Windows 7 - Difficult Question

Hi,

I've been searching for a software program that can view the data on my second (and encrypted) HD from outside of Windows (Boot CD, DOS, Linux, anything) or even while booted into Windows. The purpose for viewing the data is because I would like to see how well I have encrypted my second HD. If my second HD is encrypted as well as I think it is, then I should not be able to see folder names or file names when I view the data on the HD from a utility either in or outside of Windows.

In other words, what utility can I use to view data on an encrypted HD. It doesn't matter if the data shows as "dfusdf9set8w4twuiefasidft4" (In an encrypted format), I still would like to view the data either way to see how well the data on the second HD is encrypted.

None of the popular utilities that I have tried can accomplish this very simple task. Does anybody know of a utility that can?

(I'm trying to figure out how well the "Encrypted Installation" of a Ubuntu Linux OS works. I don't think that the data shows up as encrypted if you use a utility to view the data, even when the system isn't mounted. The answer to this question is driving me mad, and I'm not going to know for sure how well the encrypted installation works until I actually view the data. I know this is a Windows 7 Forum (I use Windows 7 as my primary OS) but the program is probably a popular Windows or DOS program, so I came here to ask.)

hi giantpc, and welcome to sevenforums,

you mentioned linux - have you tried booting a linux live cd to inspect your drive with?

there are so many distros...a quick downloading one would be puppy or slitaz, which is only 30 megs and should download before you know it!

Well from what I have tried so far you can only view the data if the HD is mounted. Since I used the "Encrypted Installation" on my linux OS, the Linux live CD won't be able to mount the HD unless I enter the password to decrypt the encrypted installation, and that defeats the whole purpose. I'm looking for something that will view the actual data on my encrypted linux installation, even if the HD isn't mounted.

Can the utilities you suggested do this, or do they have to mount the encrypted HD first?

I didn't actually encrypt any files. I just used the Ubuntu "Encrypted Installation" and am now trying to see how well the system is encrypted by viewing the HD data (without mounting the HD from a linux cd or linux utility).

hmm, i think i misunderstood your original question - i thought you had encrypted a windows drive and wanted to see if it could be read by another os.

sorry, i don't think i can help further, but stick around, there are some very knowledgeable people on this forum - one of them will see this thread and respond.

I used some windows utilities in the past that allowed me to view raw data on the HD from...I think DOS, but that utility doesn't even recognize my second HD because the whole HD was formatted using the Ubuntu Encrypted Installation. I was hoping to find a Windows utility because Windows is my primary OS...and because then I wouldn't have to make a boot CD.

Let me just check that I have understood you correctly:

Your Ubuntu installation is encrypted, and you have a problem now because you can not see the encrypted installation without decrypting it? If you can brake the encryption, decrypt it, see the encrypted files, you are happy? If the encryption works as it should, you are unhappy?

I'm too old...

Kari

Simplified: I used the Ubuntu 'Encrypted Installation" on my second HD. I would now like to view the data on that HD to make sure the data is encrypted as well as to see how well and how much data is encrypted. I can't find a utility that does this.

not sure if it's what you want, but just found this software - not sure if it's any good, or if it works in 7, apparently it works with vista...

Doesn't this mean your encryption works?

Kari, i think he wants to see the actual scrambled data.