Knowledge Base

To back up the system encrypted with BitLocker you will need to create an image from Windows

This article refers to:

• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate
• Windows 7 Enterprise

Description

BitLocker is the encryption software distributed with Windows 7 and Vista, Ultimate and Enterprise versions of them.

BitLocker will encrypt the data along with the file system structures, rendering the data unusable unless the right key is entered during the boot process, thus protecting valuable data.

Taking a backup with Acronis

In order to take a successful backup (image) of a BitLocker encrypted system, please use the Acronis software in Windows. Do not attempt to use the bootable media, since it will not recognize the partition, and it will initiate a sector by sector copy, which will bring issues after restoring it.

The data read during the backup from Windows will be unencrypted, since Windows will decrypt all the data on the fly.

Restoring the data

If you want to restore the entire system (bare metal restore), please boot from the media and restore all the data. Everything will work fine, with the pecularity that the data will be unencrypted. If you want to have it encrypted, please turn on BitLocker once you boot the restored system.

If you want to restore only one partition of a multi-partitioned disk, please restore it from Windows. Restoring it from the bootable media may make the restore partition undetectable for Windows.

Acronis Startup Recovery Manager

You can activate the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager, if you want to. The fact that the drive is encrypted with BitLocker does not prevent the activation of the Acronis Startup Recovery Manger.

Remember that the Aconis Startup Reocvery Manager, just like Acronis Bootable Media, will not be able to recognize the encrypted partitions correctly, so it is not the best way to take a successful backup.

(!) If the system disk is encrypted, however, activation of Acronis Startup Recovery Manager will fail.

More information

If you want to know more about BitLocker, please visit the following Microsoft resource.

Operations other than backup and restore may malfunction as well on an encrypted partition.

See also Acronis True Image Home 2012: Compatibility with Windows BitLocker.