IronKey Vault Privacy 80 Encrypted External SSD - Support

The easiest way to ensure that your new SSD appears as your boot drive is to ensure that it is the only storage device connected during installation. 
If this is not possible, or if you previously cloned your old data to your new drive, confirm that the new drive appears as a boot device in the system BIOS, then select it for booting.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-03

There are a variety of external enclosures available on the market. While Kingston aims to be compatible with all system types, occasionally, there may be an incompatibility.

If you’re having trouble with your non-Kingston SSD enclosure, please contact Kingston Technical Support for troubleshooting assistance.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-18

First, you should confirm that the SSD is seen within the system BIOS. Enter your BIOS (usually, Del, F2, F10, or F12 key) and navigate through your storage configuration menu(s) to see if the drive is correctly identified and present. If the drive isn’t present, power off the system, check the installation and connections to confirm the drive is seated and/or connected properly. 

If the drive is present in the BIOS, you may need to initialize the disk within the operating system. Follow the steps below to initialize.

For Windows:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Windows OS.
Step 2: Press Windows + X and choose Disk Management.
Step 3: If the SSD is new and not initialized, a popup will appear saying "Initialize Disk."
Step 4: Choose between: MBR (Master Boot Record): Suitable for drives under 2TB and older systems. GPT (GUID Partition Table): Recommended for modern systems and drives larger than 2TB.
Step 5: Click OK to initialize the disk.
Step 6: Once initialized, you'll see the SSD as "Unallocated." Right-click on it and select New Simple Volume.
Step 7: Follow the on-screen prompts (keeping all defaults is Okay)  to format and assign a drive letter to the SSD.

For macOS:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Mac OS.
Step 2: Open Disk Utility (you can find it using Spotlight with Cmd + Space and then typing "Disk Utility").
Step 3: In the left pane, select your SSD.
Step 4: Click on Erase.
Step 5: Provide a name for the drive, and under Format, choose: APFS for newer Macs and SSDs. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for older systems or HDDs.
Step 6: Click Erase. Once the process completes, the SSD will be ready for use.

For Linux:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Linux OS.
Step 2: Open a terminal.
Step 3: Enter sudo fdisk -l to list all connected drives. Identify your SSD by its size and note the device name, e.g., /dev/sdb.
Step 4: Initialize the SSD using fdisk or parted. Here's a basic guide using fdisk: Enter sudo fdisk /dev/sdb (replace /dev/sdb with your SSD's device name). Press g to create a new GPT partition table. Press n to create a new partition. Follow the prompts to specify the size and type. Press w to write the changes.
Step 5: Format the new partition on the SSD (e.g., /dev/sdb1). You can format it with the filesystem of your choice: For ext4: sudo mkfs.ext4, For ext3: sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdb1, For FAT32: sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
Step 6: Mount the SSD: Create a mount point: sudo mkdir /mnt/myssd, Mount the SSD: sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/myssd, Remember to replace /dev/sdb1 with your SSD's partition name.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-15

SSD firmware is the integrated software within an SSD that manages its operations, including communication with the host system, data storage and retrieval, wear leveling, and error correction.

If your SSD requires new firmware, you will receive a notification when running Kingston’s SSD Manager software.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-11

Please see our guide regarding differences between these NVMe and SATA SSDs.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-19

When cloning to a new drive larger than the source drive, the software may not properly scale partition size. When this occurs, you might end up with unused space. To avoid this please follow our cloning instructions.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-04

SSD firmware is the integrated software within an SSD that manages its operations, including communication with the host system, data storage and retrieval, wear leveling, and error correction.

If your SSD requires new firmware, you will receive a notification when running Kingston’s SSD Manager software.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-11

Kingston does not offer DOS-based firmware updates at this time.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-12

Unless explicitly indicated, no, an SSD update will not erase data from the drive. However, before performing any SSD firmware updates, Kingston recommends all data on the target drive be backed up before proceeding with the firmware update.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-13

While it may be possible to update your target drive’s firmware via USB storage enclosure, Kingston recommends against this. Proper update procedure involves having your target SSD directly connected to the system ports (SATA or NVMe, where applicable).

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-14

When cloning to a new drive larger than the source drive, the software may not properly scale partition size. When this occurs, you might end up with unused space. To avoid this please follow our cloning instructions.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-04

By default, Windows 10 and Windows 11 will attempt to shut off USB drives after a set period of inactivity. If the VP80ES is put into this low power state, the drive will automatically lock and require reauthentication. It is recommended that you perform the steps below to ensure the best VP80ES user experience on Windows.

Disabling Windows 10/11 Power Save
NOTE: You will need to complete the following steps once for each drive plugged into your computer.

1. Log in as a local administrator on your computer.
NOTE: If you are not an administrator on Windows, you will receive a warning indicating you won’t be able to make changes when you open Device Manager. Please contact your
administrator for further assistance if required.
2. Unlock your VP80ES drive.
3. Right click the Start button and select “Device Manager”.
4. Click on the arrow next to “Universal Serial Bus controllers”.
5. Right click on “USB Mass Storage Drive”.
6. Click “Properties”.
7. Click the “Power Management” tab.
8. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this drive to save power”.
9. Click OK and close the “Device Manager” window.

Disabling Windows 10/11 Selective Suspend
1. In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel.
2. Click and Open Control Panel.
3. Click on Hardware and Sound.
4. Click on Power Options.
5. Click the Change plan settings link for the plan you’re currently using.
6. Click the Change advanced power settings link.
7. Click (+) next to “USB settings”.
8. Click (+) next to “USB selective suspend setting”.
9. Select “Disabled” from the drop-down menu.
NOTE: If you are using a device with a battery (i.e., laptop or tablet), you will need to set this for On Battery and Plugged in.
10. Click Apply to save settings and click OK.
You’re All Set!
If the steps above resolved your problem, you’re all set!
If you still experience lock-ups, proceed to the trouble-shooting tips below.

(Trouble-shooting Tips)

I’ve completed the steps above, but my VP80ES continues to lock after short periods of inactivity. What else can I do?

If you have a high capacity IronKey VP80ES (e.g., 2TB and above), you may also need to disable the Hard Disk power save option to prevent the drive from locking unexpectedly. See steps 1-10 below.

Disabling Windows 10/11 Turn off hard disk power save
1. In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel.
2. Click and Open Control Panel.
3. Click on Hardware and Sound.
4. Click on Power Options.
5. Click the Change plan settings link for the plan you’re currently using.
6. Click the Change advanced power settings link.
7. Click (+) next to “Hard Disk”
8. Click (+) next to “Turn off hard disk after”
9. Click the down button Set both “On Battery” and “Plugged in” options to “Never”
10. Click Apply to save settings and click OK.

FAQ: KSD-002202-011.01

First, you should confirm that the SSD is seen within the system BIOS. Enter your BIOS (usually, Del, F2, F10, or F12 key) and navigate through your storage configuration menu(s) to see if the drive is correctly identified and present. If the drive isn’t present, power off the system, check the installation and connections to confirm the drive is seated and/or connected properly. 

If the drive is present in the BIOS, you may need to initialize the disk within the operating system. Follow the steps below to initialize.

For Windows:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Windows OS.
Step 2: Press Windows + X and choose Disk Management.
Step 3: If the SSD is new and not initialized, a popup will appear saying "Initialize Disk."
Step 4: Choose between: MBR (Master Boot Record): Suitable for drives under 2TB and older systems. GPT (GUID Partition Table): Recommended for modern systems and drives larger than 2TB.
Step 5: Click OK to initialize the disk.
Step 6: Once initialized, you'll see the SSD as "Unallocated." Right-click on it and select New Simple Volume.
Step 7: Follow the on-screen prompts (keeping all defaults is Okay)  to format and assign a drive letter to the SSD.

For macOS:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Mac OS.
Step 2: Open Disk Utility (you can find it using Spotlight with Cmd + Space and then typing "Disk Utility").
Step 3: In the left pane, select your SSD.
Step 4: Click on Erase.
Step 5: Provide a name for the drive, and under Format, choose: APFS for newer Macs and SSDs. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for older systems or HDDs.
Step 6: Click Erase. Once the process completes, the SSD will be ready for use.

For Linux:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Linux OS.
Step 2: Open a terminal.
Step 3: Enter sudo fdisk -l to list all connected drives. Identify your SSD by its size and note the device name, e.g., /dev/sdb.
Step 4: Initialize the SSD using fdisk or parted. Here's a basic guide using fdisk: Enter sudo fdisk /dev/sdb (replace /dev/sdb with your SSD's device name). Press g to create a new GPT partition table. Press n to create a new partition. Follow the prompts to specify the size and type. Press w to write the changes.
Step 5: Format the new partition on the SSD (e.g., /dev/sdb1). You can format it with the filesystem of your choice: For ext4: sudo mkfs.ext4, For ext3: sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdb1, For FAT32: sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
Step 6: Mount the SSD: Create a mount point: sudo mkdir /mnt/myssd, Mount the SSD: sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/myssd, Remember to replace /dev/sdb1 with your SSD's partition name.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-15

There are a variety of external enclosures available on the market. While Kingston aims to be compatible with all system types, occasionally, there may be an incompatibility.

If you’re having trouble with your non-Kingston SSD enclosure, please contact Kingston Technical Support for troubleshooting assistance.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-18

When cloning to a new drive larger than the source drive, the software may not properly scale partition size. When this occurs, you might end up with unused space. To avoid this please follow our cloning instructions.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-04

The easiest way to ensure that your new SSD appears as your boot drive is to ensure that it is the only storage device connected during installation. 
If this is not possible, or if you previously cloned your old data to your new drive, confirm that the new drive appears as a boot device in the system BIOS, then select it for booting.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-03

While it may be possible to update your target drive’s firmware via USB storage enclosure, Kingston recommends against this. Proper update procedure involves having your target SSD directly connected to the system ports (SATA or NVMe, where applicable).

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-14

Unless explicitly indicated, no, an SSD update will not erase data from the drive. However, before performing any SSD firmware updates, Kingston recommends all data on the target drive be backed up before proceeding with the firmware update.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-13

Kingston does not offer DOS-based firmware updates at this time.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-12

SSD firmware is the integrated software within an SSD that manages its operations, including communication with the host system, data storage and retrieval, wear leveling, and error correction.

If your SSD requires new firmware, you will receive a notification when running Kingston’s SSD Manager software.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-11

There are a variety of external enclosures available on the market. While Kingston aims to be compatible with all system types, occasionally, there may be an incompatibility.

If you’re having trouble with your non-Kingston SSD enclosure, please contact Kingston Technical Support for troubleshooting assistance.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-18

First, you should confirm that the SSD is seen within the system BIOS. Enter your BIOS (usually, Del, F2, F10, or F12 key) and navigate through your storage configuration menu(s) to see if the drive is correctly identified and present. If the drive isn’t present, power off the system, check the installation and connections to confirm the drive is seated and/or connected properly. 

If the drive is present in the BIOS, you may need to initialize the disk within the operating system. Follow the steps below to initialize.

For Windows:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Windows OS.
Step 2: Press Windows + X and choose Disk Management.
Step 3: If the SSD is new and not initialized, a popup will appear saying "Initialize Disk."
Step 4: Choose between: MBR (Master Boot Record): Suitable for drives under 2TB and older systems. GPT (GUID Partition Table): Recommended for modern systems and drives larger than 2TB.
Step 5: Click OK to initialize the disk.
Step 6: Once initialized, you'll see the SSD as "Unallocated." Right-click on it and select New Simple Volume.
Step 7: Follow the on-screen prompts (keeping all defaults is Okay)  to format and assign a drive letter to the SSD.

For macOS:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Mac OS.
Step 2: Open Disk Utility (you can find it using Spotlight with Cmd + Space and then typing "Disk Utility").
Step 3: In the left pane, select your SSD.
Step 4: Click on Erase.
Step 5: Provide a name for the drive, and under Format, choose: APFS for newer Macs and SSDs. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for older systems or HDDs.
Step 6: Click Erase. Once the process completes, the SSD will be ready for use.

For Linux:
Step 1: Confirm the drive is properly attached, and power on the system, then boot into Linux OS.
Step 2: Open a terminal.
Step 3: Enter sudo fdisk -l to list all connected drives. Identify your SSD by its size and note the device name, e.g., /dev/sdb.
Step 4: Initialize the SSD using fdisk or parted. Here's a basic guide using fdisk: Enter sudo fdisk /dev/sdb (replace /dev/sdb with your SSD's device name). Press g to create a new GPT partition table. Press n to create a new partition. Follow the prompts to specify the size and type. Press w to write the changes.
Step 5: Format the new partition on the SSD (e.g., /dev/sdb1). You can format it with the filesystem of your choice: For ext4: sudo mkfs.ext4, For ext3: sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdb1, For FAT32: sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
Step 6: Mount the SSD: Create a mount point: sudo mkdir /mnt/myssd, Mount the SSD: sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/myssd, Remember to replace /dev/sdb1 with your SSD's partition name.

FAQ: KSD-012010-001-15