"The drive where Windows is installed is locked.Unlock the drive and try again."

Question

What to do when you get the following message on "the most stable", Windows 8, operating system?

"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."

I got that message after the following:

I wanted to open a PDF file from my customer on OUTLOOK - a regular, every-hour procedure - and my computer froze. Nothing worked; therefore, only manually disconnecting my computer from the power source, I was able to shut it down.

After I restarted, I could not get passed the login screen - my computer used to enter the "blue background color and nothing else" mode. 

I decided to use USB Flash drive to repair Win8 but it failed. I wanted to refresh my Windows 8, but I got that message:

"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."

Just 4 days ago, I did a "clean install" of Windows 8 OS.

What should I do besides another "clean install" of Windows 8?

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Answer 1

2 SSD drives one SATA HDD

win 8.1 on SSD #1

this is what I did:

1. shutdown
2. unhooked HDD
3. restarted
4. yay !!
5. reconnected HDD
6. restarted
7. yay !!

cheers

Thank you.  Of all the proposed solutions this is the only one I tried and it worked perfectly.  My computer is back up and running.  Thank you so much!

Answer 2

I clean installed windows 8 on a second HD and then the original came up as an option.  the key is to disconnect the first hd with the good install on it. and then go into the bios and adjust your boot sequence.  

At least this worked for me.  As soon as this works you must defeat any options for fast start as that is likely where the trouble is.  This is outrageous as it is happening to customers across the world but yet the company is trying to pass it off as a virus.  I was told I would have to buy a second license to get the install to stabilize.  It is BS.

Good Luck

KC O'Dunn

Answer 3

I've tried SFC/SCANNOW in MS-DOS but got the following message:

"Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service".

I really want to get some help.

Answer 4

If I click on "Re-image your computer" -- "Advanced" -- "Add Drivers" -- "OK", I can see my computer files.

But of course, I don't have an image of my computer.

If I try to use System Restore, I get the following message:

"To use System Restore, you must specify which Windows installation to restore.

Restart this computer, select an operating system, and then select System Restore"

I'm just dreaming about arguing whether it's good or bad not to have the Start Button.

Answer 5

I've found a lot of Windows 8 users are having the same problem "The drive is locked..."

There is even a web-site dedicated to it.

"How to fix:

"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."

Fix - The drive where Windows is installed is locked

My problem is that when I get into MS-DOS mode, it says, X:>Sources.

How to switch to C: drive. I forgot DOS commands.

Thank you for any help.