Windows 10: BITLOCKER EXTERNAL HD

just spent $1000 restoring an old E-HD that turns out to actually be locked by bitlocker


I have no memory of setting this god aweful program up on an old computer 10 years ago.


Now there's no way to access this drive even after rescuing the data - there is no Password or Numerical Password - because the original computer this EXTERNAL HD was attached to is gone.


So there is no saved file and any back up to that computer would probably be on THIS Hard Drive.



NOW, before I get the rope and chair to **** is there a way to get into this drive?

:)

 

External HD Connection Problem

I have attached an external HD to my computer running Windows 10 and it will not show up in my drive list. The properties shows it as Seagate.ink - what is an ink file and any suggestions as to how I can get it to work?

 

File back up to bitlockered external drive

Thanks John.

By trial and error the solution is,

• Set the file back up to the desired external USB drive, Back up using file history.
• Run backup to completion.
• Dismount, (Remove) the drive used.
• Remount (Plug in) the drive used for the file back up (Steps 1&2) and encrypt using Bitlocker.

Note you can only encrypt drives using some versions of Windows (Pro for eg not Home)

• Once the external drive has been encrypted dismount.
• Remount the drive, go to the file back up option, Open, Settings, Backup,
  Back up using file history.
• The drive should now still be visible and has been encrypted.
• Accessing the drive will be dependant on how it was set up in Bitlocker,
  Open with this PC, password, pin code etc.
• Repeat file back up as in the first two steps.

Hope this helps someone else.

 

Remove BitLocker for external drive

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



We understand that you want to disable BitLocker for the external hard drive. However, we would like to know if you are able to access data from the external hard drive.



In the meantime, you may refer the steps mentioned below to disable BitLocker:

1. Type Command Prompt in the search bar on the
   Taskbar.
   
2. Right click on the Command Prompt icon and select
   Run as administrator.
   
3. Type manage-bde –off X: and hit
   Enter. (Replace X with the drive letter of the external hard drive)
   

Meanwhile, you may also post your query in
TechNet forums, where we have support professionals who are well equipped with the knowledge on BitLocker to address your query.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator