How to place password to an external USB hard drive in Windows 7

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

There is third-perty software available to do this

Try this one, it costs around £20

http://www.newsoftwares.net/usb-secure/

And best of all it does not require any special drivers or admin rights to work.

@collinbentley1 - I was going to suggest true crypt too, as i use it on my home and work machines, however i have found that even the portable version is a problem for general use as it required admin rights to work correctly, so if your on a machine without admin rights, you cannot access your data.

ASKER

ok... im looking for something free (for now)... how secure is TrueCrypt ? any experience on it?

SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

ASKER

Almost convince, but prior testing it, does its work on:

- USB pendrive
- IDE Drives
- SATA Drives
- SCSI Drives

Yes TrueCrypt works on almost all commercial devices,

C.B.

ASKER

Thanx, last questions:

1. You said "is a problem for general use as it required admin rights", how can that be
a problem for me?

2. Can I encrypt certain disk area or storage on my C; drive, like "My Documents"

3. The installation is always on my C: drive, or is it Drive-dependent, that is, has to run
installed for each drive being use?

4. I was about to install and notice that its says "Add to startup". Does it encrypt my C: drive
automatically or after install is just an apps, that I can choose later what drive is going to be
encrypted? (for now I only want my external USB drive)

SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

ASKER

Ok thanx... I'll try right now!

ASKER

We just ran the application. We noticed that it works where TrueCrypt is installed.

The problem I have here is that the drive I use for backup, I also use certain folders for other purposes and connected to other PC not my own.

Is there a utility that permits to protect a USB contents and also permit to open in other PC without installing the software on other PCs?

Ramante,

Sorry unfortunately TrueCrypt is your only protection option.

What you could do is put a copy of the program on an unprotected part of the HD and then install it on other machines.

ASKER

But about those type of program that usually comes with USB penddrive?

OriNetworks

Use bitlocker which is a new feature if windows 7

ASKER

Where is it? I can't find it

i dont recommend bitlocker at all, however truecrypt has the option to make a portable version, just put this on an unprotected partition on your hard drive.

SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

ASKER

When u say portable version of truecrypt, that means I can set it up in a USB and goto my colleague PC, which has no truecrypt installed, and read in the USE and it will ask for password?

SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

ASKER

Ok, so I setup my USB, encrypt it, save some data on it, go to another PC that has no truecrypt software installed, and when I insert the USB:

- the data in the USB will be totally inaccessible
- it will prompt for my password
- when given, I get to see the data on the other PC normally

Is this correct?

WHY don't you recommend BitLocker?

Also, bit locker is ONLY available on Windows Ultimate and Windows Enterprise (basically the same thing).

digitap

How much data are we talking about? Here is an option our doctors use for portable encryption. It's not free like TrueCrypt, but it's ready to use as soon as you open the package. No installation necessary.

https://store.ironkey.com/basic

As far as making TrueCrypt portable.

http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/?s=truecrypt-portable

ASKER

leew:

I don't use BitLocker because here I was recommended not.
I have Windows 7 pro, where is it in the Processional version?
Also, based on your expierence, why do you recommend BitLocker over TrueCrypt?

digitap:

The amount of data is around 500gb (my question refers to a USB external drive)

digitap

OK...I see the size in the model description. Sorry.

Both products are fine. I have one client and TrueCrypt is used on all laptops running XP while bitlocker is used on the new ones running Win7. My inquiry as to why not to use it was more towards flexiwebsw - simply saying he doesn't recommend it at all - WHY? If someone doesn't recommend something, then they should EXPLAIN why... and even if they do recommend it. Maybe he doesn't recommend it because he is Microsoft Bias and has no good reason not to use it?

ASKER

Thanx leew, is BitLocker in Windows 7 Professional?

No - Ultimate and Enterprise only.

ASKER

Ok, so I have to stick with truescript.

ASKER

So do I have to stick with truescript?

PowerIT

Yes, stick with TrueCrypt. It has everything you requested and more (like also runs on OS X and Linux).
And from a security standpoint it is also an excellent product. I would even say more scrutenized then most (if not all) commercial products. And the documentation is also up to par.
Never had a problem with it.

kr, J.

Either stick with TrueCrypt or upgrade Windows.