selected. I was thinking that if editing this file to point to the CD to resume from instead of the HD, I could boot it that way. Suggestions?

by ---tk---

How ever you are still going to run into the issue of... If you can not view the file system you will not be able to fix the file system... Um, when you power on I would try to jump into the BIOS and set the boot order to CD and HDD... or sometimes you can hit F2 or F10 to get to the boot menue... but once again, you will not be able to see the file system... I would start the decryption now, and plan on working on the PC tomarrow...

by marc.watters

but there is a loophole to access the hard drive without having to enter the credentials. And that is if you login and then hibernate. Upon resuming, windows begins reloading without the encryption software prompting for credentials. Certainly there must be a way to have windows "resume" hibernation from the CD drive. I've already begun the decryption process as I can't be wasting too much time, however for future reference, that would be a nice work around (if its possible). I appreciate all your help and suggestions.

by marc.watters

That is not an option, as BartPE is a pre-boot environment, hence the disk is still encrypted and inaccessible. I appreciate the suggestion.

by lovena46

impossible that you cant access the data. if you still cant access the encrypted files thats means that it is a wrong iso files and you need to download another one.

if you still face problem let me know can send you mine as its working perfectly and work on it several times and was able to recover my MD data from his laptop.

by lovena46

you are right i made a cd of the iso file of BART PE and it work out well. i was able to enter into windows and do back up of all my data. Note after that a re-formatting of the machine is important otherwise you wont b able to use it.

by marc.watters

I was afraid of. I've already decrypted the disk and repaired the installation, however it still would have been nice to know if it was possible. I really do thank you for your time and effort. Back to work....

by marc.watters

impossible. BartPE won't read the disk because of the encryption. It doesnt show up no matter what file management utility I include in the build. The encryption vendor themselves use a customized version of BartPE with utilities specifically for their software. And unless the disk is mounted first using one of their utilities, Windows/BartPE will not recognize that the drive even exists.

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