Bitlocker enabled automatically when booting Windows from an alternate Drive and no key was saved to Microsoft Account

Question

I am using a DELL laptop and I have recently replaced the SSD inside it with another. Upon opening settings, my device encryption is not enabled.

In order to complete the file transfer, I moved the data to an external drive, booted Windows from it, and transferred the contents of the drive to the SSD. The SSD is completely functional and completely allocated. However, now when I go into file explorer, my D: Drive (1tb Hard Drive) has become encrypted. I did nothing aside from boot the computer from a different drive with the exact same contents as it started.

Upon looking inside my Microsoft Account, there is no key to the BitLocker encryption. I also searched the replaced SSD (C: Drive) for an encryption key in a text file but there was none. Is there somewhere else the key could have been saved? This is a home computer that is not managed under any network or administration. How can I recover the key?

Answer 1

Hi ZM. I am Greg, 10 year awarded MVP, here to help.

Bitlocker has to be deliberately enabled on the drive, it is not possible to do by itself. However since you mention Dell, I think we probably know what happened.

If Bitlocker is enabled on your hard drive this may have been done at the factory, which the manufacturer's Support should tell you and provide what you need to know. Here is Dell's explanation about doing this:

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS/XPS-13-9360-...

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124...

If done since then it should always store the Recovery key that unlocks it in your MS Account.

I would first contact Dell Support to ask them how you can obtain the key for Bitlocker they preinstalled at Factory: https://www.dell.com/support/incidents-online/u...

See here how to find the Recovery key for Bitlocker:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402618...

Try removing or turning off Bitlocker by one of these methods:

https://www.repairwin.com/how-to-remove-bitlock...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/37060-turn-...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/36701-turn-...

Manual for managing Bitlocker:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-bitlocke...

If you cannot find the key or turn off Bitlocker then you'll need to try to recover your data by one of the methods shown here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/263561/how-to-recover...

http://woshub.com/data-recovery-on-a-damaged-ha...

A few have tried this method successfully to Rescue files using bootable media so WIndows isn't running and has no say:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If nothing else works then wipe the drive to reinstall WIndows as shown here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/85819-erase...

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Due to number of similar cases with files lost I would have a secondary backup just in case. You can periodically drag my User folders to external USB which you keep unplugged to protect against ransomware. Then I would also have a method using the cloud which is fire-, ransomware- and theft-proof:

You can drag 5gb for free into OneDrive app to store in the cloud or backup your Documents, Pictures and/or Desktop to capture real time changes using OneDrive Backup here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...

If you install Google Drive Desktop, you can use their new Backup to choose User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to sync up to 15g for free to their cloud: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/1083812...

If you want to report this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.