Factory Reset without recovery key

One of our employees left and did not unlock their laptop. We now cannot access it as it is asking for a PIN to open or access to their email to send the reminder.

I have tried to factory reset it but it is asking for a recovery key - which we do not have. I have tried to factory re-set via the cmd but it opens with X: and I believe the drive I need to reset is C: but as it is locked I cannot reset it.

Cannot contact the ex employee.

Any workround to allow us access?

Cheers

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Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.

A Windows Reset will not work on a drive that is encrypted with Bitlocker, to remove the encryption from that drive, the only option is to create a bootable Windows 10 USB, then boot the PC from that to clean install Windows, and at the start of the installation process, delete all partitions on the drive, which will also result in loss of all data on the drive.
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Last updated April 17, 2025 Views 7 Applies to: