Shit! Laptop - Bitlocker Recovery?!! Help!

[youvegottobekidding]

We have a Lenovo Ideapad, running windows 10, have been using it to do the kids schoolwork on.

This morning dd, says she switched it on & this Bitlocker recovery thing came up, it’s not starting up unless I get this key. I’ve tried going to the web address (from my phone) it says to retrieve it, which takes me to Microsoft login but from logging in the page just crashes.

How do I get past this Bitlocker recovery ? Help!!

Just to add, I did manage to sign into our Microsoft account & it said that there are no Bitlocker key numbers stored there, which doesn’t surprise me as i’ve never heard of one before!

It’s not even letting me do a system restore! It wants this damn Bitlocker key & I just haven’t got it!

This happens with my work laptop if you mis-enter the password 3 times. From memory, the Bitlock recovery key is 56 digits which you enter in blocks of 4. I have no idea how to generate it though - I just ring our IT dept and the generate it for me. Sorry, that's not very helpful.

If the laptop was set up by someone else or Bitlocker was activated by someone else the recovery key may be in their Microsoft account. Unfortunately, if you can't find the Bitlocker key your only way forward is to rebuild the laptop. If the laptop was syncing with OneDrive (which is the default if you use a Microsoft account) your data should still be there so you should be able to recover most of your information.

I went ahead a formatted the c drive, only now it’s stuck on a can’t repair loop! Looking at new laptops now, what a headache!

Go to the Bios config (F2 on Dell logo), going to Security, PTT and enabling PTT checkbox. Then save and restart and it started Windows again without asking for BitLocker key.

Try the above

If you get a new one find bitlocker management and turn it off. Microsoft specifies new systems are shipped with it turned off.

Good point cdtaylornats, I was just thinking about that, I don’t want to come across that again on the new laptop (when I get one!) especially how I don’t know how it happened, never even heard of a Bitlocker key!

What model Lenovo do you have?
As far as I'm aware Bitlocker is set by Windows not the laptop, so why not try another hard drive rather than a new machine.

I guess because a new hard drive will need a new windows licence and given the relative costs, a new laptop isn't necessarily that much dearer. The BIOS suggestion a few posts ago is unlikely to work - if it was that easy to bypass bitlocker there would be no point to it. When you put bitlocker on, it usually asks you to print a copy of the key out; you can also store a copy with the bitlocker site I think but again you will need log on details.

It’s a Lenovo 100s ideapad. I couldn’t do anything with it so I googled how to get out of it & I figured my only option was to format the c drive, only now it’s on a repairing disk loop, I’m guessing it’s because there’s nothing there, no windows os. I don’t know how to build it/install it again if i can’t get it to start up in the first place.

I’ve sent DH to Costco to get a new one, not paying much though, just don’t want the same thing to happen again? I can’t think what would have caused it.

The only thing we’ve been using it for is DD’s schoolwork- she logs into office online where her docs are and me the same kind of thing for ds & his schoolwork- google classrooms. Dd has a couple of other online school apps, again for school work. I know they used one drive or something.

Well at least the problem has been overcome.
A couple of things to note.
Bitlocker is not enabled by default in Windows (except strangely enough on some Lenovo business models). Bitlocker can (apparently) spring into action if the machine is virus compromised
If you change the hard drive on a Windows 10 PC/Laptop you don't need a new license. The license is for the whole machine and Microsoft allow you to change certain components and you can even change the motherboard now if you have registered the machine with a Microsoft account.
Lenovo usually have a recovery button (F12 from memory) if you have to re-install the OS. The good thing with your new laptop is you should be able to create recovery media for your old machine. Follow the instructions from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10.
I'm happy to to help via PM with peoples Windows PC problems as I'm sitting at home finger twiddling at the moment.

@species5618 I'm sure you're right re pricing but out of interest if the OP had changed the hard drive only in the old laptop and this was OK with the revised MS licensing policy, how would pressing F12 help? For that to work and restore Windows from a recovery partition, wouldn't the old hard drive need to be installed? Also, how would using a new laptop to create a recovery disk work against the old laptop and presumably the old laptop's hard drive? Surely it would still be bitlocked - if it was as easy as that, what's the point of installing bitlocker in the first place? Just curious as it's all good education.

msmith501

1. Bitlocker (as far as I'm aware) is only enabled for info protection on the specific hard drive - not the whole machine. If you fit a new drive and install Windows, bitlocker is not enabled by default on the new installation. I had this exact scenario a couple of weeks ago and the new drive worked fine, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

2nd. The recovery bit pressing F12 referred only to having the old disk in place - sorry should have made that clearer. The recovery usually deletes all partitions which will include the Bitlocked one so you still wouldn't get the previously stored information 2nd. With the new machine you can download a Windows Media installation file to a USB stick which can be used on any machine. If you're trying to install to a previously bitlocked drive you must first delete all partitions, create a new partition then install.

I should add that no data will be saved from the bitlocked original installation, so in effect Bitlocker has done it's job.
I'm going to have to play with Bitlocker now - still I've nothing else to do for the next few weeks

Forgot to say all this applies to Windows 10.

Do you think I need to disable Bitlocker on this new laptop then? I’m really bricking it if it happens again. If so how do I do it?

With regards to the Lenovo that I formatted, I don’t have a usb or anything to install windows on so don’t know how to bring that one back to life.

For the bust but now formatted Lenovo, you can down load the windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO) and burn it to a dvd on the new laptop. Then insert DVD into the old one, boot up and press f2 or Del to get into BIOS and select boot from DVD. Alternatively, insert DVD and as it boots up, press F8 (might be F10 or even F12 on Lenovo - not sure). Anyway, you will get a range of boot options including boot from DVD. Whichever option you take, the pc should start to boot from the dvd you created earlier and will start to install Windows. Once it's all done and you have set up the WiFi again, you will get the option to authenticate windows 10 online. It should be automatic as you have changed nothing. If that doesn't work, choose the telephone option and follow the commands to enter a very long number. It's a lot easier to do than explain.

As for Bitlocker on the new PC, type control panel in the search box and click on bitlocker and make sure it is turned off. Alternatively, type in bitlocker in the search box and you should get to the same place.

I'm sorry for the brevity of the instructions but it really is rather straightforward when you start. PM me if you need.

I wouldn't rule out pressing F12 for the recover to factory settings option either assuming there is still a non formatted protected part of the old hard disk. Often though such an option then wants you to insert a Windows recovery disk you made earlier and you may not have that .

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate your help.

Neither the Lenovo or my new laptop has a cd/dvd drive!

This is why I prefer Apple mac’s!! (Now I’m just showing my age!)

Nothing to do with Mac vs pc really. An external dvd drive is around £30. Equally though you can use a flash drive / memory stick as long as it's 8hb or larger. Pc world sell a pack of three for £8.99 - 16gb each. There are other ways but it gets harder to explain in enough detail like this.

And I started Erving with IT in 1983 so am considerably longer in the tooth I suspect. It's a large industry now so hard to be an expert on everything.

Working in IT*. Wonder what the word my phone substituted was meant to be?

You really didn’t need to buy a new laptop.

The only possible action is to make a recovery drive and reinstall windows. Pretty easy - just download the recovery file from Microsoft on another laptop, place it onto a usb drive and stick the usb into the problem laptop.

The only thing is this will permanently delete all your data (inc documents and photos) HOWEVER you wouldn’t be able to access your data without the bitlocker key regardless!

Too late now as the OP has a new laptop. No one ever needs to buy a new laptop except in a few circumstances but if you are not Pc savvy or don't have enough confidence then some of the more IT-based solutions are less obvious.

OP - I don't have a Lenovo and have only quickly scanned this link but there might be something worth trying.

www.cocosenor.com/articles/computer/hard-reset-lenovo-laptop-to-factory-settings-without-password.html

I suspect your new machine will come with Windows 10 Home edition which doesn't have Bitlocker (does have disc encryption though)

Anyway, fingers crossed your new laptop is what you need and at least you have a few options to try. All he best 😀