I have Windows 7, and I have one encrypted TrueCrypt drive which is auto mounted on Windows logon with a script. But on Windows shutdown I don't use a script to dismount the drive before shutting down Windows. Can leaving the drive mounted when shutting down Windows, somehow damage the data on the encrypted drive?
1 Answer
TrueCrypt automatically dismounts its volumes when Windows is shutting down.
(i.e. the user is "logged off" and there is a setting for auto-dismount when this happens.)
If you hibernate your PC and want the volume to dismount you can also set this in the options.
Edit:
Please note that when mounting a volume via a script you need to make sure TrueCrypt.exe is also loaded. This is the "TrueCrypt Background Task" and is responsible for the Auto-dismount and more.
TrueCrypt Background Task:
When the main TrueCrypt window is closed, the TrueCrypt Background Task takes care of the following tasks/functions:
- Hot keys
- Auto-dismount (e.g., upon logoff, inadvertent host device removal, time-out, etc.)
- Auto-mount of favorite volumes
- Notifications (e.g., when damage to hidden volume is prevented)
- Tray icon
See also http://andryou.com/truecrypt/docs/background-task.php
You can run truecrypt /q background
to start it directly in the background.
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Yes, but i am using TrueCrypt in portable mode and i am mounting/dismounting volumes from command prompt, so TrueCrypt is not running when Windows is shutting down. Mar 18, 2015 at 13:48
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Are you sure TrueCrypt isn't running as process in the background. If it's not then you shouldn't be able to access that volume. Try looking in the taskmanager (processes-tab) for a process with the name TrueCrypt.exe. It should be there.– RikMar 18, 2015 at 13:50
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Correction... You're right. When ending the TrueCrypt process I still have access to the volume. I'll need to investigate further. I wonder what is responsible for writing to the truecrypt-file at that point.– RikMar 18, 2015 at 13:53
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@peter7558 Yes, you need the TrueCrypt.exe running for the auto-dismount function. See my edited answer. If you don't want the TrueCrypt.exe loaded you need to dismount manually before shutdown.– RikMar 18, 2015 at 14:03
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@peter7558 You can run
truecrypt /q background
to start it directly in the background.– RikMar 18, 2015 at 14:07