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Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:32 pm
by npderi
So, I want to post here for some ideas before proceeding any further as I don't want to loose anything, and hopefully can recover.

I have an SSD and successfully installed in successive order (with the use of BootIT BM) WinXP-01, WinXP-02, Win7-01, Win7-02, Win8-01, Win8-02, and FreeBSD9-01.

I have a total of 7 partitions, and some free unpartitioned space at the end that I was thinking of using for other OSes. I had everything working great, and the second copy of each OS was done by installing the first one normally, then using BootIT BM to copy it. Purpose of the second was to have a functional base copy I could use if I made a major mistake and corrupted data or something on the other. I guess I am lazy, I would rather copy the partition rather install it all over again.

In any case, my problem is that I was looking at Windows8's (01 copy) bitlocker in control panel, and enabled it. I had to first go into local security policies to enable encryption without TPM support (something like that). What it seems to have done is create a "hiden" partition inside the partition, such that after the initial process and reboot BootIT BM lets me know that there's a partition error and to use the partition tool to fix it. I decided to try an boot anyway into the same previous OS, and I get the error "An operating systems was not found ....". I go back into BootIT BM, I look and notice an extra 350mb partition that somehow overlaps Win8. I deleted it, and BootIT BM was happy.

Problem is that despite both Win8 installs show up on BootBM, but they each give me a different error. The Win8-01 says it can't find an operating system, and Win8-02 says there are files missing. There's the option to recover deleted partitions on BootIT BM, and I haven't done anything since as I am worried.

Anyone know what should be done here? I was thinking of not recovering the deleted "error" 350 partition that bootitBM said was overlapping, and try recovery from Win8 CD. If there's something else that should be done, as I'd actually like the WIn8-01 copy functional that I had try Bitlocker on (I was working on it as the base copy with all the apps I use, and some files I forgot to move while working on it).

NOTE: I tried booting from all the other OSes, they work fine. For some reason it's just the Win8 partitions, despite only having enabled bitlocker on the first install.

Re: Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:00 am
by TeraByte Support
do you need w8? If not, just reformat and install again. Otherwise you can
delete the partition it used to overlap (don't choose any additional
options), then undelete the free space will probably bring back the 350M
partition. So now you can boot that to boot the other one. Whatever that
350M partition overlapped can be considered garbage and so the rest of the
partition as well (I presume nothing on there you need?).

"npderi" wrote in message news:5168@public.bootitbm...

So, I want to post here for some ideas before proceeding any further as I
don't want to loose anything, and hopefully can recover.

I have an SSD and successfully installed in successive order (with the use
of BootIT BM) WinXP-01, WinXP-02, Win7-01, Win7-02, Win8-01, Win8-02, and
FreeBSD9-01.

I have a total of 7 partitions, and some free unpartitioned space at the end
that I was thinking of using for other OSes. I had everything working
great, and the second copy of each OS was done by installing the first one
normally, then using BootIT BM to copy it. Purpose of the second was to
have a functional base copy I could use if I made a major mistake and
corrupted data or something on the other. I guess I am lazy, I would rather
copy the partition rather install it all over again.

In any case, my problem is that I was looking at Windows8's (01 copy)
bitlocker in control panel, and enabled it. I had to first go into local
security policies to enable encryption without TPM support (something like
that). What it seems to have done is create a "hiden" partition inside the
partition, such that after the initial process and reboot BootIT BM lets me
know that there's a partition error and to use the partition tool to fix it.
I decided to try an boot anyway into the same previous OS, and I get the
error "An operating systems was not found ....". I go back into BootIT BM,
I look and notice an extra 350mb partition that somehow overlaps Win8. I
deleted it, and BootIT BM was happy.

Problem is that despite both Win8 installs show up on BootBM, but they each
give me a different error. The Win8-01 says it can't find an operating
system, and Win8-02 says there are files missing. There's the option to
recover deleted partitions on BootIT BM, and I haven't done anything since
as I am worried.

Anyone know what should be done here? I was thinking of not recovering the
deleted "error" 350 partition that bootitBM said was overlapping, and try
recovery from Win8 CD. If there's something else that should be done, as
I'd actually like the WIn8-01 copy functional that I had try Bitlocker on (I
was working on it as the base copy with all the apps I use, and some files I
forgot to move while working on it).

NOTE: I tried booting from all the other OSes, they work fine. For some
reason it's just the Win8 partitions, despite only having enabled bitlocker
on the first install.


Re: Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 10:34 am
by DrTeeth
On Sat, 6 Apr 2013 20:00:29 PDT, just as I was about to take a herb,
"TeraByte Support" disturbed my
reverie and wrote:

>Whatever that
>350M partition overlapped can be considered garbage and so the rest of the
>partition as well (I presume nothing on there you need?).

PMFJI, but I assume that the problem arose as partitions are unlimited
and setting Bitlocker created a partition?

If that is the case, is it possible to activate Bitlocker in an
unlimited primaries environment?
--

Cheers

DrT
______________________________
We may not be able to prevent the stormy times in
our lives; but we can always choose whether or not
to dance in the puddles (Jewish proverb).

Re: Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:31 pm
by TeraByte Support(PP)
Bitlocker requires the System Reserved partition so it would be best to have the partition already configured before enabling it (so it won't need to create it) --- possibly, a reverse "Remove System Reserved partition" procedure.

Otherwise, you would need to tweak the system so that the only place the partition could be created would be on unallocated space and not overlap any existing partition (will still needed fixed up afterwards). Or, if the drive/partitions would allow it, convert the drive to MBR before enabling and then convert back to EMBR.

Definately recommended to create a backup of the drive before doing those types of procedures.

Re: Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:56 pm
by DrTeeth
On Sun, 7 Apr 2013 10:31:29 PDT, just as I was about to take a herb,
TeraByte Support(PP) disturbed my reverie and wrote:

>Definately recommended to create a backup of the drive before doing those types of procedures.

Provided one knows that the MSoft Demon is not going to try to create
a partition .
--

Cheers,

DrT

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

Re: Bitlocker... unmitigated disaster

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:10 am
by npderi
Well, alas what I ended up doing was removing both Win8 partitions, and having a bigger single Win8 partition, by redoing it. What a pain, I'll make a purchase of the baremetal copy tool here, seems like it works well... should have known to do this beforehand.

Thanks for the help guys :)