Back up important files
Keep an independent backup and record your password somewhere safe. Confirm the selected disk before starting encryption or decryption.
GiliSoft Full Disk Encryption Help Center
Full Disk Encryption User Guide for Windows
Learn how to encrypt Windows disks and USB drives, change passwords, and prepare recovery media with GiliSoft Full Disk Encryption.
- Prepare recovery media before system encryption
- Encrypt and open local disks and USB drives
- Decrypt disks and manage drive passwords
Before You Encrypt a Disk
Prepare for system recovery
Create the GiliSoft LiveCD before encrypting the Windows system partition. Keep the computer connected to power throughout the operation.
Encrypt Local Disks
1
Prepare a recovery path
Create the recommended bootable LiveCD or recovery media before encrypting the system partition. Keep it available in case Windows cannot start normally.
2
Select the disks to protect
Open GiliSoft Full Disk Encryption and select the system drive or other local disks in the Local Disks window.
3
Set the password and start encryption
Click Encrypt, create a strong password, confirm the target, and allow the operation to finish without shutting down the computer.
Encryption can take a long time on large or nearly full disks. Keep the computer connected to power and do not interrupt the process.
Encrypt and open a USB drive
1
Select the removable disk
Insert the USB drive and choose it in the Removable Disks window after refreshing the device list.
2
Encrypt the USB storage
Click Encrypt and set a password for the removable drive. Wait until the encryption percentage reaches 100%.
3
Mount the protected drive
Refresh the list, click Mount, and enter the drive password. The protected storage then becomes available in Windows Explorer.
Decrypt disks and change passwords
Decrypt a local disk
Select the encrypted drive, click Decrypt, and enter the correct password. Keep the computer powered until the operation completes.
Decrypt a USB drive
Refresh and mount the USB drive first, then choose Decrypt from the removable-disk controls.
Change a local-disk password
Local disks on one computer share a password. Wait until encryption reaches 100%, then use the enabled Password control in Local Disks to change it.
Remember a trusted USB password
Use Advanced Settings to store an approved USB password, then protect Advanced Settings so other users cannot change the list.
Create a bootable LiveCD before system encryption
Create a bootable Windows CD/DVD before encrypting the system partition. The recovery media can provide access to encrypted data if the computer cannot boot normally.
1
Request the LiveCD image
Obtain the LiveCD image from GiliSoft Support at support@gilisoft.com.
2
Burn the image to CD or DVD
Write the image to a bootable disc and keep it in a safe place with the recovery password information.
View and manage an encrypted USB drive
View the protected files
Insert the encrypted USB drive, click Refresh in Removable Disks, choose Mount, and enter the correct password. The drive will then appear in Windows Explorer.
Decrypt the USB drive
Refresh the removable-disk list, mount the drive with its password, and click Decrypt to remove the encryption from the USB disk.
Change the USB password
After the USB drive is mounted and its encryption portion reaches 100%, use the Password control to change the drive password.
Remember a trusted USB password
Open Advanced Settings to add the password to the remembered list. Protect Advanced Settings with its own password so other users cannot alter the list.
Recovery, startup, and multi-system setup
If Windows cannot boot
- Set the CD/DVD drive as the first boot device in BIOS.
- Boot from the GiliSoft recovery media.
- Run Full Disk Encryption from the recovery desktop.
- Mount or decrypt the encrypted disk to access the data or repair the system.
Start an encrypted computer
At startup, follow the password prompt. If no system drive was encrypted, press Enter as instructed; otherwise enter the disk password and press Enter to continue.
For multi-system computers
- Install GiliSoft Full Disk Encryption on every Windows system.
- Encrypt the required disks in each system.
- Use the same recovery plan and password policy across installations.
Change the local-disk password
When the local disk encryption is complete, use the enabled Password control in the Local Disks window. The changed password also applies to the other Windows system in a multi-system environment.
Create recovery media before full-disk encryption. It is the practical recovery route when an encrypted system partition prevents normal startup.
Encrypt Your Disks and USB Drives
Use GiliSoft Full Disk Encryption to password protect local and removable disks. Back up your files and prepare recovery media before encrypting the system partition.
