Current post about hard drive failure points out a need to have sensitive files encrypted if you need to return a drive for replacement without taking chances your data is going to be read by others. What is quick and easy solution?

Windows XP: Right click on the folder and select properties. Under "General" tab click on "Advanced", click "Encrypt contents to secure data"

Thanks and that looks easy but have a little heartburn when I read

To recover an encrypted file or folder if you are a designated recovery agent

I suspect there are a lot more of those than Microsoft knows. Anybody have an idea how protected such a drive is? I would guess only from the occasional user of your computer rather than from most people who would be looking for data from a used hard drive.

Thanks and that looks easy but have a little heartburn when I read

To recover an encrypted file or folder if you are a designated recovery agent

I suspect there are a lot more of those than Microsoft knows. Anybody have an idea how protected such a drive is? I would guess only from the occasional user of your computer rather than from most people who would be looking for data from a used hard drive.

Of course if you want deep encryption where you would give the FBI or NSA a run for your money then this probably isn't sufficient. But for the casual user including pretty much anyone at a computer shop it would be very time intensive.

http://www.iopus.com/guides/efs.htm

and I believe you have been here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...Q308993&sd=tech

In either case you have to take specific steps to allow anyone other then yourself to do the decryption. But you did ask for the easy way

Another would be add in product such as:

http://axcrypt.sourceforge.net/

Lopburi,

take a look at following site:

http://freeware.intrastar.net/encryption.htm

It lists quite a few freeware programs...

Easiest is to create a virtual drive with "on the fly" encryption (Think Scramdisk does that)

Anything sensitive just goes on that drive!

I think it was mentioned before: Truecrypt (freeware)

Creates a file (any name, any extension), which is encrypted. Once mounted, it acts like a virtual drive. Lots of encryption methods to choose.

Truecrypt has a good reputation.

Personally. I prefer PGP. You can buy the full version that lets you encrypt the whole disk, or the free version that lets you make a file that becomes a disk (like Firefoxx described)

Thanks and that looks easy but have a little heartburn when I read

To recover an encrypted file or folder if you are a designated recovery agent

I suspect there are a lot more of those than Microsoft knows. Anybody have an idea how protected such a drive is? I would guess only from the occasional user of your computer rather than from most people who would be looking for data from a used hard drive.

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You have to be a designated recovery agent on the machine in question. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;887414

If you haven't made preparations for recovery and you need to reinstall Windows you will lose the drive

More on EFS:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documen...nb_efs_qutx.asp

Ok guess the Windows encrypt may be better than it first appeared but now find you have to format NTFS to use it so my FAT32 does not have the option. I really hate to put my trust in Microsoft software allowing me access after a crash so think I will just stick with the old hammer when/if a drive fails. Thanks for all the information and hopefully some will pick up on it and take the time to be more secure.