BitLocker Recovery Key Entered Correctly but it Just Keeps Immediately Asking Me for it Again and Again

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and being a part of Windows 10.

I understand the inconvenience you are facing in accessing the operating system with bit locker setup on your device. Do not worry, I will check what best I can do to help you out and ensure you receive assistance as soon as possible.

Let us know if your device/ user account is connected to a domain network?

I suggest you to refer to the below help article sand check if it helps.

Refer to: To unlock removable data drive in the following article:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/unlock-bitlocker-protected-drive

Note: The steps for Windows 8.1 applies to Windows 10 as well.

For further reference, I suggest you to refer to the following article:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/bitlocker-drive-encryption

If your device is connected to a domain network, I recommend you to contact TechNet Forums for better assistance.

Our TechNet team will assist you better in this regard.

Hope it helps. Get back to us for further assistance on this issue. We will be happy to help you.

Thanks for the response.

I'm not connected to a domain network.

And the links you provided seem to only give suggested actions that require me to have access to my device and change some settings, which I do not have and cannot do.

Guessing I'm out of luck then? Any other ideas?

Hi,

Thank you for responding.

I understand how frustrating it is with out an access to device using Bit locker.

Since the Bit locker key is not working, I suggest you to contact the TechNet Forums for better assistance.

This team who are expertise with Bit locker will help you.

Hope it helps. Kindly update the status of this issue for further assistance.

Hi, I have exactly the same issue. My device a tablet with Intel ATOM from a Local Brand, running Windows Pro 10 is in an infinite loop. My device is freshly installed. Outside a domain.

The only thing I did after complete fresh install, was install Bitlocker. It installs succesfully. When I reboot, there is a short message saying: Preparing Bitlocker Recovery" and then goes to the Bitlocker Screen where it requests me to "enter the recovery key to get going again"... which I do and it unlocks the device and then says: Bitlocker The Recovery Key is correct, Press Restart to accept changes and restart your PC... which I do... but, instead of booting into Windows, it shows again the "Preparing Bitlocker Recovery" and brings me back to enter the recovery key to get going".

I can exit this infinite loop by following the instructions here:  http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/18671.bitlocker-troubleshooting-continuous-reboot-loop-with-bitlocker-recovery-on-a-slate-device.aspx

1. Choose the “Skip this drive” link at the bottom of the page where you are asked to enter the recovery key. You should be presented with a menu that will let you get to a command prompt (The sequence is Advanced options -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Command prompt).
2. Once you have a command prompt,  use the following command to check the BitLocker status of the C: drive:
   • manage-bde -status c:
3. If the status is returned as locked, you’ll need to use the following command to unlock it using your recovery password:
   • manage-bde -unlock c: -rp <your 48-digit recovery password>           
4. Once the drive is unlocked you'll need to use the following command to suspend protection:
   •  manage-bde -protectors -disable c:          
5. Then exit and reboot. The computer should now successfully boot Windows. Once there, use the BitLocker control panel to resume BitLocker protection.

And I can manage to boot Windows, but Bitlocker is suspended and this is not what I want since I need Bitlocker on. I resume protection again, reboot, and I am again in the previous infinite loop. My problem has not been caused because of the TPM protecting itself from a time-out (like the article above explains). In my case when I am promted to enter the key, Bitlocker says that "You need to enter your recovery key because your PC's configuration has changed. This may have happened because a disc or USB device was inserted. Removing it and restarting may fix this problem.

But I can gurantee that I have not done any HW changes in the PC. I have no inserted or removed anything. My tablet has a keyboard similar to a Surface.

IMO, This problem has something to do with the fact that this tablet is a dockable system (same as the previous entry of the person who owns a Surface)... but I dont know how to solve this...

Please help,

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

I appreciate your time and concern.

I would suggest you to use steps provided in the following articles and check.
Refer:
Find my BitLocker recovery key
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/find-my-bitlocker-recovery-key

BitLocker recovery keys: Frequently asked questions
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/bitlocker-recovery-keys-faq
(Also holds good for Windows 10)

Please keep us updated.

Thank you

Hello,

Thank you for the reply.

I appreciate your patience.

You may use the following commands in command prompt from Windows recovery environment. Press Enter after typing each command.

Manage-bde –protectors –delete C: -type TPM

Manage-bde –protectors – add C: -tpm

Please keep us posted.

Thank you

I assume you are asking to run this by clicking on Skip this Drive and then entering the Command Prompt to enter Windows RE

when I run directly the command you provided (manage-bde –protectors –delete C: -type TPM) I get the following error: Error: the operation cannot be performed because the volume is locked

So I unlock it typing manage-bde -unlock c: -rp My 48 digit key, which successfully unlocks it.

I type again manage-bde –protectors –delete C: -type TPM

and now I get this error:

Hello,

Thank you for the update.

I appreciate your efforts.

I would suggest you to update BIOS from the computer/device manufacturer's website and check the issue.
Refer:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bios-faq#1TC=windows-7
(Also holds good for Windows 10)

Note: Modifying BIOS/ complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of BIOS/CMOS settings can be solved. Modifications of the settings are at your own risk.

Please keep us informed.

Thank you

I updated the BIOS and issue still persists. I think the problem is related to the keyboard. As I mentioned the device is a 2:1 very similar to a Surface Pro with a magnetic detachable keyboard. The strange thing is that when Windows RE presents the screen to enter the key, I have to plug the keyboard since the touch screen does not work. So looks like WindowsRE or TPM or BIOS *thinks* that the device is a laptop installation/WindowsRE time and a tablet at pre-boot time or viceversa and this is the reason it thinks there has been a hardware change and request to enter the password over and over. It is very strange Windows RE does not recognize the touch. I have activated Bitlocker with and without keyboard and booted with and without keyboard (4 combinations) and the result is the same. Could this be the issue? If yes, only a BIOS update can solve it or is there a configuration parameter?

Maybe a workaround would be to disable TPM HW check and only use it for key storage (or even use a external USB for key storage and disable TPM). How do I do this? I have seen some posts about it but I don't know how to revert the changes to the original state if it does not work.

Thanks for your help.