Cartridge Utilities
The "Cartridge Utilities" drop down menu allows a cartridge to be ejected, erased, or to manage encryption.
A cartridge can be ejected from the dock by clicking the "Cartridge Utilities" drop down menu and clicking "Eject Cartridge". This operation should not be invoked if a protection plan is running or restore is currently in process. (The drop down menu choices are also available by right clicking on an "Available" cartridge.)
The cartridge may also be ejected by pressing the front panel button on the dock. The front panel button must not be pressed if the dock LED is flashing as this indicates that data transfer might be in progress. Refer to your dock's documentation for more information on its LED states.
When the cartridge is ejected the Status column in the Cartridge Status panel will change from "Available" to "Offline".
You can remove all of the data the software has stored on a cartridge by performing an "Erase Cartridge" operation. This operation will remove all of the data stored by the protection plans on the cartridge. If you choose this operation you will NOT be able to restore data that you have archived with protection plans.
When "Yes" is clicked on the confirmation dialog, the Erase Cartridge operation will open the Windows Format dialog. Click the "Quick Start" option and click "Start". Click "Yes" when the next window appears. When the format operation is finished click "Close". The software will finish the Erase operation and you will see the "New Media" dialog.
The saved protection plans that were stored on the cartridge will no longer display the "Last run . . ." text. The Results page will not display the results of the protection plans that used the cartridge. The Explore page will not display the protection plans that were stored on the cartridge.
It is recommended that, instead of erasing your stored data, a new cartridge be purchased if you need to expand your storage capability.
The software works with the Windows Encrypting File System to provide encryption capability. The software can backup and restore files that you have encrypted on a PC and you can encrypt a cartridge itself. When a cartridge is encrypted using the software, all contents of a protection plan will be encrypted. This section will discuss how to use the software to encrypt a cartridge.
Encryption is a powerful tool to protect your data from being accessed and read by persons you do not want to access your data. It is important to understand the operation of the Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) before deciding to encrypt a cartridge. Improper understanding of EFS could lead to the inability to restore data properly. The major sources of information on EFS are the Microsoft resource kits, product documentation, white papers, and Knowledge Base articles. It is recommended that you read about EFS by searching the Microsoft Knowledge Base using your web browser to open the Microsoft home page, click on Support and then click on Knowledge Base and search "Encrypting File System".
Enabling Encryption
Enabling encryption on a cartridge must be performed before executing any protection plan on the cartridge. A cartridge can be set up for encryption by clicking on the Cartridge button then clicking on the cartridge you want to set up for encryption then click on the Edit button.
When the next screen appears click on the Encryption tab then click on the checkbox to enable encryption for the cartridge. If the text "Enable encryption for this cartridge" and checkbox are disabled, encryption is not available for this cartridge. Either the cartridge has already been used with a protection plan or the cartridge is unusable. Click on the "Alerts" button for any alerts.
Note the user name that is associated with encrypting the cartridge. This user name must be the user logged in to the computer to backup, explore and restore the encrypted cartridge. You can specify another user name to use as the encryption user by clicking the "Change User" link. Click on the "OK" button to accept the settings and enable encryption of the cartridge. Click on the "Cancel" button if you do not want to encrypt the cartridge.
Exporting your EFS Certificate
You may need to share your encryption key with another user or import your encryption key to another machine. If you wished to restore data from an encrypted cartridge from a computer that is different than the computer that encrypted the cartridge you would need to export your encryption key. Before beginning the process of exporting your encryption key it is suggested that you familiarize yourself EFS best practices, exporting and importing encryption keys and backing up the recovery agent. You will need a CD, USB flash drive, floppy disk, or some other method of storing the exported encryption key.
Ensure you are logged in as the encryption user. Click on the Start menu and click on "Run". In the text box type "certmgr.msc" and click on the "OK" button. You should see a "Certificates" window.
Click the "Help" icon in the toolbar to obtain help exporting and importing the certificate and key used for the Encrypting File System encryption. In the left panel of the Help, click on the "Contents" tab and click on the "Certificates" heading. In the right panel click on the "How to" link.
Now click on the "Import and export certificates" link. Follow the help to export the certificate and private key. When the proper window requests, choose "strong encryption" and do not choose to delete the private key.
When the "Finish" button is selected you can take the certificate and private key (.pfx file) to a new computer that you would like to access the encrypted cartridge. The certificate will need to be imported to the new computer. After copying the .pfx file to the new computer, double click on the .pfx file to import the certificate and follow the screen instructions. You will now be able to access files on the encrypted cartridge from the new computer.