Operating System Upgrades

Products

• Symantec Products

Issue/Introduction

This article details some precautions and recommendations when performing an operating system upgrade on a computer with PGP Desktop installed. This article applies to both Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

 

Resolution

When upgrading your computer to a new major release of an operating system, the following precautions should be taken prior to performing the upgrade.

 

1. Backup your PGP Keypair.
2. Decrypt any system disks encrypted with PGP Whole Disk Encryption.
3. Uninstall PGP Desktop.
4. Upgrade the operating system.
5. Install PGP Desktop.
6. Import your PGP keypair.
7. Encrypt your system disk.

Backup PGP Keys

Backup your PGP Keypair. Click here for an article on how to backup PGP keys.

 

Caution: It is important to backup your key as any data or email encrypted to your PGP keypair will remain encrypted and inaccessible if your key is not backed up and then re-imported to PGP Desktop after upgrading the operating system.

Decrypt system disks

 

1. Decrypt your disk encrypted with PGP Whole Disk Encryption prior to upgrading the operating system.
2. If using partition encryption, you must decrypt all partitions before upgrading your operating system.

Warning: You MUST decrypt all partitions prior to upgrading to Windows 7. Data loss may occur on partitions not decrypted prior to upgrading the operating system. All system disk must be decrypted prior to upgrading the operating system.

Uninstall - After your disks are decrypted, uninstall PGP Desktop from the operating system.

Upgrade - Perform the upgrade of your operating system.

Install PGP Desktop

 

• After upgrading the operating system, install PGP Desktop.
   
• If prompted, authorize your license for PGP Desktop using the information for your license.
• Import your PGP keypair. 
   
• Encrypt your disk(s) or partition(s).