Encrypting a bootable USB Flash drive with Win7 installation?

[win7freak000]

Hi,

I have a USB Flash drive with Win7 installation setup/boot files on there in order for me to install Win7 from this bootable USB stick and plus all of my personal Data files are on there as well.
My question is, what would happen if I decide to encrypt this bootable USB stick with BitLocker?
Will the USB still boot the Win7 installation files in order for it to install Win7 if I ever decide to re-install Windows?

Or, will it cause issues during the setup phase?

 

[Ztruker]

If it's encrypted it will not boot.

 

[AddRAM]

Why would you want to encrypt it

USB sticks are a dime a dozen.

 

[LMiller7]

Will the USB still boot the Win7 installation files in order for it to install Win7 if I ever decide to re-install Windows?

Or, will it cause issues during the setup phase?

It would not work at all. I would say that is a pretty serious issue.

Flash drives are the least reliable of modern storage media and are unsuitable for use as a backup media or primary storage of important files. If the loss of a flash drive would be anything more than a nuisance then you are not using it inappropriately.