On Mar 16, 2005, at 10:35 PM, ta131js wrote:
G-Listers:
Does anyone know how long FileVault typically run?
VileFault? (Not my invention, one poor soul on a LEM list, this one or a Pbook list came up with that after it ate his stuff.)
This may sound stupid, but the beach ball keeps on spinning & spinning. Looks like I will have to let it run all night (G3 iBook 700). Is there any real benefit by letting FV run?
Well, if you let it run you MAY get your data back, eventually. Or it may just be a SPOD and your data is bye bye.
I normally skip it. What does 'FileVault will recover the unused disk space' mean?
It's supposed to mean "We'll make the disk image of your home directory smaller." What it typically means is "Hope you didn't like your stuff too much because I'm eating it" MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH GOBBLE GOBBLE CHEW CHEW
FV uses so-called 'sparse disk images' where a disk image can be logically larger than it is physically, because space in the file isn't allocated until it's needed. Conversely, they can be made smaller if files are deleted from them, which is what it's supposedly doing when it says that.
The problem, though, is that sparse disk images can be flaky, particularly when there is a lot of file activity in them.
I don't know what made me do this tonight - and I'm regretting it.
I hope there wasn't too much irreplaceable stuff on that system...
FileVault is a good idea (encrypt your home directory so your data is secure even if your system is hacked or stolen) implemented horribly horribly wrong (Instead of a proper encrypting filesystem, we'll just make your home directory one giant encrypted disk image file, so that if one byte goes bad or there's one directory hiccup, *everything* is gone)
It depends on perfection from the file system and file systems are not perfect.
If you want to keep data secure, create encrypted disk images using Disk Utility, and use those to store sensitive data, but DON'T trust the wholeballwax to one...
FileVault is bad. Bad in a "But officer, he just asked me to drive him to the liquor store and wait in the parking lot. Then I heard the shots and he came running back yelling 'Drive! Drive!'" kind of way.
Don't mess with it, or you will pay for your indiscretion.
-- Bruce Johnson University of Arizona College of Pha rmacy Information Technology Group
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs
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