can't acces to old drive (Bitlocker)

Question

Hi,

i have such situation. I wanted to change ssd drive in my laptop to the faster one. I made a recovery partition to usb stick on old (health) drive. I replaced ssd to the new one, empty drive. The Windows 10 was installed without any problems from prepared usb. But now when i put the old disk again inside the laptop then i'm asked to input bitlocker recovery key, which is something that i dont have, i cant find it.

There is a chance to make old drive again working e.g. by using recovery partition from usb?

Regards

TM

Answer 1

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-10-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6 shows ways to locate your Bitlocker recovery key/password. See if those help you.
If not, you may still exchange drives once more, so insert the old one, boot from it (will work) and simply use a command to gather the recovery key from an elevated command prompt there:

manage-bde -protectors -get c:

Answer 2

"If not, you may still exchange drives once more, so insert the old one, boot from it (will work) ..." - unfortunatelly thats my problem, when old disk is mounted bitlocker screen is shown and system dont't boot.

TM

Answer 3

Hi,

What's your system model?

Did you enabled Bitlocker by yourself before replace disk?
If you have not enable Bitlocker by yourself, it also could be enabled automatically if you login system with Microsoft account and hardware meet Bitlocker enable requirement.

Here is a description on Dell website for automatically enable Bitlocker. Also as I know, it is not limited to Dell, dell is just take as example.
Automatic Windows Device Encryption/BitLocker on Dell Systems

No matter enabled Bitlocker by yourself or automatically, we need to suspend Bitlocker before replace hardware. If not, it will prompt for recovery key after reboot system.

For getting recovery key, we could check for Microsoft Account, Azure AD account, check for USB flash drive, printout, or system administrator if it is a domain joined device.

If you can't find recovery key, it is not able to get into system again.

Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

Bests,

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