File Share Encryption

 View Only
  • 1.  How can I decrypt my system hdd while booting from an install CD?

    Posted Apr 10, 2011 08:35 AM
    My Problem: My Mac OS X 10.6 won't boot and I know why this is: I moved a kernel extension file out of the system folder by mistake before. I know how stupid this is but I cannot make it unhappen. The thing is, the file could (probably) be "easily" restored in it's place by starting the system from a OS X installation CD and reinstalling the system over the existing system. But: PGP WDE won't ask me for my password when booting from the CD. That's why the disk remains encrypted and I cannot reinstall anything because the hard drive will not be recognized by the installation application. Is there any way to make PGP decrypting the hard drive before booting from CD or while being in the cd-booted installation application? Thanks in advance for any help!


  • 2.  RE: How can I decrypt my system hdd while booting from an install CD?

    Posted Apr 11, 2011 09:09 AM

    You can't.  You have to boot from an OSX installation with PGP installed.



  • 3.  RE: How can I decrypt my system hdd while booting from an install CD?

    Posted Apr 11, 2011 01:10 PM
    You have two options. Basically you can decrypt and then fix or using target mode attempt to fix it in place. Target mode. Find another Mac with PGP installed. Turn your broken system off. Connect a firewire cable to the two machines. Now boot the broken Mac while holding down 'T' on the keyboard. You will see a firewire symbol appear on screen. The other Mac will ask for your passphrase. Now you will see the broken system mounted as a firewire drive. You could copy the file or decrypt the disk at this point. Recovery CD Boot using a receovery cd. This will ask if you want to decrypt your system. Let it.


  • 4.  RE: How can I decrypt my system hdd while booting from an install CD?

    Posted Apr 11, 2011 06:42 PM
    Thanks sperrysymc! I did that and copied the kernel extension back to the system folder. Nevertheless the system doesn't boot. Maybe the access rights are wrong now. And the Single User Mode tells me that it can't load a dozen of files, not only that one kernel extension. As I am not familiar with the terminal and how to change access rights there, I will now try to install Snow Leopard over that FireWire connection over the old system. I hope that will work and repair enough to make the machine boot again.