Password Lock For Remote Hard Drive

I did a search and found a couple of threads (one started by me back in '06) that suggested I try TrueCrypt. I've been using it since '06 and it has worked well.

Sadly TrueCrypt is no more and the last version will not work on a Win 7 PC.

So, I'm back!

Actually, TrueCrypt was a bit of overkill since I don't want to encrypt the entire hard drive nor even a portion of it (which TrueCrypt did) as is the case for the all the software I found via Google, including BitLocker Drive Encryption that comes with Win 7.

I just want to "put a password lock" on the drive so it can't be accessed without first entering a password. Much like the password protection provided for a PC by Win 7. No encryption, just a password lock on the PC itself.

Don't need or want to encrypt the contents (files) on the drive. Just need to prevent "opening" the drive by requiring a password.

Any suggestions? Thanks

 

Don't know about a whole drive but for individual folders I have used Magic Folders. Here's an about page with a link for different versions of windows. Encryption is available but not required. I've used it on 98 xp and now vista.

http://pc-magic.com/des.htm#mf

 

I don't know how I have TrueCrypt running on my Win 7 x64 and no one else can do it?

A lock would not do much... well technically.. you can lock hard drives but I've only seen it with older drives & on Xboxes.. so here are some other options (encrypted)

http://www.startech.com/Search?search_term=S2510BU3PW

http://www.cyberguys.com/product-search/?keyword=secure+hard+drive+enclosure
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342798,00.asp
http://www.ironkey.com/en-US/encrypted-storage-drives/h200-biometric.html

 

Imandy Mann - Magic Folders appears to be viable. Two questions - 1. You say you run it on Vista. Have you run it on Win 7? 2. Since it protects access at the file level, do you think it would, in effect, protect at the hard drive level, if all the files, etc. were placed in a single folder on the drive?

foogoo - You ask the question - "I don't know how I have TrueCrypt running on my Win 7 x64 and no one else can do it?"

I have the last download of the last version of TrueCrypt. I successfully installed it on my new Win 7 PC and it seemed to perform as before on my XP machine. However, when I opened a file (xxx.txt) Win 7 marked it as Read Only. Attempts to remove that property proved to be futile. I can't recall the exact Win 7 reaction except to say that I got the impression that Win 7 didn't want me to "use" TrueCrypt and was merely providing a way to "retrieve" any files that were encrypted by TrueCrypt so I could migrate them to another encryption system. So I removed (uninstalled) the TrueCrypt program and stopped trying to use it. It is still running on my #2 PC (Win XP).

 

For your questions

1. I installed on our 7 just now.

2. Have no remote drive so I took a thumbdrive and moved everything to a Test folder so all I had was sysvolumninfo and test folders. Display says since its removable it will still show up on other computers. It says Encrypted Magic Folders will still show up but be encrypted. It's other option was to try CD-Lock for this configuration. 15 day trail and a spare thumbdrive you could see how it works.

 

Imandy Mann - Downloaded and installed "Easy File Locker" on my Win 7 system. Performed a password protection on a folder on a remote (USB) attached hard drive.

The program performed as advertised, but as you mentioned, if you attach the drive via a USB port to another PC, it will appear as an ordinary folder that can be opened, etc.

So, that won't be a solution.

My next experiment will be with Encrypted Magic Folders, although I would rather not use encryption, but it seems every offering performs encryption as part of the password protection.

My aversion to encryption is based on my knowledge of the encryption process. It is achieved by using a very sophisticated algorithm that depends on the integrity of the file characters. If any character becomes corrupted (or unreadable), there can be no decrypt. It's an all or nothing situation which makes it very secure (desirable) but in lieu of the "corruption" problem, it casn be unreliable. Not the algorithm, but the hard drive, although the encryption program itself could be buggy and that would have the same effect.

I never had a problem with TrueCrypt. No read error or corruption problems on a number of external hard drives. But during that period I had more than one incident of losing an index (even losing Windows a few times) or encountering file corruption. Fortunately never on the TrueCrypt files. Those problems are usually recoverable with ordinary files, etc. but if the file is encrypted, it's gone!

Backup is the solution to most of those problems, but it such a hassle. With encrypted files, the backup has to be every time you use the file or accept some loss.

Anyway, thanks for the help and I'll think about pressing ahead.

 

I just installed it on an 8.1(Truecrypt) and it did exactly as you described. What I had to do differently was -right click--select-run as administrator- -- both when creating AND opening the encrypted container. It works just like you're used to except for this right clicking.

 

Please be more specific about when to do the right click thing.

What I am used to doing is 1. Start up TrueCrypt and getting a screen that has me highlight an unused hard drive - example I: - and then asks to select the file (by browsing) that I want to open (mount). In my case it's a large file (on the H: real hard drive), filled with smaller files that are not shown. All that is shown is the file name with no extension. 2. Once I've done that, I mount that file by using the correct password. TrueCrypt decrypts and mounts the file on I: 3. I can then use "Explorer" to display all those files on I: (as if it were a real hard drive) and click on the specific file I want to open. Is this where I do the right click thing? 4. I can then read the file contents. 5. Then if I try to change (or add anything) to this file, when I click on "Save" Win 7 pops up and tells me it's a "Read Only" and my only option is to "Save As" using a different name. Win 7 will not allow me to change the "Read Only" property of this file nor make changes and do a "Save."

Thanks for your help on this.

 

First time I installed it on 8.1 I deleted it and started over by installing with a right click on the setup file and chose -run as administrator-When it ran I created a new test.sy_s document on the desktop then copied it to the c:\ drive. That test.sy_s file was what I used for the truecrypt container. Password was same as the name. Ran through the mouse movement for encryption strength then formatted. Took 5 minutes for a 48 gig format. When done closed truecrypt. Then to open the container in write mode you have to start 'truecrypt' in the -right click- run as administrator- mode again. Every time. I'm finding with '7' and '8' to just use right click all the time. I'll hope for a way around this but it doesn't look promising.

 

OK. Understand it's about installing and starting TrueCrypt.

I'll do that, probably sometime tomorrow.

Since I already have a TrueCrypt volume (container - about 100 Gig) I'll be able to test whether or not it will operate as before or if I need to create a new volume (container) for it to pass the administrator test.

If that works, I'll be content to use the "right click" all the time. Small price to get TrueCrypt back.

Thanks much for all your effort in finding a way around Win 7 restrictions. I'll let you know how the "test" works out with an existing TrueCrypt volume.

 

No success. Installed (and removed - uninstalled) twice. Tried to use right click every time a button appeared, which I normally would left click. When right click didn't do anything, left clicked and most of the time up popped a message from Win 7 telling me TrueCrypt was no longer secure and to use BitLocker (detailed instructions included in the message).

Wouldn't let me create a new encrypted volume, no matter what I clicked. When I finally got TrueCrypt installed over numerous objection of Win 7, it would only allow me to open existing TrueCrypt volumes and files all of which were "Read Only"

Trying to create a new volume was always blocked by the Win 7 message that TrueCrypt was no longer secure and gave me instructions on how to use Bit Locker.

I was able to resist kicking the display monitor screen.

 

What version do you have? I have 7.1.1.0 also called 7.1a from January after a re-install of windows. Seems I recall trcypt put out a final version just to allow access to old files. Sound like what yours is doing.? I'll try this version on the '7 after it gets done with games.

 

TrueCrypt 7.2 dtd 9/20/2014. It's probably that final version you mentioned and it was already "in bed" with Windows 7 to make it dysfunctional.

I have another old download TrueCrypt 6.2a dtd 7/17/2009. I seem to recall that it had a couple of bugs. Don't know how or even if I missed 7.1.1.0, but it's not in my old downloads folder.

 

I installed my old TrueCrypt 6.2a.(dtd 2009) Ironically, it started with a warning from TrueCrypt that this version may have bugs since Win 7 is unstable and until Win 7 stabilizes, there may be some functions in this version of TrueCrypt that will not work correctly.

I've only used it briefly and except for the occasional hassle with the "Read Only" crap, I assume from Win 7, it seems to be working as before.

I can open my old encrypted volumes and the files within. Haven't tried creating new volumes, but that will be next.

Thanks to Imandy Mann, I arrived at a point where I have TrueCrypt back and working as before on a Win 7 machine. Time will tell.

Since my #2 PC is still an XP machine, I plan to use it for much of the TrueCrypt files, but it is nice to know that I can, if needed, process any of those files on #1 PC that's using Win 7.

One wonders when Microsoft is going to shoot Win 7 in the head as they have XP.

 

No need to wonder

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/lifecycle

 

To avoid re-inventing the wheel I have used
http://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Folders-With-Passwords
ever since I can remember this process works, hopefully it will do what you want.

 

That's what Microsoft has posted. They lie all the time.

I think it's their attempt to get users to do what Microsoft wants, not what the users (customers) want.

It's probably what they do to force the OEM guys to do what Microsoft wants. I think that used to called "constraint of trade."

I recently purchased a new PC that was offered with Win 8.1. only. I contacted the (major) manufacturer directly and told him I wanted to order that exact machine from him only loaded with Win 7. He said no problem, the cost is an additional $100. Then he gave me a $100 discount coupon to be used with the purchase, along with free shipping.

 

Of course you can get a new machine with Win 7, bought one myself quite recently. It doesn't alter the EoL date. Supporting superceded OSs costs MS a lot of money so I don't foresee any repetition of the extensions XP got or any foreshortening either.

 

I just tried out 7.1a on a '7 64bit Home premium sp1 and it works as normal. After making a tc volumn it gave me perfect access. Even tried left clicking and still it works normal. Only difference is since the '7 is 99% offline UAC is set to 'never notify'. never a peep about read only or bitlocker.

Was going to upload a zipped copy but it is 2.7mb and can only post 2mb.rolleyes

 

Found this topic on hiding drives, not really passwording it. I remember removing drives in device manager before in xp. This tip is for diskpart.

http://blog.unlockforus.org/2013/01/how-to-make-disk-drive-invisible-or.html