Either I forgot how to access veracrypt files, or.....uh-oh.
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A few months ago I created a veracrypt file, and hidden volume. It worked perfectly. Over the next couple days, I accessed the files in the hidden volume many times before deleting the un-encrypted versions. Then accessed them a few more times to make sure.
I haven't needed to access those files for several months now, and now I can't seem to access them. I think I'm doing everything right, but something's wrong. Please help!
Here's what I'm doing, and what is happening:
First, my encrypted file is on an external hard drive.
1) Plug in external HDD.
2) Double-clip Veracrypt icon on desktop.
3) Selected drive: j from the list.
4) Clicked "select file".
5) In explorer, clicked on my external drive d: and clicked on the file folder "junk". Inside that folder is a single file called "junk".
6) Clicked "junk" and then Open.
7) Back on the Veracrypt window, I click Mount and get the password screen. (Do I have to check any of the boxes in this window, or click any of the option buttons?)
8) Now, I have two passwords because I created a hidden volume. I type the one that should open the hidden volume and the password is accepted.
9) I go back into Explorer and now I see a new drive called Local Drive (J):
10) I open Drive J: and it says "this folder is empty". Holy Crap!
11) I dismount and try the other password. This one says "Operation failed due to one or more of the following:" (I assume the most likely reason is the password, but I'm 100% sure it's correct. It's not one I could screw up.)
What am I missing? I could not have deleted the files. Please tell me there's some stupid step I'm forgetting about.
Thank you for your help!
-Frank
No thoughts? Is there a different forum I should be posting this in? I know the files are there, I just can't remember how to access them.
Thank you,
Frank
Figured it out! Never mind. Thank you though!
-Frank
Hi Frank, could you explain the solution? This sounded similar to an issue posted by myself and others.
Hi Zinc,
This was simply a case stupidity on my part.
When I was setting up the encrypted files, I misunderstood part of the directions I was following. I created an empty folder I called "junk", thinking I would be dropping files into that encrypted folder. That wasn't working, so I created an encrypted file I called "junk", which did work, but I dropped it into the folder called "junk". I think that worked, but it wasn't really the correct procedure. When it's done correctly, it looks like you have this random file in Explorer that doesn't open, not a folder that contains a file that doesn't open. So I started over and created a new file, let's call it "stuff". But once I set it up correctly, I didn't delete the "junk" folder and file.
Like I said, I went months without accessing the encrypted file, and when I went to try to open it last week, the "junk" FOLDER jumped out at me and I forgot that that was my screwed up first attempt. I didn't even notice the actual encrypted "stuff" FILE sitting further down the list in Explorer. I tried that one and BAM, all my encrypted files!
In summary: No technical issues, just bone-headedness.