3 replies to this topic

[dugslug]

To run BitLocker on a non-Mac computer, I  need to have the BIOS recognize USB before the boot process (the pre-operating  system environment, as Microsoft puts it).  Right now this doesn't seem to  happen when I use Boot Camp to start Vista.  BitLocker runs a check upon  boot-up and has told me that USB drives are not detected until Vista is already  running, which apparently is too late.
  
  I am hoping there is a way to do this on my MacBook Pro.   I believe that the Macs use EFI instead of BIOS, but does anyone know how  to set EFI to read USB before booting an operating system?
  
  Thanks




I have a MacBook Pro 2.4GHz purchased in December 2007, 4GB Ram

[macgirl]

USB should work, Keyboard and Mice on Desktop Macs are USB and/or Bluetooth and they are used to select bootcamp choices.

did you try with the onmac.net solution to boot Windows?

[dugslug]

Hmmmm,I see what you are saying, I do use my USB mouse to select which operation system I boot up from Boot Camp.I wonder what the BitLocker program is complaining about then,  obviously there is some level of USB support.  Perhaps USB flash drives are not supported?  I'm not smart enough to know what the differences are in terms of how the computer sees th difference between USB devices and USB drives.Any other thoughts?Haven't tried the onmac.net stuff yet.  I didn't know about it until I saw your post on it.  I suppose that it works with Vista or you wouldn't have mentioned it, but I don't see Vista listed - at least on the home page.

[macgirl]

AFAIK USB Devices like KB or mouse can work with BIOS flag and without drivers, USB Disks (no matter if they are memory or HD or floppy) require some level of drivers, you can boot from them but you can not read from them before a OS is loaded.