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Encrypting both OSX and Bootcamp

D

digiphantom

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 20, 2008
115
3
Hi all,

I want to encrypt my MBP. I'm running both OSX and a Win7 bootcamp. I also have VMWare Fusion installed to access my bootcamp partition as needed.

Majority of the time I'm working in Windows, but there are times I also need to be on OSX.

What's the best way to encrypt both OS? Currently, I'm considering Filevault on OSX and TrueCrypt 7.1a on the Windows side.


Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks.
 
VeraCrypt is a good alternative of now deprecated truecrypt. (I have lost a lot of data by mistakenly overwriting my unlock key files, sigh)
But for Windows partition encryption bitlocker is absolutely a better choice.
However, be careful to notice if FileVault encrypts entire disk or just Mac OS X partition. I don't remember but just in case. Same for bitlocker.
 
How do I use bitlocker without a TPM chip on the macbook. I guess I read it can be disabled, but you just have to type a password before booting to Windows?
 
TPM is not required for BitLocker on Windows 7, if I recall correctly. However, BitLocker is a business/enterprise feature on Windows 7 and not available to home and professional editions. I cannot recall whether Windows 7 has already had the native encryption, but I remember reading that a TPM is required in addition to some other certification.

VeraCrypt would be also be my suggestion, but does it support full-disk encryption with Apple’s EFI?
 
digiphantom said:
Hi all,

I want to encrypt my MBP. I'm running both OSX and a Win7 bootcamp. I also have VMWare Fusion installed to access my bootcamp partition as needed.

Majority of the time I'm working in Windows, but there are times I also need to be on OSX.

What's the best way to encrypt both OS? Currently, I'm considering Filevault on OSX and TrueCrypt 7.1a on the Windows side.


Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Easy to do, I've had the best luck after clean installs though

Get OSX fully updated then install Windows thru boot camp and likewise, run the Apple software update then Windows update on Windows to get it fully updated

Back to OSX, run Filevault until its complete

Then to Windows, (google) how to enable bitlocker without a chip and encrypt Windows
 
jenzjen said:
Easy to do, I've had the best luck after clean installs though

Get OSX fully updated then install Windows thru boot camp and likewise, run the Apple software update then Windows update on Windows to get it fully updated

Back to OSX, run Filevault until its complete

Then to Windows, (google) how to enable bitlocker without a chip and encrypt Windows
Click to expand...


I tried this method. Filevault first on OSX and then Bitlocker w/o TPM. If I try to turn on Bitlocker, I see the following message: "Bitlocker Setup could not find a target system drive. You may need to manually prepare drive for Bitlocker"

I think it's because Filevault also created a partition and now Bitlocker can't create another one. I tried to shrink my existing bootcamp partition to give some space for Bitlocker, but it doesn't seem to see the unallocated space.

Any other suggestions?
 
digiphantom said:
I tried this method. Filevault first on OSX and then Bitlocker w/o TPM. If I try to turn on Bitlocker, I see the following message: "Bitlocker Setup could not find a target system drive. You may need to manually prepare drive for Bitlocker"

I think it's because Filevault also created a partition and now Bitlocker can't create another one. I tried to shrink my existing bootcamp partition to give some space for Bitlocker, but it doesn't seem to see the unallocated space.

Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

This was on both OSX and Windows partitions already in use right ie not after a clean install of OSX and Windows, right?

I've seen multiple different errors on partitions after they have been used for a while, and I can't explain it. I've been able to do both - either FV or Bitlocker first - after clean installs with no issues but trying the same on already in-use machines throws up errors.

Sorry I can't help you troubleshoot. All I can suggest is clean install both and go from there.
 
Were you able to resolve the issue?
As far as I know BitLocker and OS X both required partitions to be in a certain order in the past.
Sadly both require a different order so when I got BitLocker to work I killed OS X.
 
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