[Solved]Decrypt drive to view files

[jondoe]

I think this is correct place for this question.

I had a hard drive in a machine running Mint 19.1
Drive was not that big so after trying out mint I decided to remove drive and replace it .

Now im using that drive as a Timeshift backup drive .

I get this error when trying to mount it Via a USB Drive encloser

Me@LinMint19-1Efi:~$ ecryptfs-mount-private
ERROR: Encrypted private directory is not setup properly
Me@LinMint19-1Efi:~$

[Hoser Rob]

If it's your drive and you encrypted it you have the password, right?

[Petermint]

Was the drive encrypted by the operating system or the BIOS?

I suggest you unplug the new drive, plug in the old drive, and test the access. Copy all the files to an unencrypted disk when the access is working.

[jondoe]

Sorry for late reply , I forgot I made this post .

I will answer both of you.

1. It is my drive and yes I know the password ......during testing Mint I actually installed Mint like 4 times on 4 diff drives,experimenting.
(because mint would boot slow on my first time install drive). ( so i was testing , fast boot on or off, eufi on or off etc).

2. Mint encrypted the drive I'm questioning about - (home directory only)

3. NOW I use the drive in a USB Caddy for Backup , but have never used it because Locked out of HOME

4. I know the password but it never asks me for it .

5. I have a feeling its because naming , VG Name mint-vg

when I mount the drive by clicking on it from desktop then have a look inside i see these directions
THIS DIRECTORY HAS BEEN UNMOUNTED TO PROTECT YOUR DATA.

From the graphical desktop, click on: <-------------------i do not see this option
"Access Your Private Data"

or

From the command line, run:
ecryptfs-mount-private <----------------------------------this gives me an error , i think because VG name but I am not sure

ERROR: Encrypted private directory is not setup properly

Any Thoughts ????

[jondoe]

Ok

I tried something , I right click and open as Root and I am now accessing drive in it's HOME Folder, which is what I wanted .

Could it be that simple ?

All the articles I read of people having same issue, (not in mint forum) no one ever said right click and run as root ?

So I wonder if this method has draw backs or not ?

[WharfRat]

jondoe,

Are there files on that device that you want to recover

The easiest way yo get to the files is to boot to it otherwise if you want an encrypted disk for backups then use LUKS/cryptsetup

There are decent cryptsetup instructions here

[Pierre]

if that old drive is now mounted inside an Usb Caddy:
- then it's files will indeed need to be accessed as Root only.

[jondoe]

if that old drive is now mounted inside an Usb Caddy:
- then it's files will indeed need to be accessed as Root only.

Thanks Warfrat

Thanks Pierre,

Worked like charm .