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April 24th, 2009, 09:42 GMT · By

Windows 7 “BitLocker To Go” Backward Compatible with XP and Vista

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BitLocker Drive Encryption
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With the advent of Windows Vista, Microsoft offered BitLocker Drive Encryption designed to protect customer information by encrypting machines in order to guarantee that the data was safe especially in scenarios involving stolen computers. BitLocker grew with the addition of Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista, and Windows 7 will bring the next step in the feature's evolution under the label BitLocker To Go. The Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 will permit customers to encrypt not only local hard drives, but also removable media, with the focus on USB keys. In this regard, Microsoft has ensured that USB devices encrypted with BitLocker To Go are backward compatible with
Windows XP and Windows Vista via the BitLocker To Go Reader, allowing a certain level of access to data.

“BitLocker To Go was designed to facilitate the secure sharing of data on removable storage devices and was designed to work on any standard removable storage device. No special, proprietary hardware is required. So now, whether you are traveling with your laptop, sharing large files with a trusted partner, or taking work home, you can feel secure that your data is safe. Both traditional BitLocker and BitLocker To Go protected devices help ensure that only authorized users can read the data, even if the media is lost, stolen, or misused,” revealed Paul Cooke, Microsoft director, Windows Client Enterprise Security.

In the video embedded at the bottom of this article you will be able to see Cooke and Steven Michalove, Microsoft IT principal security strategist, Information Security, demonstrate BitLocker To Go. As far as corporate customers are concerned, one aspect that must be emphasized is the integration between BitLocker and Group Policy in Windows 7, giving admins a high level of control over just how users can interact with encrypted USB devices in the IT environment.

“I can use BitLocker To Go to share data with a Windows user who is running Windows Vista or Windows XP through the BitLocker To Go Reader. This application is installed by default on removable storage volumes and allows read-only access on older versions of Windows while still allowing you to help protect your USB sticks,” Cooke added.

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: MARK KEVIN DOUGLAS on 29 May 2009, 18:23 UTC reply to this comment

you should come out with a program that will turn vista into full windows seven with out loosing programs or data


Comment #2 by: Danny on 04 Aug 2009, 09:33 UTC reply to this comment

Hey,

Ive recently encrypted my 1tb mybook drive in windows 7 using bitlocker.

It didnt complete saying the drive contained errors.

So I went on to decrypt the drive

During decryption I lost power to my pc and after that, I cant use bitlocker whilst the drive is plugged in

The drive reads on vista however appears encrypted, and when I tried to decrypt in vista it asked that i complete the process in windows 7


I have tried to reformat windows 7 to see if bitlocker would open again, but no dice.


It just freezes.


I even called microsoft for support and they couldnt even fix my problem wtf... they told me to see a local technician!!!


The technician charged me 700 dollars to fix the problem... get out of here.


I have the recovery key saved to usb... but no clue how to recover data.....


Please help me, its 1tb! its my life on the drive. thanks.


djseduce@hotmail.com

Comment #2.1 by: Mr Stage on 28 Aug 2009, 13:23 GMT

I've had this before on a much smaller drive and the solution that worked for me was to use DISKPART to clean and formate the drive.

Hope this helps.


Comment #3 by: Thomas on 16 Sep 2009, 03:19 UTC reply to this comment

Hey Guys I recently had Windows 7 and Encrypted an Internal Hard Drive using BitLocker. When I decided to go back to Windows XP Home Edition the drive came up but didn't let me open it on here its always asking me if I want to Format it. So how can get it to work I need help please? You can email me at Tom9807@live.com Thanks


Comment #4 by: Chris A on 25 Oct 2009, 16:41 UTC reply to this comment

I recently had Windows 7 and Encrypted an Internal Hard Drive using BitLocker. When I decided to go back to Windows XP Home Edition the drive came up but didn't let me open it on here its always asking me if I want to Format it. I have alot of information on it, I have the Password. Please help me.


Comment #5 by: ashish on 28 Nov 2009, 17:38 UTC reply to this comment

Hi Guys I recently had Windows 7 and Encrypted an Internal Hard Drive using BitLocker. When I decided to go back to Windows XP Home Edition the drive came up but didn't let me open it on here its always asking me if I want to Format it. So how can get it to work I need help please? You can email me at asdahiya009@gmail.com Thanks


Comment #6 by: rado on 15 Dec 2009, 19:59 UTC reply to this comment

Hey Guys I recently had Windows 7 and Encrypted an Internal Hard Drive using BitLocker. When I decided to go back to Windows XP Home Edition the drive came up but didn't let me open it on here its always asking me if I want to Format it. So how can get it to work I need help please? You can email me at raaidh@ovi.com Thanks


Comment #7 by: Amarjeet on 24 Feb 2010, 10:39 UTC reply to this comment

Hey Guys I recently had Windows 7 and Encrypted an Internal Hard Drive using BitLocker. When I decided to go back to Windows XP Home Edition the drive came up but didn't let me open it on here its always asking me .i want to get access my data n I want to Format it. So how can get it to work I need help please?
mail me at
sahooamarjeet@gmail.com

Comment #7.1 by: GJRLOCKMEPLZ on 25 Oct 2010, 22:55 GMT

HI THE ANSWERS U ARE LOOKIN FOR IS 1 ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR COMPUTER PLUGGED IN TO A POWER SOURCE LAPTOPS NOTE BOOKS ETC DO NOT ENCRYPT OR INSTALL ANYTHING WITHOUT CHECKING YOUR POWER SOURCE FIRST ! 2 FOR XP USERS TRYING TO USE THERE BITLOCKED DRIVES ON XP OR VISTA MAY I SUGGEST YOU DOWNLOAD BITLOCKER FOR THEM OPERATING SYSTEMS PLUSS... IF U HAVE ANY SENCE AT ALL THEN REINSTALL WINDOWS 7 AND REMOVE THE ENCRYPTION FROM YOUR DRIVES !THE SOLUTIONS ARE ALWAYS THERE! URS SINCERLY !GJRLOCKMEPLZ!


Comment #8 by: Fredda on 08 Jan 2011, 23:27 UTC reply to this comment

Does the bitlocker protects any data from the bigbrother ??

Has it been done an code review for the bitlocker function
by an organisation OUTSIDE USA ?

How do I as a customer know that there is no backdoors ?

FBI, RIAA ?

Comment #8.1 by: anan on 18 Oct 2011, 16:22 GMT

How do you knopw there are no back doors? You don't. If you are not happy with that then dont use the product. Really, why would you think anyone would go to the trouble of accessing your info.


Comment #9 by: Bill on 12 Jul 2011, 18:53 UTC reply to this comment

i have windows 2003 XP.

can i install bitlocker and encrypt my entire drive?

i don't want to encrypt only single files, but the entire drive.

comments?

thanks

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