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How does 256GB Encrypted SSD work?

Discussion in 'Dell Latitude, Vostro, and Precision' started by lancorp, Jan 8, 2010.

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  1. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have an E4300 coming today with a 256GB Encrypted Mobility SSD in it.

    I had always thought that the encryption was totally SSD-based. But in thinking about it, if that was the case, then I could move the SSD to another notebook and it would still work, since the encryption is IN the SSD. So, there must be something (TPM, etc) that ties the encrypted SSD to the notebook.

    Anyone know how that works? Also, if I want to use the SSD in another notebook (even one without a TPM) can I use the SSD as a standard SSD (no encryption)??

    Thanks for any info.
     
  2. extide

    extide Notebook Deity

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    I'm not sure but I'd guess that it either works with the TPM or it has a lil bootloader built into the drive that requires a password on boot.
     
  3. TheNomad

    TheNomad Notebook Guru

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    That's the whole point of encryption, not being able to use the drive in a random other computer / drive enclosure without the right access key.

    Read here about self-encryption and the TPM stuff.

    Migration means, de-activating encryption on the disk, wait for it to complete and then move the disk with contents to other platform and turn on encryption again.

    It's no wonder this stuff doesn't really fly in the consumer world - it's too complicated to comprehend for now.
     
  4. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, I realize that is the point of encryption, but I always visualized that a chip in the drive does the encryption, but in thinking, if that were all there was, then yes, I could move the drive and it would still work! So, there must be something that ties it to the notebook.

    I did check out the PM800 that came with the E4300. It was unencrypted the way it came. As a matter of fact, I cannot determine that it is actually a Samsung w/encryption, as the model number seems to be the normal 256GB Samsung SSD.

    I'm still researching to see if this thing has encryption built in or not.

    Currently, I've reformatted it and installed Windows 7 Enterprise x64, and am playing with that right now.
     
  5. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    I'm quite intrigued by this as well. I had to order another M6500 after a requirement sprang out and I've specced it with one 256 unencrypted and one encrypted SSD as I thought it might come in useful. Have you found any oddities / deal-breakers so far?
     
  6. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    The Samsung 256GB SSD that came appears to not be encrypted (or at least it was not enabled). The data was definitely visible (and copyable) in another PC (I removed the SSD before I ever booted the notebook it came with), and as far as I can tell, it is not encrypted.

    But then again, maybe something in the system BIOS or software in Windows enables the encryption...
     
  7. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    Odd. Please post here if you work it out before I get the machines.
     
  8. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    Apparently, the drive is encryptable, as is designated on the drive label with "FDE" (Full Drive Encryption). I understand that a whole system of things have to happen to enable it, though. The Embassy Wave Trust software needs to be enabled, TPM chip in the laptop turned on and setup, and then somehow, the SSD does it's encryption thing.

    For me, I don't really want it. I got the 256GB SSD in a Outlet system that cost next to nothing (price mistake at the Outlet?), and am selling the laptop for what I paid for it (sans SSD!), so effectively, the SSD is free! :)
     
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