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BitLocker does not work - after clicking UNLOCK, nothing happens

Anonymous
2024-07-15T17:34:52+00:00

In January, I received a disk from Seagate with recovered and encrypted data. The disk was unlocked without any problems, but it was unused for some time. I wanted to use it, but when I tried to unlock it using both an 8-character password and a 48-digit code, BitLocker seemed to hang. I contacted Seagate support and despite resending the code, the problem is not resolved. The problem was found to be related to a Microsoft tool - BitLocker

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-07-16T10:03:28+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you very much for your answer.

    I would like to complete the information. Today I decided to check if BitLocker works flawlessly and encrypted another drive. Everything is OK. I contacted Seagate customer support again and was told that if the unlock code had been used, I should contact Microsoft and ask for a "One time Master reset passcode."

    PS I will try the proposed solutions and let you know

    Kind regards

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-16T09:05:38+00:00

    Hello Tomasz G.1,

    thank you for posting on the Microsoft Community Forums.

    Here are some steps and troubleshooting methods you can try to resolve the issue:

    Initial Checks

    1. Ensure Power Stability: Make sure your device has a stable power source while performing the unlock operation to prevent interruptions.
    2. Check for Disk Errors:
      • Before attempting to unlock BitLocker, check the disk for errors. You can do this using the following command in Command Prompt:
      chkdsk /f X: Replace X: with the drive letter of your Seagate disk.

    Unlocking BitLocker

    1. BitLocker Management Tool:
      • Use the BitLocker management tool to attempt the unlock. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and try the following command:
      manage-bde -unlock X: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-48-DIGIT-RECOVERY-KEY Replace X: with the drive letter and YOUR-48-DIGIT-RECOVERY-KEY with the actual recovery key.
    2. Use BitLocker GUI: Open the Control Panel and navigate to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption. Find your Seagate drive and attempt to unlock it from this interface.

    Advanced Troubleshooting

    1. Safe Mode: Boot your computer in Safe Mode and try unlocking the drive. Safe Mode can sometimes bypass software conflicts that might be causing BitLocker to hang.
    2. *Update Drivers and Windows: Ensure all your drivers, especially disk-related drivers, and Windows updates are up to date. Sometimes compatibility issues can cause BitLocker to hang.
    3. Diagnose with BitLocker Repair Tool:
      • Use the BitLocker Repair Tool to diagnose and attempt to recover data. The command is as follows:
      repair-bde X: Y: -rp YOUR-48-DIGIT-RECOVERY-KEY Replace X: with the BitLocker drive letter, Y: with a destination drive letter where you want to save the recovered data, and YOUR-48-DIGIT-RECOVERY-KEY with your BitLocker recovery key.

    Additionally, for the steps to find your BitLocker recovery key, please see Finding your BitLocker recovery key in Windows - Microsoft Support.

    Important: Microsoft support is unable to provide, or recreate, a lost BitLocker recovery key.

    Regards,

    Lei

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