Operation Manual

119
Known Issues & Limitations
Known Issues
 (There were no confirmed issues when this document was created.)
Limitations
 [Note: This limitation does not apply to users of Windows Vista and later versions of Windows.]
On Windows XP/2003, VeraCrypt does not support encrypting an entire system drive that
contains extended (logical) partitions. You can encrypt an entire system drive provided that it
contains only primary partitions. Extended (logical) partitions must not be created on any
system drive that is partially or fully encrypted (only primary partitions may be created on it).
Note: If you need to encrypt an entire drive containing extended partitions, you can encrypt the
system partition and, in addition, create partition-hosted VeraCrypt volumes within any non-
system partitions on the drive. Alternatively, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows
Vista or a later version of Windows.
 VeraCrypt currently does not support encrypting a system drive that has been converted to a
dynamic disk.
 VeraCrypt volume passwords must consist only of printable ASCII characters. Other characters
in passwords are not supported and may cause various problems (e.g., inability to mount a
volume).
 To work around a Windows XP issue, the VeraCrypt boot loader is always automatically
configured for the version of the operating system under which it is installed. When the version
of the system changes (for example, the VeraCrypt boot loader is installed when Windows Vista
is running but it is later used to boot Windows XP) you may encounter various known and
unknown issues (for example, on some notebooks, Windows XP may fail to display the log-on
screen). Note that this affects multi-boot configurations, VeraCrypt Rescue Disks, and
decoy/hidden operating systems (therefore, if the hidden system is e.g. Windows XP, the decoy
system should be Windows XP too).
 The ability to mount a partition that is within the key scope of system encryption without pre-
boot authentication (for example, a partition located on the encrypted system drive of another
operating system that is not running), which can be done e.g. by selecting System > Mount
Without Pre-Boot Authentication, is limited to primary partitions (extended/logical partitions
cannot be mounted this way).
 Due to a Windows 2000 issue, VeraCrypt does not support the Windows Mount Manager under
Windows 2000. Therefore, some Windows 2000 built-in tools, such as Disk Defragmenter, do
not work on VeraCrypt volumes. Furthermore, it is not possible to use the Mount Manager
It is strongly recommended that you read also the latest online version of this chapter at:
https://veracrypt.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Issues%20and%20Limitations