Windows Recovery options missing, BitLocker enabled, system won’t boot.

Question

My Windows bootloader and WinRE are corrupted. Advanced recovery options are missing.

BitLocker is enabled and I have the recovery key.

I need instructions to recover or reinstall Windows without data loss.

Answer 1

Hello Ashish,

I appreciate you reaching out about the issue with your system not booting and the recovery options missing and I understand how stressful it can feel when BitLocker is still enabled and the system won’t load properly even though you have the recovery key. Situations like this often happen when the boot files or recovery environment become severely corrupted and it’s important to use approaches that can help restore access without risking your data.

One additional method you can use involves performing an in‑place repair using Windows installation media which allows the system to rebuild core operating system files while keeping your personal data intact. To do this you can start by creating a Windows installation USB from another working device using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and then booting your affected PC from that USB. Once you reach the setup screen you can unlock your BitLocker‑protected drive using your recovery key and then proceed to the repair option instead of a full clean installation. This process reinstalls essential Windows components, restores a functioning bootloader and often rebuilds the Windows Recovery Environment all without deleting your files. This approach helps when standard recovery tools are unavailable because it bypasses the damaged boot environment and uses fresh system files from the installation media.

I hope this answer is helpful if you have further questions feel free to reply back

Regards,

Marcelo

Answer 2

To recover your Windows system without data loss while BitLocker is enabled, follow these steps:

1. Access Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE): Since your bootloader and WinRE are corrupted, you may need to create a recovery USB drive from another computer. You can download the Windows recovery image and create a USB recovery drive.
2. Boot from the Recovery USB: Insert the USB drive into your computer and boot from it. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings to boot from the USB.
3. Unlock the BitLocker Drive: Once you boot into the recovery environment, you will need to unlock your BitLocker-protected drive. You can do this by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. In the command prompt, run the following command:

      manage-bde -unlock C: -recoverypassword <YourRecoveryKey>
   

   Replace <YourRecoveryKey> with your actual BitLocker recovery key.
4. Repair the Bootloader: After unlocking the drive, you can attempt to repair the bootloader. In the command prompt, run:

      bootrec /fixmbr
      bootrec /fixboot
      bootrec /scanos
      bootrec /rebuildbcd
   

5. Exit and Restart: After completing the above commands, type exit and restart your computer. Remove the USB drive and see if Windows boots normally.
6. Reinstall Windows (if necessary): If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall Windows. During the installation process, choose the option to keep your files and applications to avoid data loss.

Make sure to have a backup of your important data if possible before proceeding with any recovery or reinstallation steps.