Cannot fix broken boot manager, Windows system partition locked with Bitlocker, no recovery key.

Question

My friend's HP laptop is not booting, it shows the errordescribed hereat startup:

RecoveryYour PC/Device needs to be repaired"The Boot Configuration Data file doesn't contain valid information for an operating system".File: \BCDStatus: 0xc0000098

There are no backups or system images available.

I wanted to try the fix recommended here, but when trying to access the Advanced Recovery Command Prompt, I am asked for the drive's recovery key. So it turns out it's encrypted with Bitlocker, which I didn't know. I don't have the recovery key, it's also not available in the Microsoft account under "Devices" - apparently the device was never signed in.

So I clicked "Skip this drive" to get to the command prompt and tried the recommended commands:

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

and got "Access Denied" for the last one (fixboot).

For this, I tried the second answer provided here:

(...commands to select the appropriate partition and assign a drive letter, then:)

bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI

, where V is the UEFI partition.

There were some confirmation prompts after this that I don't remember, however I think I was asked again for the recovery key. So there is a bit of uncertainty at this point what exactly I tried next and about the system's response - my impression is that I ended up erasing the boot manager, but failing to replace it with a working one.

The current situation is that the laptop cannot be booted into recovery mode anymore unless using a Windows recovery thumb drive, which I can still use for repair work with the command prompt. I was also able to get to UEFI settings and disable Secure Boot, so I can boot from any medium now. I have prepared a Linux live pen drive which would allow me to make a complete copy of the system, but haven't started yet, still looking if I can find another fix.

My questions:

• Is it absolutely necessary to unlock the Windows drive in order to fix the boot manager?
• If yes, then is the Bitlocker recovery key (unavailable) absolutely necessary to unlock it, or is there a way I can use the user password (known) to unlock it?

Answer 1

My questions:

• Is it absolutely necessary to unlock the Windows drive in order to fix the boot manager?
• If yes, then is the Bitlocker recovery key (unavailable) absolutely necessary to unlock it, or is there a way I can use the user password (known) to unlock it?

Du bist im deutschen Forum gelandet. Die Antworten deshalb in Deutsch.

• Zur Frage 1: Ja, Für eine Reparatur des Boot-Managers muss das Gerät jetzt mit dem Bitlocker-Wiederherstellungsschlüssel entsperrt werden. Wenn du dich auf einem anderen PC oder Smartphone über diesen Link https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=237614 mit den Microsoft-Kontodaten anmeldest, die auf dem HP Laptop verwendet werden, werden dir für die in diesem Konto registrierten Geräte die aktuellen Bitlocker-Wiederherstellungsschlüssel angezeigt. Du musst dann die 8 x 6 Ziffern für das betreffende Gerät ohne Bindestriche in die entsprechende Maske auf dem HP eingeben. Wenn für das Gerät kein Wiederherstellungsschlüssel im Konto abgelegt wurde, sind die auf dem HP gespeicherten Daten & Apps verloren. Windows muss neu installiert werden. Denke daran, den Secure Boot im UEFI wieder zu aktivieren.
• Zur Frage 2: Ja, siehe oben. Ein Entsperren mit einem Passwort ist nicht möglich.