Tool to decrypt old encrypted harddrive and backup data before reformat

bapigoo9 · 11-29-2008, 07:22 PM

I have an old Ubuntu harddrive, version 7? I think, that I want to backup any old data before reformating the harddrive for additional storage space. The harddrive was in an old computer that I don't have anymore, and I want to reuse the harddrive. But first, I want to backup any old data that is useful.

What tool can I use to mount the harddrive? It was encrypted with the installation options in Ubunutu. I do not need to boot the harddrive, just get any old data that is needed.

farslayer · 11-30-2008, 12:30 AM

I do believe you will need the encryption key or pass-phrase before you will be able to do anything with the drive.

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/rescue-an-...vm-volume.html

fotoguy · 11-30-2008, 02:06 AM

Sorry to say, that if you do not have the key or passphrass, or both, depending on how ubuntu's encryptions works, then you will not be able to retrieve anything, basically the data is lost.

If ubuntu uses encryption like aes-loop or dm-crypt, then it will use a block device in the /dev directory which is the encrypted part, then each partition is mounted under it's repective encrypted device before mounting it under the filesystem, or a ram filesystem, this is one things encryption was designed to guard against.

bapigoo9 · 12-01-2008, 12:14 AM

Is there a way to determine what encryption was used on the Ubuntu drive? Was there a standard encryption that they used in the installation scripts?

farslayer · 12-01-2008, 07:25 PM

yes.. did you not follow the link I posted ?

bapigoo9 · 12-02-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

did you not follow the link I posted

got the link.