Bitlocker being enabled without my knowledge

Bitlocker being enabled without my knowledge

Windows 11 operating system, I have a QNAP storage system, external drive connected to the computer via ISCSI

One day the drive (E Drive) was unavailable. I'm not sure at what point in time exactly this happened,

it may have happened when I switched to Windows 11 from Windows 10.

The drive is visible inside MY PC but has a yellow exclamation mark and an open lock icon on it.



Double click on the drive and nothing happens

In disk management, the drive says Bitlocker Encrypted





In Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\BitLocker Drive Encryption

Next to the drive it says BitLocker waiting for Activation and below that it says Turn on Bitlocker




I tried Chkdsk




I don't have access to a drive that has critical data on it

Is there a way to get the drive back to work?


Hi TPPV. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

If Bitlocker is enabled on your hard drive this may have been done at the factory, which the manufacturer's Support should tell you and provide what you need to know. Here are Dell, HP and Lenovo's explanation:

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS/XPS-13-9360-...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06458046

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Windows-10/Lenovo-...

If you have those brands, I'd contact their Support as they need to fix this if they enabled it.

If done since then it should always store the Recovery key that unlocks it in your MS Account.

See here how to find the Recovery key for Bitlocker:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402618...

Try removing or turning off Bitlocker by one of these methods:

https://www.repairwin.com/how-to-remove-bitlock...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/37060-turn-...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/36701-turn-...

Manual for managing Bitlocker:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-bitlocke...

If you cannot find the key or turn off Bitlocker then you'll need to try to recover your data by one of the methods shown here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/263561/how-to-recover...

http://woshub.com/data-recovery-on-a-damaged-ha...

A few have tried this method successfully to Rescue files using bootable media so WIndows isn't running and has no say:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If nothing else works then wipe the drive to reinstall WIndows as shown here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/85819-erase...

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Due to number of similar cases with files lost I would have a secondary backup just in case. You can periodically drag my User folders to external USB which you keep unplugged to protect against ransomware. Then I would also have a method using the cloud which is fire-, ransomware- and theft-proof:

You can drag 5gb for free into OneDrive app to store in the cloud or backup your Documents, Pictures and/or Desktop to capture real time changes using OneDrive Backup here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...

If you install Google Drive Desktop, you can use their new Backup to choose User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to sync up to 15g for free to their cloud: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/1083812...

If you want to report this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.
____________________________
Retired 2023, thirteen year daily forums volunteer, Windows MVP 2010-2020

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Last updated September 5, 2024 Views 849 Applies to: