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How to unlock Bitlocker on my External hard drive?

Ray_G_W 1 Reputation point
2021-02-10T17:56:31.503+00:00

My work laptop recently locked my external hard drive. My IT coworker tried every method using MSDOS and PowerShell to unlock it. After running the code: manage-bde -protectors C: -get in Powershell, but using D instead of C, I get no key. I can't unlock the external drive with Powershell commands and I get a response that I can't unlock or create a recovery key because this drive was not locked with a key. However Bitlocker validates the lock. I asked Microsoft using a Chat window how to unlock it and the moron I spoke to had no idea what I was talking about.

Windows 10 Security
Windows 10 Security
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Security: The precautions taken to guard against crime, attack, sabotage, espionage, or another threat.
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  1. Dale Kudusi 3,226 Reputation points
    2021-02-11T02:18:02.603+00:00

    Hi,
    Before going further, I would appreciate your help in clarifying the following situations:
    What is your system version?
    Have you try inserting your external drive in different PC and what is the result?

    Please try the following command in elevated command prompt an post the result screenshot:
    manage-bde –status C:
    replace C with the name of the external drive partition name.

    Best regards.

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  2. Ray_G_W 1 Reputation point
    2021-02-11T16:00:41.813+00:00

    I am running a Dell Latitude 5480 laptop with Microsoft 2016 and Windows 10 Pro on a 64-bit operating system. See attached image for bde status. 67046-manage-bde-status-on-d.png

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  3. Ray_G_W 1 Reputation point
    2021-02-11T16:02:04.553+00:00

    Also connecting to another pc does nothing. The external hard drive will still show up as Bitlocker protected. I'll also add that I have tried Powershell as Admin and all attempts to unlock the external hard drive fail. I receive a message that states the drive can only be unlocked from the Control Panel.