Bitlocker Locked after Reinstalling OS

Question

I got a new PC with issue of display language, so I tried clean reinstallation of windows through direct install from ISO file. Before this I did not disable bitlocker. Now I am unable to boot up this PC, it requires bitlocker recovery key once and once again. Not a single option in this mode works well.

It seems the only way is to reinstall OS through a USB media. But I am not sure if the activation can be retained or not if reinstallation through this method. Any good suggestion?

Answer 1

If your PC is prompting for the BitLocker recovery key after reinstalling the OS without disabling BitLocker, you will need to provide the recovery key to access your system. If you do not have the recovery key, you will not be able to unlock the drive and access your data.

To proceed with the reinstallation of Windows through USB media, you can do so, but you should be aware that this may affect your activation status. Typically, if your Windows license is linked to your Microsoft account or if it is a digital license, it should reactivate automatically after the installation. However, if it is a retail license, you may need to enter your product key again.

Here are some steps you can take:

1. Obtain the BitLocker recovery key: If you have access to your Microsoft account, check if the recovery key is stored there.
2. Create a USB recovery media: Use another computer to download the Windows installation media and create a bootable USB drive.
3. Reinstall Windows: Boot from the USB drive and follow the prompts to reinstall Windows.
4. Check activation: After installation, check the activation status in Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

If you are unable to retrieve the recovery key, you may need to consult with a professional for data recovery options, but keep in mind that without the key, accessing the data on the BitLocker-encrypted drive may not be possible.

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References:

• BitLocker recovery: known issues
• BitLocker recovery overview

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

If you're unable to locate the BitLocker recovery key in your Microsoft account here,

https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

A clean installation from the USB Installation media is the only option here.

Even if you input the correct recovery key and it loops back to the BitLocker recovery screen again, it is recommended to perform a clean install from a USB media drive. As your previous OS might be corrupted.

Reference: (Windows 11 Clean Installation Process)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsinsider/cleaninstall

Regarding the activation, could you please clarify how you previously activated Windows 11? Was the key purchased from a retailer, or was it already preinstalled on your device?

If it was preinstalled, the license should be automatically detected during setup, allowing you to use your device normally. If you have a digital license, signing in with your Microsoft account should activate your copy of Windows.

If you're experiencing any activation issues after a clean installation using the USB installation media, please let me know, and I will guide you through the process.