Full Disk Encryption software?

I'd like to encrypt my OS partition, so Windows does not boot or the partition cannot be mounted from another system without entering the right password.

I liked TrueCrypt for files but for full disks it only works with XP and Vista. I'm using Windows 2000 and there's a lot of programs aviable for this OS, so I'd like to know opinions of people using them, because I don't want to risk my data with several trials and possible errors.

My laptop is a HP C2D 2Ghz with Intel x3100, and I use it as a multimedia / office machine (not for games or design). I think there won't be any performance problem, but I prefer the program to use as little CPU as possible so the battery last longer. Anyway, is there any noticiable battery drain using this kind of program? Mine lasts about 3 hours with Wifi on (Office, surfing web, watching a DVD...), should I expect much less duration?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_encryption_software


Thank you.

 

I found a performance chart. Few programs and only HD access speed (no OS load).

http://www.xml-dev.com/blog/index.php?action=viewtopic&id=250

And a couple more of comparison lists:

http://otfedb.sdean12.org/

http://www.full-disk-encryption.net/Full_Disc_Encryption.html

The most similar to TrueCrypt seems to be FreeOTFE

 

Word of warning, if you get a BSOD, your screwed.

 

With what program?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_encryption_software

 

I posted myself that link in the first post. Is anybody using any full encryption software?

 

In order to completely encrypt the OS partition, you need to have a hard drive with hardware level encryption that is transparent to the OS... and a motherboard that supports setting the passwords and such. The OS files that are used at boot cannot be encrypted via software, as you would have to load the OS by loading the software first which requires the OS to start (in other words...chicken and the egg).

Or...you can just set a BIOS hard drive password. The data won't be encrypted, but the drive will not start without the password even if you put it in a different computer. Most drives support this.

 

I don't think so. I think the full partition encryption is implemented in the MBR and first sectors of the partition. So you boot the computer, then the encryption program and once the right password is provided the OS starts.

You can install Linux encrypted by default. Windows does not implement it but there are third party software. I just want to know comments about the soft, but it seems nobody uses it.

 

Yes because you have type more than ten characters. Anyway, no one on this forum has any idea about this kind of software. I thought a laptop forum would be the right place to find people concerned about privacy, but you don't have any idea and I've only got answers kidding or with completely wrong information. Have fun, I'll look elsewhere.

 

Back in topic, I've tried a program called DiskCryptor. It works ok on XP, but it hangs on Windows 2000 before the encryption process starts, despite being compatible.