In my article 9 Ways To Think Outside The Box (I also mentioned it in Setup and Configuration of My USB Drive, part 2 of the Zen and the Art of the USB Drive Series), I talked about a program that solved a number of computer issues for me, even when it was only designed to perform one main task. Well, that program is called TrueCrypt and it was designed to create a virtual hard drive that looks like any other drive on your system. You can copy, delete, save, modify files on this virtual hard drive when it is open just like any other drive. But, when it is closed, all of the files are hidden inside a highly encrypted file that is virtually impossible to get access to without knowing the password.
I am going to walk through installing TrueCrypt on your computer so that you will be able to use this great program on your system.
System Prerequisites
In order to install TrueCrypt on your computer, you will need the following:
If you aren’t sure whether or not you have administrative privileges on your computer, this script will allow you to check whether or not you have these privileges. Simply download it and run it on your computer.
[syntax,IsAdmin.vbs,VISUAL BASIC]
Getting TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt is available as a free download from the TrueCrypt website. You want to download the latest stable version for Windows. As of the writing of this article, this is version 4.2a and the file name is truecrypt-4.2a.zip.
Extract TrueCrypt
Once you have downloaded TrueCrypt to your computer, you need to extract the zip file. You will then be able to install TrueCrypt.
To do this, right click on the downloaded zip file and click on the Extract All… menu item. 
You will then be presented with a folder extraction wizard. Click on the Next > button.
The next page will ask you to select a destination. You can simply click the Next > button and go to the next page. This will create a directory in the same folder as the zip file with the same name as the zip file. Do not be concerned if the location is different from what is shown in the screen shot.
Once the files have been extracted, you will see the Extraction Complete window. This means that all of the files from the zip file have been placed in the folder that you specified in the previous window. Make sure the box beside the Show extracted files option is checked and click Finish.
A windows similar to the one pictured should not open. You have successfully extracted the TrueCrypt files.
Installing TrueCrypt
Now we can get to the act of actually installing TrueCrypt. In the open window, double click on the TrueCrypt Setup file. This will start the TrueCrypt setup program (Duh!). Read through the license agreement at the top (You do read those, right?) and then look at the Installation options section. There are several different options available as described below.
- Install to: This is the location on your hard drive where TrueCrypt will be placed. It default to C:\Program Files\TrueCrypt which is probably fine for most people.
- Install for all users: If this option is checked, everyone, even users who log in with different user names and passwords can use TrueCrypt. If this is not checked, then only you can use it when you are logged in as the user you are presently logged in as.
- Add TrueCrypt to Start menu: This will create a shortcut if you go to the Start button then All Programs -> TrueCrypt if you have the option checked. Otherwise, these shortcuts will not be created.
- Add TrueCrypt icon to desktop: When checked, a shortcut will be placed on your computer desktop so that you can access the program by doouble clicking on it.
- Associate ‘.tc’ file extensions with TrueCrypt: When you create a TrueCrypt volume, it is recommended that you name the file with .tc at the end. If you enable this option, you will be able to open that file in TrueCrypt by simply double clicking on those .tc files.
- Create System Restore point: Windows can take a “snapshot” of your current system setup prior to installing TrueCrypt. This “snapshot” is called a System Restore point. This way, if TrueCrypt accidentally causes a problem with your computer (which I have yet to see happen), then you can simply set the computer to roll back to the System Restore point and it would be as if TrueCrypt were never installed on your system. Select this option if you would like to create a System Restore point.
Once you have set all of the options that you would like, click on the Install button. All of the requested action will be performed and you will then be presented with a message indicating that TrueCrypt has been installed on your system. Click the OK button to make it go away.
You will be returned to the setup window. You will notice that there is now information in the space beneath the license. Check through it to ensure that everything has installed properly. Once you are satisfied that everything is OK, press the Exit button to close the window.
This completes the installation of TrueCrypt on your computer. You are now ready to experience all of the benefits that TrueCrypt has to offer. Keep checking back to Daily Cup of Tech as I have plans for more articles about TrueCrypt and some of the cool things that you can do with it.
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October 12th, 2006 at 10:27 am
I know atleast one person will ask about encrypting the boot partition along with the rest of the data. So here it goes:
You need a (FDE) tool for encrypting the boot partition along with the rest of data. TrueCrypt won’t do this. However Compusec’s Free FDE will do it. And Compusec will also let you encrypt individual file or create a encrypted folder. See: http://www.ce-infosys.com/
October 24th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
WOW!
You’ve just probably saved my bacon by allowing me to travel freely with the info I require for work on my USB drive, knowing that I am a clumsy oaf and will probably leave it in the pub or whatever!!
Thank you x 1000000!!!
Giles
October 24th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Giles,
You are very welcome. I’m glad I could be of help. All I ask in return is that you spread the word about this site.
Tim
March 28th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
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January 30th, 2008 at 11:12 am
do you need to place this program in my USB in order to encrypt my stuff in another comupter?