Windows 7 startup repair with Truecrypt

windows-7 windows hard-drive encryption truecrypt

29,900

Solution 1

If you're quick enough, you can hit the [F8] button immediately after pressing Enter (after entering your TrueCrypt password) and it will give you the ability to repair your computer or enter any of the safe modes, etc.

Just verified it using Windows 7 Professional and TrueCrypt 7.1.

Solution 2

http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/rescue-disk

If Windows is damaged and cannot start, [...]

Note: Alternatively, if Windows is damaged (cannot start) and you need to repair it (or access files on it), you can avoid decrypting the system partition/drive by following these steps: Boot another operating system, run TrueCrypt, click Select Device, select the affected system partition, select System > Mount Without Pre-Boot Authentication, enter your pre-boot-authentication password and click OK. The partition will be mounted as a regular TrueCrypt volume (data will be on-the-fly decrypted/encrypted in RAM on access, as usual).

Solution 3

You can partition the 500gb disk to 50gb system partition or something like that, then you just have to decrypt 50gb(only the system disk/partition).

Solution 4

You should have access to the Truecrypt portal that will give you a master key for that HD.

Take take the HD out of current workstation and use it on different workstation.

Unlock it with the key and repair.

*Intel i-series can make a critical issues with encrypting software.

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29,900

PHLiGHT

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

PHLiGHT over 1 year

I have many computers encrypted with Truecrypt 7.1a (current version) with the whole drive encrypted. Today one of them shows the Windows 7 splash screen for a moment and then goes into startup repair which can't read the encrypted drive. I've tried the various safe modes and what not.

The solution is to decrypt the drive and then run startup repair to fix the drive. The problem is that is going to take 50 hours. I've started that process for this situation but I need to have a way to cover myself when this happens to the next PC.

What can I do to avoid decrypting the whole drive? I can't be the only one facing this problem so I feel like I must be missing something.

Thanks!
- Admin almost 11 years
  
  60 hours later the 500 GB drive finished decrypting. I launched Windows Startup repair and the problem was fixed in 5 minutes. I've got to be missing something here and I imagine I'm not alone.
- Admin almost 11 years
  
  I just booted a working Windows 7 laptop that was encrypted the same way with UBCD4Win. I ran Truecrypt portable and am able to access the drive. What does Windows 7 startup repair do and how can I run it on the drive in this environment (UBCD)?
- Admin over 10 years
  
  I would really like to know the answer to PHLiGHT's last comment. How can I run Windows 7 repair from within another OS (like UBCD4Win). I've got my encrypted system drive mounted and can access the entire contents but I don't want to decrypt my 1TB drive.
PHLiGHT almost 11 years

That didn't work for me. I went as far as removing the drive from the computer to try that with no luck.
harrymc almost 11 years

@PHLiGHT: That is supposed to be right procedure. Please let us know what didn't work, how far along did you get in the above procedure and whether you are sure that you used the right password.
PHLiGHT almost 11 years

I had the right password since I was able to get it to get past truecrypt when then HDD was in the laptop. When I took it out and tried to access it on another PC (mounted w/o preboot authentication) the password wouldn't work. In Windows repair it stated it couldn't load some HP file on the X:\ but there isn't typically and X:\ when using the PC in Windows.
PHLiGHT almost 11 years

I wasn't aware of this bug but I tried it both ways before w/o any success.
harrymc almost 11 years

It seems this bug is new in TrueCrypt 7.1. You could try an earlier version (or wait for the fix to be released).
John over 10 years

I can use this to gain access to the drive contents but how can I repair THAT Windows installation?
John over 10 years

I can use this to gain access to the drive contents but how can I repair THAT Windows installation?
John over 10 years

I can use this to gain access to the drive contents but how can I repair THAT Windows installation?
itmilos over 10 years

Try to get data off, and re-image the workstation. Last week we had a similar situation but we couldn't do anything because every single file was corrupted.
PHLiGHT about 10 years

Thanks, what a simple fix. Welcome to the community I appreciate you signing up to contribute this!
David Brossard over 9 years

I got to the menu in my case but repairing doesn't detect anything. It doesn't detect the OS and when I run chkdsk /f/r on the c drive from the command line it tells me the disk format is RAW...
Alex Ljamin over 7 years

Your answer is unclear please edit it superuser.com/help/how-to-answer.