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PC hardware forum: how to password protect hard drive?

by: waldenellis August 17, 2007 9:41 PM PDT

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how to password protect hard drive?

by waldenellis - 8/17/07 9:41 PM

Hello, All,

After reading CNET's recent newsletter article about the poor guy whose laptop was stolen from his hotel, I'd like to try password protecting my hard drive. My data is backed up via Carbonite for my own needs, but I'd hate for the thing to get stolen and have some hack get my stuff.

I understand that some PCs offer the option to password protect HDs and some don't. I have an HP Pavilion dv9500t, Vista Premium--any idea whether this is a possibility for me? And if so, where can I find a how-to? I've tried searching the computer's own HELP function and got nothin'.

Thanks!


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vista (and xp) support encryption

by ramarc - 8/18/07 9:30 AM

In Reply to: how to password protect hard drive? by waldenellis

the encryption will be tied to your user id so you should use a strong password. you only need to encrypt your data folders. if your laptop is lost/stolen, the files will be difficult to access (but not impossible) and just as secure as most inexpensive 3rd party password protection products.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5a2b6b98-9833-4d73-967e-9293bd1a54e91033.mspx

there are some *very secure* 3rd party products like safeboot and checkpoint but they're very expensive and aimed at businesses.


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but not for my version of vista....

by waldenellis - 8/18/07 4:47 PM

In Reply to: vista (and xp) support encryption by ramarc

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, encryption isn't available on my version of Vista (home premium). And if the encryption file is on the HD, then wouldn't it be easy to take the HD and put it in another computer and read it anyway?

Does anyone know if the HD password is an option for my computer?


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sorry, i overlooked that you are using vista premium

by ramarc - 8/19/07 12:51 PM

In Reply to: but not for my version of vista.... by waldenellis

(i always use the business versions of xp and vista and forgot they are not available in xp home and vista premium.)

you can upgrade to vista ultimate for $159 to get the encryption feature. it also includes better backup features and bitlocker (a true hard drive data protection system). http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/windowsanytimeupgrade/overview.mspx

vista's encryption is based on a digital certificate that's bound to your user id. if the hard drive is put in another machine, none of the encrypted data will be readable (except by *serious* hackers). since it's certificate based and tied to the os/user, you don't need to worry about setting/forgetting a password when using encryption.


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Link, comment.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/18/07 8:55 PM

In Reply to: how to password protect hard drive? by waldenellis

http://www.download.com/Folder-Lock/3000-2092_4-10684031.html?tag=lst-0-4 while popular, highly rated is not recommended by me since I can't count how many times people forget their password or forget how to install the lock software on there next machine and they lose it all. Given the losses I've seen I can't reccomend such titles.

Bob


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Hard Drive password

by Rohn12345 - 2/5/11 7:09 AM

In Reply to: how to password protect hard drive? by waldenellis

Hi:

Keep in mind unless you are CIA the info will probably useless to anyone who steals it. Most likely they will erase and use the drive space. If you lose the password your drive could be toast. So many people call us at tech with this issue and most times the news is bad and they then wonder why they protected the hd..
Do it if you must but wonder if you must..


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How to deny users access to hard drives

by SourzzPc - 8/31/11 12:23 PM

In Reply to: how to password protect hard drive? by waldenellis

I'd just like to share some info on stopping access to hard drives.You could deny users from accessing certain hard drives by right clicking on the drive n selecting properties>security>edit>Add>(from here enter the name of the user you wish to block)>check names>(if you are not sure of the name click>Advanced>Find Now{on the right}>look for the name>OK.then OK again.....now select the user and tick the boxes under 'Deny' according to what you want the other users to see ect..>click OK...a window might pop up asking you are sure ect click OK (if you are sure)..and that's it...you can log in the other users and try to open the drive and you should get a message saying "access is denied"..hope this helped happy


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Years ago my IT buddy showed me that.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/31/11 5:41 PM

In Reply to: How to deny users access to hard drives by SourzzPc

Then I showed him I could access the drives when I booted up a Linux LiveCD (or LiveUSB).

Back to the drawing board.
Bob


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A little late on this

by Crazed_Persona - 12/2/12 3:16 PM

In Reply to: Years ago my IT buddy showed me that. by R. Proffitt Moderator

You can just access the bios and set a start up password. You will be required to input a password to start up the computer but it will do exactly what you want.


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Thanks for this. However.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 12/2/12 3:36 PM

In Reply to: A little late on this by Crazed_Persona

BIOS passwords are not enough. Remember your tenants of security and physical access means I am free to reset the password. Some folk forget those old teachings.
Bob


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