I guess this is a disk geometry question????

Can I use Bitlocker on this laptop?

Disk layout = Premium- XP Pro- Storage- Ultimate

The storage partition is an extended partition

If I can use BitLocker on this laptop will it protect all 4 partitions?

I have no experiance using bitlocker. However, from what I can tell it protects the OS volume. To protect other volumes besides the OS volume, it looks like it stores scripts on the encryted volume to encrypt other data volumes. So, you would have to boot up in ultimate to see the HP and XP volumes. So my guess is no on protecting all 4 partitions, if you want to be able to boot up in HP and XP. Here is where I was getting this from...


Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks for the replies and help.

So my next step would be to download BitLocker from Windows updates and then install it?

When it partitions the drive will I loose everything?

Can I partition the drive myself for BitLocker?

Primary or Extended partition?

Originally Posted by glatzfront

Thanks for the replies and help.

So my next step would be to download BitLocker from Windows updates and then install it?

When it partitions the drive will I loose everything?

Can I partition the drive myself for BitLocker?

Primary or Extended partition?

Bitlocker will partition the drive itself-
Start>All programs>Accessories>System Tools>Bitlocker>Bitlocker Drive preparation Tool

You will not loose anything, and the process is reversable in the event you decide to remove bitlocker and /or the bitlocker created partition.

Originally Posted by rive0108

Originally Posted by glatzfront

Thanks for the replies and help.

So my next step would be to download BitLocker from Windows updates and then install it?

When it partitions the drive will I loose everything?

Can I partition the drive myself for BitLocker?

Primary or Extended partition?

Bitlocker will partition the drive itself-
Start>All programs>Accessories>System Tools>Bitlocker>Bitlocker Drive preparation Tool

You will not loose anything, and the process is reversable in the event you decide to remove bitlocker and /or the bitlocker created partition.

I have no unused space, where will BitLocker get the space?

Originally Posted by glatzfront

Originally Posted by rive0108

Originally Posted by glatzfront

Thanks for the replies and help.

So my next step would be to download BitLocker from Windows updates and then install it?

When it partitions the drive will I loose everything?

Can I partition the drive myself for BitLocker?

Primary or Extended partition?

Bitlocker will partition the drive itself-
Start>All programs>Accessories>System Tools>Bitlocker>Bitlocker Drive preparation Tool

You will not loose anything, and the process is reversable in the event you decide to remove bitlocker and /or the bitlocker created partition.

I have no unused space, where will BitLocker get the space?

It will create its own partition from the Vista system boot partition, and then move the boot files to the new partiton.

Sorry for so many questions but the unknown/unfamiliar, as always, seems risky. Would the new partition be an extended partition? If it has the boot files wouldn't it need to be a primary partition and I already have the maximum primary with 3 and an extended.

Originally Posted by Bare Foot Kid

Hello glatzfront.

If you have three primary and one extended, to create another
it has to be created in the extended partition.

I got this from here --> Primary, Extended and Logical Partitions

• A maximum of four partitions can be placed on any HDD. These are sometimes called primary partitions. The limitation of four is one that is imposed on the system by the way that the master boot record is structured.
• Only one partition may be designated, at any given time, as active. That partition will be used for booting the system. See here for more on active partitions and switching active status between partitions.
• DOS (and the operating systems that depend on it for booting, which includes all consumer Windows operating systems) will only recognize the active primary partition. Any other primary partitions will be ignored.
• One of the four partitions may be designated as an extended DOS partition. This partition may then be subdivided into multiple logical partitions. This is the way that two or more logical DOS volumes can be placed on a single hard disk.

Later Ted

Hello Ted, thank you

But what will BitLocker create, doesn't it need a primary?