A. Ideally, when you install Server 2008 or Vista, you create a 1.5GB partition that will be the boot partition ( marked as active), then a main partition that will be the system partition (with the primary OS installed). The only data installed on the boot partition is the bootmgr file and the content of the boot folder. If you don’t create the 1.5GB boot partition but want to enable BitLocker, you need to manipulate your disk layout.
First, you need to create the partition that will become the boot partition. If you have unpartitioned space on the disk, simply create a new 1.5GB partition. If you don't have 1.5GB of space to spare, you can use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Disk Management snap-in to shrink an existing partition: Select the Shrink Volume option and specify the amount of space to shrink (e.g., 1500MB).
Next, you need to boot the machine from the Server 2008 or Vista DVD-ROM. Select the Repair Computer option, then select the Command Prompt option after selecting your Windows installation.
Now you need to verify the partitions. The C partition should be the OS’s system partition, and the D partition should be the new 1.5GB BitLocker partition. However, be sure to change to each drive so that you know for sure. In this example, C is the system partition and D will be the boot partition.
Copy the content of the boot folder to the new boot partition.
xcopy c:\boot d:\boot /h /e
Does D:\boot specify a file name
or directory name on the target
(F = file, D = directory)? d
Notice that the system asks you to confirm whether the target is a file or directory. Select D for directory.
C:\boot\BCD
C:\boot\BCD.LOG
C:\boot\BCD.LOG1
C:\boot\BCD.LOG2
C:\boot\bootstat.dat
C:\boot\memtest.exe
C:\boot\cs-CZ\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\da-DK\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\de-DE\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\el-GR\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\en-US\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\en-US\memtest.exe.mui
C:\boot\es-ES\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\fi-FI\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\Fonts\chs_boot.ttf
C:\boot\Fonts\cht_boot.ttf
C:\boot\Fonts\jpn_boot.ttf
C:\boot\Fonts\kor_boot.ttf
C:\boot\Fonts\wgl4_boot.ttf
C:\boot\fr-FR\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\hu-HU\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\it-IT\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\ja-JP\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\ko-KR\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\nb-NO\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\nl-NL\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\pl-PL\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\pt-BR\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\pt-PT\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\ru-RU\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\sv-SE\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\tr-TR\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\zh-CN\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\zh-HK\bootmgr.exe.mui
C:\boot\zh-TW\bootmgr.exe.mui
35 File(s) copied
Next, copy the bootmgr file. Again, the system asks you whether the target is a file or directory. This time, select F for file.
xcopy c:\bootmgr d:\bootmgr /h
Does D:\bootmgr specify a file name
or directory name on the target
(F = file, D = directory)? f
C:\bootmgr
1 File(s) copied
Now, using the Diskpart utility, set the 1.5GB partition to be the active partition, as follows. (When you run the following commands, be sure to select the 1.5GB partition.)
diskpart
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.0.6001
Copyright (C) 1999-2007 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MINWINPC
DISKPART> list disk
Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ---------- ------- ------- --- --- Disk 0 Online 186 GB 0 B
DISKPART> select disk 0
Disk 0 is now the selected disk.
DISKPART> list part
Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 1500 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 Primary 49 GB 1501 MB
Partition 3 Primary 136 GB 50 GB
DISKPART> select part 1
Partition 1 is now the selected partition.
DISKPART> active
DiskPart marked the current partition as active.
DISKPART> exit
Leaving DiskPart...
Finally, reboot the system. It should boot from your new boot partition, and BitLocker will be available for activation.
End of Article
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