My personal computer (not company computer) is locked with BitLocker. WHAT IS THIS? HOW COME MICROSOFT TAKE CONTROL OF MY COMPUTER?

H C 26 Reputation points
2021-05-23T00:42:20.353+00:00

My personal computer (not company computer) is locked with BitLocker.
WHAT IS THIS? HOW COME MICROSOFT TAKE CONTROL OF MY COMPUTER?
Popped up a blue screen mentioning Recovery Key ID (?), Drive Label(?), saying to try my work or school account - how come these accounts are related with my personal computer?
I have urgent things to do with my computer.
What should I do now?

Hélio Colaço

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Devices and deployment | Configure application groups
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  1. Jenny Feng 14,246 Reputation points
    2021-05-24T02:57:27.833+00:00

    @H C
    Hi,
    What is your computer brand?
    It seems like BitLocker was enabled automatically based on how the Windows 10 image was configured.
    Based on my research, some systems ship with BitLocker "prepped", and if you choose to link your Windows logon account to a Microsoft account, BitLocker is automatically enabled because the Recovery Key is backed up to the Microsoft account you linked with.
    The following information may help you locate your recovery key:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-10-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6
    Unfortunately if you don't know the password, don't have a Recovery Key, and don't have an auto-unlock file anymore elsewhere, then the data is lost. If there was some way to access the data without any of those things, then unfortunately the encryption would be effectively useless.
    Hope above information can help you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-05-23T01:33:43.08+00:00

    Take a look here.
    ****Why is Windows asking for my BitLocker recovery key?*
    *BitLocker is the Windows encryption technology that protects your data from unauthorized access by encrypting your drive and requiring one or more factors of authentication before it will unlock it, whether for regular Windows use or an unauthorized access attempt. Windows will require a BitLocker recovery key when it detects an insecure condition that may be an unauthorized attempt to access the data. This extra step is a security precaution intended to keep your data safe and secure. Some changes in hardware, firmware, or software can present conditions which BitLocker cannot distinguish from a possible attack. In these cases, BitLocker may require the extra security of the recovery key even if the user is an authorized owner of the device. This is to be certain sure that it really is an authorized user of the device attempting to unlock it.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-10-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-05-24T02:58:26.157+00:00

    Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  3. H C 26 Reputation points
    2021-05-24T17:01:02.323+00:00

    Thanks for your preoccupation.
    After a while I could get the recovery key. But this BitLocker "thing" came from nothing. My computer was running and suddenly the blue screen showed up. I realized my laptop battery started to have problems. I can't run it without having it plugged in. Maybe it is related.
    But, I could loose my data for nothing. I felt like Microsoft blocked my data without my consent and for "my own good".
    A password is a good thing, avoiding unwanted people to take my information. If I forgot my password, there is ways to recover it. But it looks like this Bitlocker no.
    I never heard about BitLocker - I work everyday with computer since DOS). How come Microsoft doesn't divulge it better considering it is so powerful. And it doesn't give us option other than the recovery key.
    Microsoft needs competition. If I can I choose an alternative of its products. And needs more people suing it.
    Thanks for your attention. Thanks for try to help me. All the best.
    Hélio Colaço


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