File Share Encryption

Hi,

Due to lack of kernel support for kernel versions above 2.6.28-18 (Ubuntu 9.04 LTS).  I tried to install Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (as 9.04 will be unsupported after next month - April 2011) through their Wubi installer which installs Ubuntu in a virtual file system on top of the NTFS filesystem.  Grub is then chain loaded using the Windows Boot Loader, which then uses the virtual filesystem to boot Ubuntu.  This works perfectly under Windows 7 prior to applying WDE.  After WDE, I receive "Missing MBR-helper." error message after I have entered my PGP passphrase, and after I have selected "Ubuntu" in the Windows Boot Loader menu.  Clearly, Grub can no longer see the virtual filesystem.  Does anyone know why this is happening as I would assume that once you have entered the correct passphrase the NTFS filesystem should be accessible to the Windows boot loader and therefore to Grub too?

Any help, greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

P

Hi!

I don't think that GRUB is compatible with PGP WDE Bootguard. I haven't tested it yet, but I think the Bootguard file system (which is saved in point zero of the disk) may interfiere with the GRUB file system (take in count that the BFS (Bootguard file system) modifies the MBR).

Maybe if you install first WDE and then GRUB this shouldn't happen.

Anyway, this can help you to understand how BFS works:
http://download.pgp.com/pdfs/whitepapers/HWDEW_WP.pdf

Thanks.  That PDF cleared up the confusion in my head of how WDE works, but doesn't solve my underlying problem, which is to get a supported version of PGP WDE working on Ubuntu 10.xx.  Hopefully, a new version will come out with later linux kernel support!