How to use BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool using Command Prompt

We have previously read about the BitLocker feature, where we’ve mentioned about the BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool. This tool is currently not available as a download for Windows 7 or Windows 8, and later users and only Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 users can take benefit of it. But if you still want to use the abilities of this tool, then you can use command line tool. In this article, we will talk about using the BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool using Command Prompt in Windows 8.1.



Basically, BitLocker Drive Preparation tool prepares a hard drive with the partitions necessary for BitLocker Drive Encryption. Most installations of Windows 7 or later recognize the command line tool. Here is how you can use it.

Using BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool via Command Prompt in Windows 8 / 7

1. In order to use BitLocker Drive Preparation command line tool, open the administrative Command Prompt.
2. Next, you can use the following command with suitable descriptors mentioned below and press Enter:

bdehdcfg [–driveinfo <DriveLetter>] [-target {default|unallocated|<DriveLetter> shrink|<DriveLetter> merge}] [–newdriveletter] [–size <SizeinMB>] [-quiet]

The above mentioned command is in general form and its variable parameters can altered using following descriptors:
-driveinfo <DriveLetter>: Displays the drive letter, the total size, the maximum free space, and the partition characteristics. Only valid partitions are listed. Unallocated space is not listed if four primary or extended partitions already exist.
Example : To display information for C: drive, use bdehdcfg –driveinfo C: command.
-target {default|unallocated|<DriveLetter> shrink|<DriveLetter> merge} : Prepares a partition for use as a system drive by BitLocker and Windows Recovery. By default, this partition is created without a drive letter.
Example : In order to use this command to designate an existing drive (K) as the system drive, use bdehdcfg -target K: merge at Command Prompt.

-newdriveletter : Assigns a new drive letter to the portion of a drive used as the system drive. As a best practice, it is recommended that you do not assign a drive letter to your system drive.
Example : Using command bdehdcfg -target default -newdriveletter K: illustrates that default drive is being assigned the drive letter K.
-size <SizeinMB> : Specifies the size of the system partition when a new system drive is being created. Default is 300 MB at minimum size is 100 MB.
Example : Use command bdehdcfg -target default -size 500 to allocate 500 MB to the default system drive.
-quite : Informs the BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool that all actions and errors are not to be displayed in the command-line interface.
Example : bdehdcfg -target default -quiet
-restart : Use this to restart BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool after once a operation is completed.
Example : BdeHdCfg.exe -target d: merge -quiet -restart
In this way, you can use BitLocker Drive Preparation command line tool. Interested readers may visit TechNet and KB933246 to find out further possibilities.

What is nvxdsync? Fix nvxdsync.exe Application Error

You may have seen a nvxdsync.exe process in your Task Manager and wondered what it is. Well, nvxdsync.exe is a executable file, which is part of the NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component. Its basic function is to manage and help render 3D Graphics.

What is nvxdsync

The file nvxdsync.exe can be found in C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Display folder. If it is located in this folder, then it is the legitimate NVIDIA process. If not, then it could be malware.
The has a size of 1169 KB on my Windows 8.1 and is seen consuming 3.8 MB memory. The program at times is known to use massive amounts of memory. If you face this issue, terminating this process wont crash your system, but it is required for proper functioning of the Graphics/3D card. You may face difficulties while playing 3D games or using 3D processes.
Nvvsvc.exe is NVIDIA Display Driver Service. This process provides desktop level support to the NVIDIA Display driver. If you wish to disable this service, you will have to Run services.msc to open the Services Manager, double-click on NVIDIA Display Driver Service and set its start-up status to Disable. Disabling the NVIDIA Display Driver Service, will stop both, viz. nvxdsync.exe and related process nvvsvc.exe from running, and also stops the NVIDIA Control Panel from showing up on the desktop context menu.

nvxdsync.exe Application Error

Nvxdsync.exe application errors may occur if, during execution of 3D files, Windows encounters lag while rendering the frames. Try to free-up your computer resources, like maybe changing Windows theme to Basic.
Many sites suggest using a Registry Cleaner to fix it. No! Using it will not help you fix nvxdsync Application Error.
I had received this error. Clicking on OK / Terminating the process / A simple restart of  the computer will help make it go away.
If you continue to receive such nvxdsync.exe errors, you might want to consider reinstalling this NVIDIA driver.

Hope this throws some light on the process.

Restrict access to Control Panel and and PC Settings in Windows 8.1

There may be times when you may want to prevent users from accessing the Control Panel in Windows. This post shows how you can restrict access to Control Panel and PC Settings in Windows 8 or Control Panel in Windows 7, using Group Policy setting and Registry Editor.

Restrict access to Control Panel

Using Group Policy Editor



If your version of Windows 8 has the Group Policy Editor, Run gpedit.msc to open it. Navigate to the following setting:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates, and Control Panel
In the right pane of Control Panel, double click/tap on Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings.

This setting disables all Control Panel programs and the PC settings app. It prevents Control.exe and SystemSettings.exe, the program files for Control Panel and PC settings, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or PC settings, or run any of their items. It removes Control Panel from the Start screen and File Explorer, and removes PC Settings from the Start screen, Settings charm, Account picture and Search results. If users try to select a Control Panel item from the Properties item on a context menu, a message appears explaining that a setting prevents the action.

Using Registry Editor
If your version of Windows does not have Group Policy, you can use the Registry Editor to disable access to Control Panel and and PC Settings. To do so, Run regedit and navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In the left pane, create a new DWORD (32-bit). Name it NoControlPanel and give it value 1. The following are the possible values and how they work:

• 0 will enable Control Panel and PC Settings
• 1 will disable Control Panel and PC Settings

After you prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings, if any user tries to access them, they will receive the following error box:

This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.