File Share Encryption

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  • 1.  PGP WDE (Whole Disk Encryption) & Windows 7 Recovery

    Posted Nov 06, 2012 09:57 PM

     

    Here is my computer setting:
     
    Windows 7 Ultimate Sp1 64bit w/
    PGP Whole Disk Encryption
     
     
    and the following is what I did that caused the issue:
     
    1. Restarted the computer - Successful
    2. Ran MSCONFIG -> Changed "General" Setting to perform "Diagnostic startup"
    3. "System Configuration" window froze for about 10 minutes
    4. Restarted the computer (not a cold reboot)
    5. Computer wasn't booting to Windows
    6. Created Windows Repair Disk
    7. Booted to the Repair Disk and ran "Startup Repair" -> Failed
    8. Booted to the Repair Disk and ran "Command Prompt"
    9. Excuted "bootrec /fixboot" - Successful
    10. Excuted "bootrec /fixmbr" - Successful
    11. Restarted the computer and it doesn't go past the BIOS screen where it shows your available drives. It doesn't even ask for PGP password anymore.
     
    I really need to recover the disk and data, but I need help.
     
    If recovering the Windows is impossible, how can I access the data stored on the drive?
     
    Please help.
     
    Thank you!


  • 2.  RE: PGP WDE (Whole Disk Encryption) & Windows 7 Recovery

    Posted Nov 07, 2012 04:04 AM

    If you cannot recover Windows, there are 2 things you can do:

    1. Take out the HDD, put it into another computer with PGP Desktop installed and decrypt it that way
    2. Use the PGP Recovery CD (Will take a VERY long time to decrypt)

    Only do number 2 if ALL else fails, it can take days and days and days depending on the size of the disk.



  • 3.  RE: PGP WDE (Whole Disk Encryption) & Windows 7 Recovery

    Posted Nov 08, 2012 10:20 AM

    PGP recovery disk may be able to fix your boot issues by repairing the MBR that was erased with fixboot and fixmbr. I'd try using the recovery disk to fix the boot issues first, if that doesn't work i would do what Alex_CST says to do. Decrypting via cd takes forever.. and sometimes it fails or stalls.

    Recovery Disk
    http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH176201

     

    http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH149679

    Use the Recovery Disk with the following instructions if experiencing blue screen failures at boot up: 

    1. Boot with PGP Recovery Disk. 
    2. Do not continue with the normal sequence of entering a passphrase. 
    3. Go to the "advanced" panel. 
    4. This message "PGPWDE record inconsistency on 1 disk(s) was found and fixed" might be displayed. If this message is seen, the BSOD (blue screen failure) will be fixed. 
    5. Return back to the previous screen and continue boot from recovery CD. Rebooting without the Recovery Disk in the drive is also okay.