Truecrypt

Activation of Adobe Photoshop® and Other Products Using FLEXnet Publisher® / SafeCast

Note: The issue described below does not affect you if you use TrueCrypt 5.1 or later and a non- cascade encryption algorithm (i.e., AES, Serpent, or Twofish).* The issue also does not affect you if you do not use pre-boot authentication (see the chapter System Encryption).

Acresso FLEXnet Publisher activation software, formerly Macrovision SafeCast, (used for activation of third-party software, such as Adobe Photoshop) writes data to the first drive track. If this happens when your system partition/drive is encrypted by TrueCrypt, a portion of the TrueCrypt Boot Loader will be damaged and you will not be able to start Windows. In that case, please use your TrueCrypt Rescue Disk to regain access to your system. There are two ways to do so:

1. You may keep the third-party software activated but you will need to boot your system from the TrueCrypt Rescue Disk CD/DVD every time. Just insert your Rescue Disk into your CD/DVD drive and then enter your password in the Rescue Disk screen.
2. If you do not want to boot your system from the TrueCrypt Rescue Disk CD/DVD every time, you can restore the TrueCrypt Boot Loader on the system drive. To do so, in the Rescue Disk screen, select Repair Options > Restore TrueCrypt Boot Loader. However, note that this will deactivate the third-party software.

For information on how to use your TrueCrypt Rescue Disk, please see the chapter TrueCrypt Rescue Disk.

Possible permanent solution: Upgrade to TrueCrypt 5.1 or later, decrypt the system partition/drive, and then re-encrypt it using a non-cascade encryption algorithm (i.e., AES, Serpent, or Twofish).*

Please note that this not a bug in TrueCrypt (the issue is caused by inappropriate design of the third-party activation software).

* The reason is that the TrueCrypt Boot Loader is smaller than the one used for cascades of ciphers and, therefore, there is enough space in the first drive track for a backup of the TrueCrypt Boot Loader. Hence, whenever the TrueCrypt Boot Loader is damaged, its backup copy is run automatically instead.