Windows 10: Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows

Discus and support Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows in Windows 10 Tutorials to solve the problem; How to: Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows How to Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with a VHD or VHDX File... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Tutorials' started by edblocked, Jul 12, 2018.

  1. edblocked Win User

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows


    How to: Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows

    How to Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with a VHD or VHDX File in Windows


    You can use BitLocker Drive Encryption to help protect your files on an entire drive. BitLocker can help block hackers from accessing the system files they rely on to discover your password, or from accessing your drive by physically removing it from your PC and installing it in a different one. You can still sign in to Windows and use your files as you normally would.

    New files are automatically encrypted when you add them to a drive that uses BitLocker. However, if you copy these files to another drive or a different PC, they're automatically decrypted.

    BitLocker can encrypt the drive Windows is installed on (the removable data drive (such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive).

    You can also use BitLocker to encrypted a mounted as a drive. You can copy and move this VHD or VHDX file to any Windows computer as a portable encrypted container file. When you mount the VHD or VHDX file on a computer and try to open the encrypted drive for it, you will be prompted for your BitLocker password before it will open.

    You can save files into this BitLocker drive for VHD or VHDX file when unlocked like any other drive, and unmount the drive when you like to secure it.

    This tutorial will show you how to create a portable BitLocker encrypted container file using a mounted VHD or VHDX file in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

    *note BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in the Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education editions.

    *note You must be signed in as an VHD or VHDX file and encrypt with BitLocker.


    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]
    Warning When you unlock the BitLocker encrypted mounted VHD/VHDX container file (drive) with your BitLocker password, all users on the computer will be able to access the drive just like any other fixed data drive until you either change permissions for the drive.

    If you want to copy or move the VHD or VHDX file to another location or computer, be sure you unmount the drive for it first.


    EXAMPLE: VHD or VHDX file mounted as BitLocker encrypted drive

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]


    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]





    Here's How:

    1. If you don't already have one, create and set up a new VHD or VHDX file.

    2. Mount the VHD or VHDX file as a drive.

    3. In File Explorer (Win+E), right click or press and hold on the drive (ex: "F") for the mounted VHD or VHDX file, and click/tap on Turn on BitLocker. (see screenshot below)

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    4. Check Use a password to unlock the drive, enter a password you want to use to unlock the drive with, reenter your password to confim, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    5. Select how (Microsoft account, USB, file, and/or print) you want to back up your BitLocker recovery key for this drive, and click/tap on Next when finished. (see screenshots below)

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]



    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]
    Note Microsoft account = This option is only available when you are signed in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account. It will save the BitLocker recovery key to your OneDrive account online at https://onedrive.live.com/recoverykey.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    USB flash drive = This option will save the BitLocker recovery key to a selected USB flash drive.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    File = This option will save the BitLocker recovery key .TXT file to a location you select.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    Print = This option will print the BitLocker recovery key to the selected printer.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    6. Select (dot) Encrypt entire drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    7. Select (dot) New encryption mode or Compatible mode for what is best for how you will use the mounted VHD or VHDX drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    *note New encryption mode (XTS-AES 128-bit) = Select this mode if this drive will only be used on devices running Windows 10 version 1511 or higher. It will not work on an older version of Windows (ex: Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8/8.1).

    Compatible mode (AES-CBC 128-bit) = Select this mode if this drive is going to be used on an older version of Windows (ex: Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8/8.1). It will still work on all versions of Windows 10.


    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    8. Click/tap on Start encrypting when ready. (see screenshot below)

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]

    9. When encryption has finished, click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

    *note This could take a long time to finish depending on the size of the drive and how much data on the drive is being encrypted.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows [​IMG]


    That's it,
    Shawn


    Related Tutorials

    :)
     
    edblocked, Jul 12, 2018
    #1
  2. Brink Win User

    Create Elevated Task to Auto-Mount VHD or VHDX File at Startup

    Correct. It will prompt for the BitLocker password to unlock it once you are signed in and on your desktop.

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows
     
    Brink, Oct 27, 2019
    #2
  3. tfwul Win User
    Create Elevated Task to Auto-Mount VHD or VHDX File at Startup

    Thanks a lot for this splendid manual.

    Wonder what will happen when the VHD is Bitlocker encrypted.
    See tutorial: "How to Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with a VHD or VHDX File in Windows"
    Will it start and but prompt user for the credentials?

    Thanks.
     
    tfwul, Oct 27, 2019
    #3
  4. DavidY Win User

    Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows

    Create Elevated Task to Auto-Mount VHD or VHDX File at Startup

    I've been doing a slightly older version of this for years with Bitlocker-encrypted VHDs.
    As mentioned, it does prompt for a Bitlocker password on startup, but it is possible to miss the prompt.
    If that happens, I right-click the drive in File Explorer and select the option to Unlock Drive.
    I've also found that adding a slight delay to the auto-mount task (one of the options on the screenshot at step 9 above) means that I'm more likely to see the password prompt on my very old laptop.
     
    DavidY, Oct 27, 2019
    #4
  5. MarkS.1 Win User
    Bitlocker VHD not mounting

    When I try to mount my bitlocker-encrypted VHD file, I get the following error message:

    Couldn't Mount File, Make sure the file is in NTFS volume and isn't a compressed folder or volume

    When I previously and successfully mounted the vhd, I was prompted for the BitLocker password. But now there is no password prompt and I get the latter error.

    How do I get this vhd to mount?
     
    MarkS.1, Oct 27, 2019
    #5
  6. Bitlocker VHD Errors

    I have a number of VHD's which are encrypted with bitlocker. When I either double click one of the VHD files or right click and select the 'Mount' option I get an error 'Location is not available' 'X:\ is not accessible' 'Access is denied'. Then the tab
    appears which lets me enter the bitlocker password for the VHD and it mounts. Is there a way to prevent the error screen coming up every time prior to entering the password?

    Thanks

    Steve
     
    blues-riff, Oct 27, 2019
    #6
Thema:

Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with VHD or VHDX in Windows

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