Windows 7 Ultimate I encrypted one of my internal drives with Bitlocker. I don't have TPM on the machine so I used a password. The problem is that I don't get a prompt for the password during Windows statup but only after I login and click on the drive. As a result processes that are started during login and need access to the drive fail. Is there anyway to unlock a bitlocker password protected drive during Windows startup without first logging in? If not I will have to setup a dummy userid that is only used to unlock the drive.

You can store the password into a USB flash driver instead, that way it will work as a TPM.Itknowledge24.com

How many harddisks do you have? If you have two, please install Windows 7 on one of them and keep the other for files and important work, this way you can encrypt the driver which includes the work files and the images, music.Itknowledge24.com

BTW, I just did some search and came a long this article: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6229/how-to-use-bitlocker-on-drives-without-tpm/ It provides step by step instructions, how to enable BitLocker without TPM! Check it out hope it helps...Itknowledge24.com

Thanks, but that does not address the problem I am having. I do not want to use a flash drive to unlock the system -- just a password. Please read the question before responding since questions with response tend to get overlooked even if the response is not germain to the question.

I have encrypted the drive that contains the files I want to protect. The problem is the requirement to be logged in to unlock the drive with a password. Please read the question before responding since questions with responses tend to get overlooked even if the response is not germain to the question.

Thanks, but that does not address the problem I am having. I do not want to use a flash drive to unlock the system -- just a password. The link I posted provides all the details and step by step instructions of how to use BitLocker without TPM! The problem in which you have, is as I understand it, everything has to do with the encryption/decryption part.Itknowledge24.com

Please read the question before responding. I am using password protection and want to enter the password during Windows startup not after logging in. The link you provided does not have any relevent information on it. If you do not understand the question please don't respond to it.

Please read the question before responding. I am using password protection and want to enter the password during Windows startup not after logging in. The link you provided does not have any relevent information on it. If you do not understand the question please don't respond to it. I understand it very well. However, I have not good experience with BitLocker.Itknowledge24.com

Hi, welcome. Please, go to Windows Server TechCenter and look at BitLocker Drive Encryption Overview : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732774.aspx# and at Windows Client TechCenter, see also BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide for Windows 7: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd835565(WS.10).aspx and you will find professional guidance at TechNet support site links also. God Luck. Rgds. itconcerned

Please, go to Windows Server TechCenter and look at BitLocker Drive Encryption Overview : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732774.aspx# and at Windows Client TechCenter, see also BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide for Windows 7: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd835565(WS.10).aspx and you will find professional guidance at TechNet support site links also. I have encrypted the drive that contains the files I want to protect. The problem is the requirement to be logged in to unlock the drive with a password. Please read the question before responding since questions with responses tend to get overlooked even if the response is not germain to the question.