ProtectKeyWithTPMAndStartupKey method of the Win32_EncryptableVolume class

The ProtectKeyWithTPMAndStartupKey method of the Win32_EncryptableVolume class secures the volume's encryption key by using the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Hardware on the computer, if available, enhanced by an external key that must be presented to the computer at startup.

Both validation by the TPM and input of a USB memory device that contains the external key are necessary to access the volume's encryption key and unlock the volume contents. Use the SaveExternalKeyToFile method to save this external key to a file on a USB memory device for usage as a startup key.

This method is only applicable for the volume that contains the currently running operating system.

A key protector of type "TPM And Startup Key" is created for the volume, if one does not already exist.

Syntax

uint32 ProtectKeyWithTPMAndStartupKey(
  [in, optional] string FriendlyName,
  [in, optional] uint8  PlatformValidationProfile[],
  [in, optional] uint8  ExternalKey[],
  [out]          string VolumeKeyProtectorID
);

Parameters

FriendlyName [in, optional]

Type: string

A user-assigned string identifier for this key protector. If this parameter is not specified, a blank value is used.

PlatformValidationProfile [in, optional]

Type: uint8[]

An array of integers that specifies how the computer's Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Hardware secures the encryption key of the disk volume.

A platform validation profile consists of a set of Platform Configuration Register (PCR) indices ranging from 0 to 23, inclusive. Repeat values in the parameter are ignored. Each PCR index is associated with services that run when the operating system starts. Each time the computer starts, the TPM will check that the services you specified in the platform validation profile have not changed. If any of these services change while BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) protection remains on, the TPM will not release the encryption key to unlock the disk volume, and the computer will enter into recovery mode.

If this parameter is specified while the corresponding Group Policy setting has been enabled, it must match the Group Policy setting.

If this parameter is not specified, the default of 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11 is used. The default platform validation profile secures the encryption key against changes to the following elements:

  • Core Root of Trust of Measurement (CRTM)
  • BIOS
  • Platform Extensions (PCR 0)
  • Option ROM Code (PCR 2)
  • Master Boot Record (MBR) Code (PCR 4)
  • Master Boot Record (MBR) Partition Table (PCR 5)
  • NTFS Boot Sector (PCR 8)
  • NTFS Boot Block (PCR 9)
  • Boot Manager (PCR 10)
  • BitLocker Access Control (PCR 11)

For the security of your computer, we recommend the default profile. For additional protection against early startup configuration changes, use a profile of PCRs 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11. Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)–based computers do not use PCR 5 by default.

Changing from the default profile affects the security and manageability of your computer. The sensitivity of BitLocker to platform modifications (malicious or authorized) is increased or decreased depending upon the inclusion or exclusion, respectively, of the PCRs. For BitLocker protection to be enabled, the platform validation profile must include PCR 11.

Value Meaning
0
Core Root of Trust of Measurement (CRTM), BIOS, and Platform Extensions
1
Platform and Motherboard Configuration and Data
2
Option ROM Code
3
Option ROM Configuration and Data
4
Master Boot Record (MBR) Code
5
Master Boot Record (MBR) Partition Table
6
State Transition and Wake Events
7
Computer Manufacturer-Specific
8
NTFS Boot Sector
9
NTFS Boot Block
10
Boot Manager
11
BitLocker Access Control
12
Defined for use by the static operating system
13
Defined for use by the static operating system
14
Defined for use by the static operating system
15
Defined for use by the static operating system
16
Used for debugging
17
Dynamic CRTM
18
Platform defined
19
Used by a trusted operating system
20
Used by a trusted operating system
21
Used by a trusted operating system
22
Used by a trusted operating system
23
Application support

 

ExternalKey [in, optional]

Type: uint8[]

An array of bytes that specifies the 256-bit external key used to unlock the volume when the computer starts.

If no external key is specified, one is randomly generated. Use the GetKeyProtectorExternalKey method to obtain the randomly generated key.

VolumeKeyProtectorID [out]

Type: string

A string that is the unique identifier associated with the created key protector that can be used to manage the key protector.

If the drive supports hardware encryption and BitLocker has not taken band ownership, the ID string is set to "BitLocker" and the key protector is written to per band metadata.

Return value

Type: uint32

This method returns one of the following codes or another error code if it fails.

Return code/value Description
S_OK
0 (0x0)
The method was successful.
FVE_E_LOCKED_VOLUME
2150694912 (0x80310000)
The volume is locked.
TBS_E_SERVICE_NOT_RUNNING
2150121480 (0x80284008)
No compatible TPM is found on this computer.
FVE_E_FOREIGN_VOLUME
2150694947 (0x80310023)
The TPM cannot secure the volume's encryption key because the volume does not contain the currently running operating system.
E_INVALIDARG
2147942487 (0x80070057)
The PlatformValidationProfile parameter is provided, but its values are not within the known range, or it does not match the Group Policy setting currently in effect.
The ExternalKey parameter is provided but is not an array of size 32.
FVE_E_BOOTABLE_CDDVD
2150694960 (0x80310030)
A bootable CD/DVD is found in this computer. Remove the CD/DVD and restart the computer.
FVE_E_PROTECTOR_EXISTS
2150694961 (0x80310031)
A key protector of this type already exists.

 

Security Considerations

For the security of your computer, we recommend the default profile. For additional protection against early startup code changes, use a profile of PCRs 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. For additional protection against early startup configuration changes, use a profile of PCRs 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Changing from the default profile affects the security or usability of your computer.

Remarks

At most one key protector of type "TPM And Startup Key" can exist for a volume at any time. If you want to change the display name or the platform validation profile used by an existing "TPM plus Startup Key" key protector, you must first remove the existing key protector and then call ProtectKeyWithTPMAndStartupKey to create a new one. Additional key protectors should be specified to unlock the volume in recovery scenarios where access to the volume's encryption key cannot be obtained; for example, when the TPM cannot successfully validate against the platform validation profile or when USB memory that contains the external key is lost.

Use ProtectKeyWithExternalKey or ProtectKeyWithNumericalPassword to create one or more key protectors for recovering an otherwise locked volume.

While it is possible to have both a key protector of the type "TPM" and another of the type "TPM And Startup Key", the presence of the "TPM" key protector type negates the effects of other TPM-based key protectors.

Managed Object Format (MOF) files contain the definitions for Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) classes. MOF files are not installed as part of the Windows SDK. They are installed on the server when you add the associated role by using the Server Manager. For more information about MOF files, see Managed Object Format (MOF).

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client
Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server
Windows Server 2008 [desktop apps only]
Namespace
Root\CIMV2\Security\MicrosoftVolumeEncryption
MOF
Win32_encryptablevolume.mof

See also

Win32_EncryptableVolume

Win32_Tpm