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    If I get Windows Vista Ultimate, how do I know if my hard drive will support BitLocker?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007.

  1. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    If I buy a new laptop with Windows Vista Ultimate, will my new computer's hard drive be compatible with BitLocker? I noticed this was a problem on CNET in both reviews.
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, the one hardware requirement I can think of is that your laptop must have a TPM 1.2 chip or better.
     
    Greg, Mar 29, 2007
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  3. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    TPM 1.2 chip?
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007
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  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Greg, Mar 29, 2007
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  5. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    I am probably going to buy a Dell Latitude D620 with the 80 GB 5400 rpm hard drive.
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007
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  6. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It has the TPM chip, as does all the Dell business lineup I believe. Just check the spec page to be sure.
     
    Greg, Mar 29, 2007
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  7. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    Thank you for the advice.
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007
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  8. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No prob!

    (darn 10 char minimum)
     
    Greg, Mar 29, 2007
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  9. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    The only Dell laptops that are TPM 1.2-compatible are: Dell Precision M65, M90 and the Dell Latitude D620 ATG. I will wait and see if the Dell Latitude D630 is TPM 1.2-compatible.
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 29, 2007
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  10. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    I was wrong. Dell just listed the D820 and D620's specifications differently for some reason. I found it is Trusted Platform Module 1.2 compatible.
     
    Homer_Jay_Thompson, Mar 31, 2007
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  11. T4House

    T4House Notebook Enthusiast

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    Being TPM 1.2-compatible is not the only hardware requirement needed. BitLocker needs to store its key on a flash drive so you will also need a BIOS that is compatible with TPM AND supports USB devices during startup. This means that if Dell is shipping the notebook with Business Vista then BIOS would need to be updated to work with BitLocker. And getting support from any company for something added after the fact can be a real challenge. But if it is being shipped with Ultimate as its OS you should be fine. It never hurts to ask up front though.
     
    T4House, Mar 31, 2007
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  12. Zellio

    Zellio The Dark Knight

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    More fud.

    Bitlocker requires EITHER tpm or a usb key.

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

    The final mode does not require a TPM chip:

    * USB Key: The user must insert a USB device that contains a startup key into the computer to be able to boot the protected OS. Note that this mode requires that the BIOS on the protected machine supports the reading of USB devices in the pre-OS environment.
     
    Zellio, Mar 31, 2007
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  13. T4House

    T4House Notebook Enthusiast

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    I stand corrected, thanks kid for pointing me in the right direction. Just wanted to point out the BIOS requirement that I ran into. Obviously I shouldn't of stated it the way I did.
     
    T4House, Apr 1, 2007
    #13