Can't boot system (Incorrect Password) after resizing system partition

[Edward T]

So I did something stupid and used Windows disk management tools to resize (grow) my system partition, which had FDE enabled.

I assume this is why it no longer accepts my password when booting and I've been searching but have yet to locate my Veracrypt rescue disk (yes, I did create one, but possibly on a dead NAS)

Fully accept this is a result of my own stupidity and if the data is lost, then so be it, but if anyone can suggest anything for me to try, would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[Edward T]

Slight update. Pulled the hard drive and connected it to another laptop. Was able to mount the partition (but only after telling it to use the backup header embedded in the volume) and it shows the old size (200GB), however unable to access any of the files as it mounts as a RAW partition?

[Mounir IDRASSI]

The volume header contains information about the disk size and the offset of encrypted data. By resizing the system partition, both these information are now wrong and that's why the data can not be decrypted correctly. Honnestly, I never thought of this scenario and I'm not able to say how VeraCrypt driver would behave in this situation.

Technically, it is possible to manually modify the volume header (using the password) in order to set the disk size and data offset to the correct values but its outcome depends on what Windows did during the growing of the system partition which is not something easy to find out. (only resize or also writing data beyond the old size).

Are you able to shrink the partition to its exact previous size? This can be a solution to make VeraCrypt work better although the filesystem may become corrupted but at least you could use recovery software to try to locate files.

i'm afraid that's the maximum I can do for now. Of course, it is possible to try to implement the technical solution I explained above but it requires many days of work just for your specific disk and its associated cost will be very high.

[Edward T]

Cheers, thought this might be the case.

I can't shrink the disk now as I can no longer boot into it (unless there's a tool out there that'll let me do it that I'm aware of!)

Guess I'll wipe it and reinstall Windows - glad I had (most) of the files backed up - ish!

Thanks,

[Mounir IDRASSI]

I was thinking of shrinking encrypted partition to its original size outside Windows (you can do it on Linux for example). Of course, the filesystem inside will become corrupted but as I said it should be possible to mount it in VeraCrypt and use sole recovery software.

Anyway, that's a lot of work...depending on the data, it may not worth the effort.

[petitlou60]

Hello,

On UEFI systems Take care of recovery partition resizing after upgrade or update
on encrypted systems windows systématicaly leave existing recovery partiton orphaned
shink windows partition and recreate new recovery partition in freed space
now veracrypt volume header is wrong!!!!
Personaly to avoid this:
1) i have moved recovery data in C:\Recovery ,then delete recovery partition
2) in setupconfig.ini inside WSUS diiectory i have added line ResizeRecoveryPartition disable

i hope that this parameter is used by windows update to block resising

Best regards