I've just received an email from my major cilent saying they've had to rethink their security protocol now that TrueCrypt is out the window and that everyone must (this is not optional) either:
(a) Upgrade to Windows 8.1 to access Bitlocker or
(b) Those wanting to remain on Windows 7, upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate which costs £120.
I didn't check the price of 8.1 because as soon as I read it I saw that it actually nukes all existing files and settings.
I'm waiting for a response from them as to whether AxCrypt, which I installed when I saw the announcement about TrueCrypt, will meeting their criteria. If it does, problem solved.
Otherwise what course of action would any of you adopt? I've narrowed it down basically to three options - if you think of more they'd be very welcome:
1. Spend £120 on upgrading to Ultimate.
2. Spend £60 or whatever on an external hard drive to transfer everything possible to avoid it being nuked by Windows 8.1 which is also probably about £120. Also is Windows 8.1 horrendous compared to 7 or are they fundamentally the same, for anyone who's made a change.
3. Bearing in mind this laptop is already 2 years old and may decide to implode at any given time, ask dear old mam (she's 81) to toddle up to Argos to buy a new laptop which presumably would have 8.1 already installed (would have to check that) so she can bring it with her if she comes in September.
I can't actually avoid this as apparently they're going to issue a "checker" programme in September to rifle through people's computers to see if all security measures are in place.
Well the answer is finally in - AxCrypt is not acceptable to the clients as it doesn't encrypt the entire system disk, only individual folders. They have given me until 29 August to migrate to a new system at a minimum cost of £125 for Windows Ultimate. Their final sentence was, and I quote, "we are extremely busy at the moment and can provide you with high work levels". Hello? I'm currently working 7 days a week, I have a kid off school for 2 months from next Friday and we already live extremely frugally to make sure there's money in the pot for the tax next month, the insurance and a bit towards this year's firewood. They are on London wages so £125 is a "pfffffft" to them. That's a quarter of my monthly income. Not happy. Oh, and I have 2 lovely, lovely friends arriving on the 7th for 5 days all the way from Australia who I've not seen for 15-20 years so am cramming work now to make up the money I "lose" while they're here. Seems like I'll be 'cramming' again when they leave to pay for this nonsense so I think summer will be a write-off for us. Sorry, kid, no days out this year.
You are right to be wary of Windows OS disks sold on E-bay, and personally, I probably wouldn't advise buying one from there, unless you happen to know a reputable dealer. I have seen OS installation disks that looked about as genuine as you might think, but which turned out to be specially crafted, trojan ridden illegal copies...
Ah, now you see I didn't know that either so could potentially download the wrong version if I need it. What a bunch of gems you lot on here are.
I did actually look on eBay to see what came up under "Windows 7 Professional" and people are selling disks for a third of the price of MS's downloadable upgrade version. I wonder if they're the same sort of thing or if I'd be lining myself up for a disaster.
I really need the bloody clients to tell me yay/nay about AxCrypt. Which is free. And it works on my machine. Because I seemed to know about TrueCrypt disappearing into the Ether(net) before they did ...
Yes, that is the problem with Bitlocker, unfortunately, aside from the fact that if you do get it for Vista, and it is version 1, it will be incompatible with version 2 running on Windows 7.
I'm still waiting to hear back from them Alex. If they agree to my substituting AxCrypt for TrueCrypt and locking their particular folder, then I'm fine. They've banned TrueCrypt now completely so 7.1a wouldn't be acceptable to them. I think they'd actually prefer full hard disc encryption but it's turning into a bit of a nonsense. They seem set on Bitlocker at the moment which is only on some MS versions, Professional and Ultimate if I remember correctly, not on Home Premium which is what I have so it's the case of they either accept AxCrypt (basically the same as TrueCrypt) or I'm forced to upgrade one way or the other simply to get bloody Bitlocker. Be all right if they paid more!
At the risk of being an evangelist, switch to Linux - it is free, it comes with built-in disk and file encryption, but you can also install Truecrypt 7.1a, the last known "safe" version. However, if your client is reliant on your providing encrypted files, obviously you will need that both they and you can read/decipher - handily, there is also PGP. However, you would nonetheless be advised to make an external disk backup of your data before installing a Linux distribution of choice to your laptop.
It all depends on the constraints that you have with your client(s).
I have absolutely no idea what a Metro inferface is, lol - considering I spend 12 hours a day attached to this blooming thing you'd think I'd be a bit more savvy. If the clients ever respond to my question about whether AxCrypt is sufficient I could get on with planning.
Windows 8.1 with the latest update is starting to look a lot like Windows 7 for a normal user. You don't have to go anywhere near the Metro interface if you don't want to. Laptops with Win7 are still available but will disappear from market in Oct/Nov.
As for your keyboard, you can set Windows up to use 2 different keyboard layouts should you wish or just tell Windows to use the language you prefer. In my case, Windows is in English but keyboard is in French
Sheila, when I bought my Dell Vostro 1720 from Dell France, I asked for a QWERTY keyboard and English software, all duly added. Since I have some excellent translation software, I can handle whatever is needed in French. Roger
With the Dell, I was able to choose English as the language, so everything almost is in Englsh, except for the welcome page when you boot up, and I have "bureau" icon whereas you would have "desktop" but everything else is English and it accepted a Qwerty just fine. It's just a USB device after all. Yes, don't mess about with laptop keyboard. I did, and now use the backup keyboard on the laptop. Well, let's say it was St Patrick's night and there was wine involved. Just the tiniest drop, but it was enough. Thanks to the advice of various members here, I was able to disconnect it so that I could reboot and log in.
I actually wondered about that - I have two qwerty keyboards (yes, Argos, about £9). I need two because I tend to wear them out rather quickly PLUS if you screw the keyboard on the laptop itself then you're in big trouble so I always use an independent keyboard. The question then: if you USB-connect a qwerty to a French computer, could it cope or would the French keyboard confuse it?
Well, if possible, could you buy from somewhere like Dell? I bought from their French website, and received it within two days. It's a good basic PC. Yes, the keyboard was AZERTY but I already had a QWERTY keyboard, so was able to donate the Dell one to a French friend. I also bought a replacement keyboard, "Amazon Basics" for about €5 - cheap and cheerful but if ever there was an accident with spillages (tea or coffee of course, I would NEVER spill wine!), I have a back-up.
The Olympus software came with a foot pedal, so I think (touches wood, crosses fingers and bows to all deities) that I'm covered for now for any emergency.
I know - it's a nonsense isn't it. That's why I was wondering whether to ask mum to fork out for one & I pay her when she arrives - spending up to £150 to upgrade an "old" laptop just seems stupid, I may as well just invest in a new one. At least I'd have a back-up. Typically they haven't reverted to me. If they accept AxCrypt is secure enough it's a moot point but I need to know so that I (mum) can get organised in advance of September - it's only a matter of weeks away - and you know how these people are. If they remotely "scan" my laptop they might stop assignments until I have the required locks and bolts.
Hi Val. I feel your pain. Already had to update to Olympus software as the cheap (originally free) Express Scribe can't handle DS audio and MY major client sends me a lot of DS. I also do not like Windoze 8 or 8.1. I don't have a touch screen and it seems to me (the experts here will soon correct me) that W8 was designed with touch screens in mind. I also can't afford to go Mac. I did however last year find a reasonably priced desktop from Dell (pre-assembled and on sale) for just over €300 including keyboard, screen, mouse, and W8 pre-loaded. I bought the desktop because it is easier to cool - I was finding my darling Acer Aspire 8350G was overheating a lot, and impossible to use during warmer months. I also bought external HD and backed up everything and then copied over all my files. Inadvertently and to my surprise and delight, I also copied Word and Adobe (full versions).
I can't offer any comforting words here. You might be well advised to have a second computer of some description in the house, as you and I are screwed if anything goes wrong. We can't exactly transcribe a two hour conference on a smart phone!
Good luck with whatever you decide, and ring me at any time if you want to talk about these options.
