HelpQA Tags Search FAQ
Start a New Post Chat Login & Registration
314sftf
Nix
last online: 11/28, 9:31
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0

Can I password protect a portable HDD?

This open post was written |
Views: 35, Subscribers: 6 |
Leave a reply | Report Post

⇩ Zoom to bottom
Reciprocity (0)
Reciprocity
Since writing this post Nix may have helped people, but has not within the last four (4) days.
Post Tags (4)
password, protect, portable, hdd
Replies (13)
Roccoflip
Rockster160
last online: <time class="timeago" datetime="1728142596" title="Oct 5, 2024 15:36">Oct 5, 2024 15:36</time>
Help-QA Admin
Verified User (7 years, 1 week)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(11 minutes after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

You can definitely buy them with password protection software pre-installed. As for adding to an existing one, that might be slightly more difficult.

You can get encryption software and encrypt the data before saving onto the drive though. Then you'll be able unencrypt it when pulling to your computer. I believe there are programs that make this pretty painless, but I haven't used them myself so I wouldn't know.

1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
soco
last online: 03/19, 3:49
Verified User (7 years, 4 days)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(16 minutes after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

1. Download and install an encryption program, such as TrueCrypt, AxCrypt or StorageCrypt. These programs serve a number of functions, from encrypting your entire portable device and creating hidden volumes to creating a password necessary to access it.

2. Plug in your external hard drive to your computer and wait for your computer to detect it. Your encryption program needs to be able to read it to encrypt it. At this point, move everything you want to save from your external hard drive onto your computer; the encryption process involves formatting your drive, which results in wiping all data from it, so saving your data is extremely important.

3. Open your encryption program and select the option to create a new volume. Each encryption program will show you a list of all devices connected to your computer, so select the drive that corresponds with your external hard drive. The volume needs to be created on this device. For example, if your external hard drive is "F:/" you will want to create a new volume on your "F" drive. If you are asked what type of volume to make, select any "non-system partition" option since your external hard drive is not part of your computer.

4. Choose the password you want for access to this drive. Make sure that it's something that you remember, or make a note of it somewhere safely, because if you forget your password you will not be able to access the drive at all.

5. Proceed with the formatting and encryption and then select the drive letter you want to mount your external hard drive is; you can choose any available letter, but this is done because, after formatting, you will not be able to access with the letter you used before. For example, if you typically accessed your drive as "F" you won't be able to use "F" for your drive anymore. The formatting will take some time, but after it is done, you will be able to move all your files back to your external hard drive.

6. Type in your password one more time to access your drive and then move all your files back. From now on you can access your external hard drive normally with the letter you chose on any computer after you type in the password you set.

Help me with:

We have another hurricane coming this way.

Roccoflip
Rockster160
last online: <time class="timeago" datetime="1728142596" title="Oct 5, 2024 15:36">Oct 5, 2024 15:36</time>
Help-QA Admin
Verified User (7 years, 1 week)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(38 minutes after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Apparently @soco is pretty familiar with password protecting hard drives. Wonder what sheโ€™s hiding? ๐Ÿ˜

1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
soco
last online: 03/19, 3:49
Verified User (7 years, 4 days)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(47 minutes after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Same as Nixx. ****Porn.

LOL

Help me with:

We have another hurricane coming this way.

Roccoflip
Rockster160
last online: <time class="timeago" datetime="1728142596" title="Oct 5, 2024 15:36">Oct 5, 2024 15:36</time>
Help-QA Admin
Verified User (7 years, 1 week)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(52 minutes after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

soco wrote:
Same as Nixx. ****Porn.

LOL

๐Ÿ˜‚

Electric
BA1
last online: 01/25, 20:20
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(1 hour after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Rockster160 wrote:

soco wrote:
Same as Nixx. ****Porn.

LOL

๐Ÿ˜‚

(Beautiful)
---------------

Without too much info Nixx, what is it you are protecting and why?

314sftf
Original Poster
Nix
last online: 11/28, 9:31
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(1 hour after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

LMAO SOCO! Thank you for the info!

Idk what soco is hiding but I will be keeping private customer data!

1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
soco
last online: 03/19, 3:49
Verified User (7 years, 4 days)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(6 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Private customer data = ****Porn.

I rest my case.

Help me with:

We have another hurricane coming this way.

Helpcomanimatedyetiwithdot256
๐•อคอญอฅฬ‡๐•–๐•ฅ๐•šใ€‚(Yeti.)
last online: 06/22, 14:37
Verified User (6 years, 9 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(7 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Ah, methinks you'd probably fare better with some free customer management / database software, in that case. Unlocking & relocking is a pain, forgotten password nightmarish.

https://blog.capterra.com/free-and-open-source-...
As you can see, most charge big $ for such services. Without any prior experience, I'd give suitecrm a shot; self hosting is preferable, interface suitable to your capability / convenience is more or less the only other significant aspect.

By the way, you should have a recent backup or two outside the hdd at any time. Failure is inevitable. Ought to be as easy as copying a file or export / import.

Help me with:

[quote]Test.[/quote]

Electric
BA1
last online: 01/25, 20:20
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(7 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

What Yeti has said.

314sftf
Original Poster
Nix
last online: 11/28, 9:31
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(23 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

hmm, maybe it would be safe enough on a password protected laptop? im not sure, i'll look into it.

soco wrote:
Private customer data = **.

I rest my case.

ooops busted :( soco knows everything

1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
soco
last online: 03/19, 3:49
Verified User (7 years, 4 days)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(23 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

Nixx is now Nix.
You lost a letter, girlfriend. I can help you look for it if you want. Does it happen to be on a silver carabiner key chain?

Help me with:

We have another hurricane coming this way.

314sftf
Original Poster
Nix
last online: 11/28, 9:31
Verified User (6 years, 11 months)
Long Term User
Shoutout0
#
(23 hours after post)
Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

soco wrote:
Nixx is now Nix.
You lost a letter, girlfriend. I can help you look for it if you want. Does it happen to be on a silver carabiner key chain?

its locked away with the sensitive data on my protected HDD :) ive gone all innocent

A
⇧ Zoom to top

Help-QA supports basic Markdown, emoji ๐Ÿ˜, and tagging friends with @username!

To use this site you must be 13 years or older and occasionally submit your email address. Your email address is only shared with your explicit permission.

Home Page - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Feedback