Bitlocker - Instead of removing Bitlocker I think I reset it (windows powershell) - my recovery key & password no longer work - HELP! :(

Question

I use bitlocker to encrypt my external hardrives as previously my work laptop only allowed encrypted devices to be plugged in. I got a new laptop in June and now my partner has bought a macbook so we have decided to no longer use BitLocker. My hard drive auto-unlocks on my original laptop I used to set it up, and my new laptop and I have the recovery key saved.

However, my current laptop doesn't have bitlocker in the control panel so I had to use a different method to remove the bitlocker, I used the windows powershell method (I have screenshots of what I did/typed to prove the hard drive was unlocked and to show you what I typed to remove bitlocker)

I waited until the lock symbol was gone from the drive in windows explorer and then unplugged my hard drive. When I went to plug it back in, it asked for a password, but then my password doesn't work. I tried a few passwords and then decided to just use the recovery key however the ID no longer matches what my hard drive says and the key doesn't work. It also no longer auto-unlocks on the other laptops it used to.

It seems like instead of removing the bitlocker encryption, it reset it and has assigned it a new key/ID and a password. Is there a default password or anything that might be saved in my temp files to show me the recovery key? This has only happened within the last hour and I have screenshots of me having it unlocked, the original laptop that set it up is with me too, i have the recovery key file too and I can tell you everything that's on the hard drive. I am too scared to shut down my computer in case I lose any temp files or anything that can help me recover the drive. I can provide the recovery key for what it was up until about an hour ago as well

It is filled with go pro footage from our trip around Europe as well as footage of my partner with his younger brother who has since died. These files are no longer on my SD cards so it is irreplaceable, please let me know what I can do! I can even prove that I purchased the hard drive (receipts etc) and that it belongs to me.

Answer 1

This shows what I typed in powershell that has potentially broken it

Answer 2

Hi Meghan.

What your screenshot shows:
c: is not encrypted anymore.
d: is encrypted but you started to decrypt it. It does not show, whether decryption completed, since the output of your lowest "manage-bde -status" was cut off.

You write that you waited until the lock icon disappeared - you mean, on d:? If so, it would mean, d: is fully decrypted and no password requests should show anymore.
About the recovery keys: You had encrypted c: and d:, so you would have 2 recovery keys. Did you try both?

Answer 3

Hi,
Bitlocker password and recovery key were the only way to unlock Bitlocker, there isn’t a default password or recovery key and Botlocker will not automatically assign any password or recovery key to it.
Normally, the key ID will only change, when you decrypt and re-encrypt (or when you change to a new drive).

Before going further, I would appreciate your help in clarifying the following situations:
What were the system version of these two laptops you used Bitlocker?

Decrypting Bitlocker usually takes a long time to finish, I suspect the decryption process might not be complete.
Attach your drive to the laptop you performed decryption to see if there a key icon in the hidden icon section that says “Bitlocker decryption is in progress”

Best regards.

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