Hello nick op den kelder,
I'm sorry to hear you're having such a challenging issue with BitLocker.
Here are some steps to troubleshoot BitLocker issue you can try:
- Verify the BitLocker Recovery Key: Ensure you are entering the correct BitLocker recovery key. Double-check for common mistakes like mistaking 'O' for '0' or 'I' for '1'.
- Try booting into Safe Mode. Sometimes, Safe Mode can help bypass certain issues caused by updates. To do this, restart your computer and press
F8
(or the appropriate key for your system) before Windows starts loading. Once in Safe Mode, you can attempt to disable BitLocker or troubleshoot further. - If you can access the Command Prompt, you might be able to manage BitLocker more effectively. Boot from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD), then select "Repair your computer -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt", run the following command to unlock the BitLocker drive: manage-bde -unlock C: -rp <Your RecoveryKey>
If successful, you can then try to disable BitLocker:
manage-bde -off C:
- Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and use the "Startup Repair" feature. To get into WinRE, restart your PC several times during boot, or use the installation media.
- If you have system restore points, you could roll back to a point before the update. Boot from the installation media -> Repair your computer -> Troubleshoot -> System Restore.
If none of the above solutions work, switching to Linux can indeed be a good alternative if you find Windows updates to be too disruptive.
Best regards,
Lei