Bitlocker Nightmare Windows 11

[Techwomen]

Hi all my mom bought a Dell 3510 Latitude Laptop in 2021. Well my mom never used it so she gave it to me., I could not get into it because it said it needed a bitlocker key. So I worked all that out so I thought. So I got the bitlocker key and updated it from windows 10 to windows 11 just a few days ago. Now the computer wants all that info again! ARGH!! So I go in and now that I have the bitlocker key it wont accept it. I am like what the heck it going on. I cannot get in the computer what so ever until that is unlocked. I even gave my email account with Microsoft it tells me it will send me a code and it does not. I am so frustrated help!!

Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi there,

I understand how frustrating it can be to encounter BitLocker issues, but don't worry, I'm here to help! Let's see if we can resolve this problem together.

First, ensure that you are entering the BitLocker recovery key correctly. The key is usually a long series of numbers and letters, so make sure to double-check for any errors in the input.

If you have confirmed that the recovery key is correct and it still doesn't work, try the following steps:

1. Restart your computer and attempt to enter the recovery key again. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary software glitches.
2. If restarting doesn't work, try booting into Safe Mode. To do this, press and hold the Shift key while clicking on the Restart option in the power menu. From the Advanced Boot Options, select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart." Once your computer restarts, press the F5 key to boot into Safe Mode. See if you can unlock BitLocker from there.
3. If Safe Mode doesn't work, try accessing the BitLocker recovery key through your Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Locate the device associated with your laptop and try to obtain the recovery key from there.
4. If the above steps don't help, it might be worth reaching out to Dell's customer support. Since the laptop is relatively new, they may have specific instructions or tools to assist you with unlocking BitLocker.

Remember, it's essential to have a backup of your recovery key stored in a secure location, like a USB drive or a cloud storage service. If you didn't save it before, make sure to do so once you regain access to your computer.

I hope this helps you troubleshoot the issue! Let me know if you have any further questions or encounter any difficulties along the way.

 

[Techwomen]

Well I did save it and I tried it multiple times. I also went to Microsoft to ask for it again and gave my email and signed in then it wants to send me a verificantion code but the code never comes to my email. That tooo is frustrating. What is up with Microsoft!?

 

[ussnorway]

Microsoft will have sent the email to your moms account

the bitlocker part = i would have formatted the system and just started again... the software doesn't work and there is a reason its not a thing anymore

 

[Techwomen]

Hi and thanks. I did a fresh install of windows 11 and then I changed everything over to me because my mom gave me her laptop. Well then the bitlocker thing happened even after all that which is strange. I did look in her email as well an they did not send the code to her either. So basically I have to do another fresh install of windows 11 again!?

Thanks!

 

[ussnorway]

did you format the drive as part of your install?

 

[Techwomen]

This is what I did

 

[Techwomen]

So should I redo this???? Anyone!

 

[Neemobeer]

If the recovery code does not work you don't have any other choice. Bitlocker should not just turn on; however, I would not put it past Microsoft to save that setting with your MS account (account setup to access your device). You may need to review what's in the MS account and disable bitlocker, or the next time you reinstall Windows and sign in if bitlocker enables. You should be able to simply turn of bitlocker and that should save to your account in theory.

 

[Techwomen]

I tried and that is what got me in this mess. I eve contacted Microsoft and they were suppose to send me a verification code they did not and I tried four times. So frustrating.

 

[Techwomen]

Okay I was finally able to get it to my Microsoft account it shows all the bitlocker keys should I delete it will that fix the issue?

 

[Neemobeer]

Have you tried using the keys to access the computer? I would not delete the keys unless you reinstall Windows

 

[Techwomen]

It looks like I have to do another clean install. Do you have any tips?

 

[Neemobeer]

If you are reinstalling then make sure to delete those keys in the MS account. I think that should prevent Windows from re-enabling Bitlocker.

 

[Techwomen]

Ok I am confused. I just reinstalled it and you said not to delete anything. So trying to make sure we are clear on what you are saying. Thanks

 

[Neemobeer]

Did bitlocker enable? If it did you should be able to just disable bitlocker then delete the keys

 

[Mike]

@ChatGPT Please respond to Josephur.

 

[ChatGPT]

@Josephur has a good point. Let's break this down step-by-step to ensure clarity and to help resolve your BitLocker issue effectively.

**Here is a structured plan to proceed:**

**1. Verify Current Status:**
- Check if BitLocker is currently enabled on your drive. You can do this by going to "Control Panel" > "System and Security" > "BitLocker Drive Encryption."

**2. Disable BitLocker (if possible):**
- If BitLocker is enabled, try to disable it first. In the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, click on "Turn off BitLocker" and follow the prompts. This should decrypt your drive and prevent BitLocker from re-enabling automatically.

**3. Reinstall Windows 11:**
- If you need to perform another fresh install of Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 installation media.
2. Boot from the USB drive to start the Windows installation process.
3. When you reach the partitioning step, delete all existing partitions on your primary drive to ensure a clean install.
4. Proceed with the installation on the unallocated space.

**4. Account Management:**
- After reinstalling Windows 11, carefully manage your Microsoft account settings:
1. Do not enable BitLocker during the setup process.
2. Once the OS is installed, you can log into your Microsoft account to access settings and services. Avoid any prompts that suggest enabling BitLocker if you do not need it.

**5. Dealing with Recovery Keys:**
- Since you have mentioned that you can see the BitLocker recovery keys in your Microsoft account:
1. Try using the provided keys to unlock the drive if prompted.
2. After successfully accessing and decrypting the drive, remove the old keys from your Microsoft account to prevent confusion in the future.

**Tips for the Clean Installation:**

**Step** | **Detail**
----------|--------------
**Backup Important Data** | Before all operations, ensure you back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
**Use Reliable Media** | Create a Windows 11 installation USB using the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool to avoid corrupt files.
**Disconnect Internet** | During installation, consider disconnecting from the internet to avoid automatic synchronization of settings that may re-enable BitLocker.
**Post-Install Setup** | After installation, reconnect to the internet, install updates, and carefully review security settings.

**Final Steps:**
- Verify that BitLocker is indeed turned off.
- Check your Microsoft account settings to ensure BitLocker is not managed automatically.
- If everything works as expected, create a new backup of your recovery key if you decide to re-enable BitLocker later.

Let me know if you need more detailed instructions or run into any issues during these steps!

 

[Mike]

@ChatGPT What was Josephurs point?

 

[ChatGPT]

@Josephur suggested that after reinstalling Windows, you should try to turn off BitLocker and then delete the keys from your Microsoft account to prevent BitLocker from re-enabling automatically in the future. This suggestion assumes that BitLocker settings might be saved in your Microsoft account and could re-enable upon signing in or during setup.

Let me rephrase and expand on this for clarity:

**Josephur's Key Points:**

1. **Reinstalling Windows:**
- Perform a clean installation of Windows 11 to start fresh.
- During the setup, choose to delete all existing partitions to ensure nothing BitLocker-related remains.

2. **Manage BitLocker Settings Post-Install:**
- After reinstalling Windows and logging into your Microsoft account, immediately head to the BitLocker settings.
- If BitLocker is enabled, turn it off through the Control Panel.

3. **Delete Recovery Keys from Microsoft Account:**
- Once BitLocker is turned off and your drive is decrypted, go to your Microsoft account online and delete the old BitLocker recovery keys associated with your device. This step is crucial to prevent any automatic re-enabling of BitLocker.

**Additional Clarifications:**

**Step** | **Detail**
----------|--------------
**Verify BitLocker Status** | After install, check if BitLocker is enabled. If yes, turn it off and decrypt the drive.
**Manage MS Account** | Log in, disable BitLocker if prompted, and delete old recovery keys.
**Avoid Automatic Sync** | During setup, avoid any options that might save or sync BitLocker settings from the old installation.

**Why Delete the Keys:**
- Deleting the keys ensures that old configurations and recovery keys do not cause BitLocker to activate unexpectedly.

Following this strategy should help you manage BitLocker effectively and prevent these issues from recurring. Let me know if you need any further assistance!