Question How to encrypt HDD with cache?

[davidolivercome]

I have a HDD (2TB and 128MB cache). If I'm not wrong an HDD is better for veracrypt that is why I decided to buy the HDD. SSDs seem to have issues with veracrypt (TRIM, Wear Leveling).
I want to install Windows 10 on the 2 TB HDD. But I'm unsure how to encrypt the drive after I installed Windows. In the past I already encrypted an SSD (System Partition) with Veracrypt, and I could only encrypt the system partition and not the whole drive. Is this still the case if I use the HDD as the System Partition, and is it any less safe then the encryption of the whole drive? Also the HDD seems to have a thing called cache. I haven't used HDDs in ages. Is this anything I need to consider with Veracrypt? Can Veracrypt securly encrypt a HDD running Windows 10 that has a cache?
I also have an old external HDD that I would like to encrypt. Is there anything to consider there?

 

[USAFRet]

If I'm not wrong an HDD is better for veracrypt

There is no difference between HDD or SSD.

In the past I already encrypted an SSD (System Partition) with Veracrypt, and I could only encrypt the system partition and not the whole drive.

You can encrypt whatever partition you want.

Also the HDD seems to have a thing called cache.

The cache on the HDD is totally irrelevant.

 

[davidolivercome]

There is no difference between HDD or SSD.


You can encrypt whatever partition you want.


The cache on the HDD is totally irrelevant.

I can not encrypt the whole drive though. And veracrypt themself say that an SSD encryption isn't as secure as an HDD

 

[USAFRet]

I can not encrypt the whole drive though. And veracrypt themself say that an SSD encryption isn't as secure as an HDD

Veracrypt does individual volumes.
A volume can be whatever size you want.

What, specifically, does Vera say about SSDs?
Link?

 

[USAFRet]

Also, what are you trying to protect against?

 

[davidolivercome]

Also, what are you trying to protect against?

I just want to encrypt my files in the best possible way.

 

[davidolivercome]

Veracrypt does individual volumes.
A volume can be whatever size you want.

What, specifically, does Vera say about SSDs?
Link?

https://veracrypt.eu/en/Wear-Leveling.html

 

[USAFRet]

https://veracrypt.eu/en/Wear-Leveling.html

"If you decide not to follow this recommendation and you intend to use in-place encryption on a drive that utilizes wear-leveling mechanisms, make sure the partition/drive does not contain any sensitive data before you fully encrypt it (VeraCrypt cannot reliably perform secure in-place encryption of existing data on such a drive; however, after the partition/drive has been fully encrypted, any new data that will be saved to it will be reliably encrypted on the fly)."

(emphasis mine)

 

[USAFRet]

They're not saying don't, or can't...just that wear leveling and TRIM has certain concepts that need to be considered.

 

[davidolivercome]

They're not saying don't, or can't...just that wear leveling and TRIM has certain concepts that need to be considered.

You seem to be correct. But I do have the HDDs now. Are you sure that the cache thing isn't a issue? Is it also enough to encrypt the windows partition?

 

[USAFRet]

You seem to be correct. But I do have the HDDs now. Are you sure that the cache thing isn't a issue? Is it also enough to encrypt the windows partition?

If you have the drives, use them.

Except for in my NAS, I moved away from HDD years ago.
All of my house PCs and laptops are SSD only.

The cache is NOT a concern.

But again, what is your threat level that you need the VeraCrypt?