Whole disc encryption - access 2th partition

[Marito]

I have following issue:

• Legacy BIOS (no UEFI)
• Whole system disc encryption with 2 partition - containig 2 partition, system partition and logical partition for data
• eg notebook gets broken ---> how can I access the data?
• connecting the HDD via SATA/USB adapter external on other computer
• mounting system partition with "Mount without preboot authentication"
• BUT how can access the second logical partition? It is not shown in the partition list and no way of accessing the data.
• Is Rescue Disc iso able to access the drive, if system drive is connected via USB?

[Alex]

I guess: The partition is logical.
Probably it would be possible to mount If the partition is primary.

[Marito]

Yes, your guess is right - logical. How can convert the partition to primary, if HDD is already "whole disk encrypted"? Tools like Minitool Partition Wizard or Easus Partition Wizard are not recognizing encrypted partitions. I want to avoid decrypting because it is SSD with limited writing cycles.

[Alex]

Probably it is possible to convert logical to primary from OS loaded (not from external USB)

Note: I did not do the procedure. You are the first.

[Marito]

I tried from OS loaded (OS on encrypted partition). Partition tools don't recognize encrypted partition as partition --> they can not convert.

I am not sure, can I use diskpart on encrypted drive with OS is loaded on this drive? As describted in

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/logical-drive-convert-into-primary-partition/1a1c0d15-c3c5-4563-ba3e-d5fb7d2df439

[Alex]

The only way I can imagine is to direct edit of main partition table (dangerous operation) via e.g. WinHex. Convert extended partition to primary and adjust sectors range.

[Marito]

But if I have "whole disk encryption", is direct edit not destroying the encryption?

[Alex]

No. fist 32K contains loader. it is not encrypted.

[Marito]

I tested with an other HDD, your suggestion is right - if the second partition is primary, too (not logical), it can be mount externally by Veracrypt without Pre-authentication option.

Now back to my SSD, do you have any tutorial access the partition table for changing to primary? Might be possible with diskpart like https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/logical-drive-convert-into-primary-partition/1a1c0d15-c3c5-4563-ba3e-d5fb7d2df439 ?

Or is it possible for Veracrypt developer team to implement the mount of logical drives, too?

[Marito]

I found 2 tools which allow changing from logical to primary on unformated partition (encrypted partition appears unformated in Partition Manager Tools)

• AOMEI Partition Manager Tools - http://www.disk-partition.com - not tested as paid version is needed
• IM-Magic Partition Resizer Free - http://www.resize-c.com/ - tested with success

Changing from logical drive to primary is solved and Veracrypt can mount externally all drives.

Issue is solved and can be closed.