Solved Tried to encrypt AppData but I got big problem

I tried to encrypt the folder AppData that contains Chrome and Firefox data but after encryption the monitor start to turn off and on again in infinite loop. Luckly I was able to decrypt this folder and no longer got monitor turned off again. But I wonder why this problem happened ? If I used bitlocker to encrypt the entire C:\ drive would this result in the same problem too ?

William654 said:

I tried to encrypt the folder AppData that contains Chrome and Firefox data but after encryption the monitor start to turn off and on again in infinite loop. Luckly I was able to decrypt this folder and no longer got monitor turned off again. But I wonder why this problem happened ? If I used bitlocker to encrypt the entire C:\ drive would this result in the same problem too ?

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Encrypting the AppData folder can cause problems because it contains data that many of your applications need to function correctly, including system processes. When you encrypt this folder, some applications or system processes might not be able to access their necessary data, resulting in various issues, including the one you experienced.

Regarding BitLocker, it's different from simply encrypting a single folder. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive, but it also works with Windows to ensure that the system and applications can access the data they need when they need it. When the system starts, Windows uses the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to unlock the drive. Once the system is up and running, applications and system processes can access their necessary data just like they could if the drive wasn't encrypted.

So to answer your question, using BitLocker to encrypt your entire C: drive should not result in the same problem. However, please remember to backup your important data before proceeding with the encryption, as things can sometimes go wrong.

Encrypting the entire AppData folder is not advisable, as processes and programs that need to access your EFS encrypted files will need to run using your credentials. However, encrypting directories like the Firefox profile works.

With an SSD, you may want to use drive encryption (like Bitlocker) with a pre-boot PIN. Concurrently using EFS can help prevent other processes, not running under your credentials, from accessing files once the system is up and running. For extra protection, you can also use Veracrypt file-containers for junctioned or data directories.