What must be done before using a target drive to write evidence files with LinEn?

Before writing evidence files to a target drive using LinEn, it is essential to unlock the target drive to make it writable. This step is crucial as it allows the forensic tool to write data to the drive. If the drive remains in a locked state, the evidence files cannot be created or saved on it, which would hinder the forensic process of capturing and preserving digital evidence.

In forensic practices, ensuring that the media on which evidence is written can accept data is vital for the integrity of the investigation. Unlocking the drive is typically a necessary procedure to prepare it for accepting new data, especially in situations where the drive may have been previously set to a read-only mode to prevent accidental data modification.

The other options may be relevant in different contexts but do not specifically address the immediate requirement of preparing the target drive for writing files in the scenario presented. For example, formatting the drive is usually not a recommended practice as it would erase any existing data that might be important for the investigation. Engaging a write-protect switch, if applicable, would serve the opposite purpose of what is needed here. Lastly, obtaining administrative rights can be necessary in some computing environments, but it is not specifically tied to the act of preparing a target drive for writing evidence files