When activating Bitlocker on an NVMe SSD drive that supports SED OPAL 2.0, Windows Server 2022 crashes

Question

When I am trying to activate Bitlocker on a (newly installed) Windows Server 2022 system for a (non-boot) drive that supports SED OPAL 2.0, the system crashes reproducably with a blue screen "page fault in nonpaged area -- fvevol.sys".

The SSD drive is a Samsung U.2 SSD, model PM9A3, type MZQL23T8HCLS-00A07.

(See https://semiconductor.samsung.com/ssd/datacenter-ssd/pm9a3/mzql23t8hcls-00a07/

The mainboard is a Supermicro H12DSI-NT6

(see https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/motherboard/H12DSi-NT6),,) latest firmware.

How can I activate the drive encryption using the drive's OPAL 2.0 capabilities? How can I activate it at all?

I am happy to provide you with a minidump file of the crash.

Thank you for your help.

Best,

cs

Answer 1

Hello CS,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

If you are experiencing a blue screen error ("page fault in nonpaged area -- fvevol.sys") when trying to activate BitLocker on a Windows Server 2022 system with a Samsung PM9A3 SSD drive that supports SED OPAL 2.0, it indicates a compatibility or driver issue between the drive, BitLocker, and the system.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Verify compatibility: Ensure that the Samsung PM9A3 SSD drive and the Supermicro H12DSI-NT6 motherboard are compatible with each other and with Windows Server 2022. Check the manufacturer's documentation, support resources, and compatibility lists to confirm compatibility and any specific requirements.
2. Update firmware and drivers: Ensure that you have the latest firmware and drivers installed for both the Samsung PM9A3 SSD drive and the Supermicro H12DSI-NT6 motherboard. Visit the manufacturer's websites to download and install any available updates.
3. Check for known issues: Check if there are any known issues or incompatibilities between BitLocker, Windows Server 2022, and the specific hardware components you are using. Look for any documentation, support forums, or knowledge base articles that address similar issues or provide guidance on resolving them.
4. Contact manufacturer support: If you cannot find a resolution or workaround for the issue, consider reaching out to the support teams of both Samsung and Supermicro. They may have specific guidance or updates related to BitLocker and SED OPAL 2.0 support on their hardware.
5. Use alternative encryption methods: If you are unable to activate BitLocker with SED OPAL 2.0 on the Samsung PM9A3 drive, consider using alternative encryption methods provided by the drive manufacturer or third-party encryption software. Check if Samsung provides any specific encryption software or tools for their SSD drives and explore other options that are compatible with your hardware.

Remember to always back up your important data before making any changes to the system or performing encryption operations.

It's important to note that the issue you are experiencing may require more detailed analysis and troubleshooting from experts familiar with the specific hardware and software involved.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

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Best regards.