Windows 10: Bitlocker not encrypting document partition (Windows 10 Pro)

Here are a couple of things from GParted, when I try to check and repair the partition:

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Libparted Warning

Could not get identity of device /dev/ada0
- Inappropriate ioctl for device
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Under "Checking filesystem consistency" it has seven lines of:

Inode is corrupt ([some number]): Input/output error
And under "Accounting clusters …" it has many lines of:

Cluster accouning failed at [some number] (0x[other number]): extra cluster in $Bitmap
It ends with:

Filesystem check failed! Totally 529 cluster accounting mismatches.
ERROR: NTFS is inconsistent. Run chkdisk /f on Windows then reboot it TWICE!
The usage of the /f parameter is very IMPORTANT! No modification was
and will be made to NTFS by this software until it gets repaired.
I tried the chkdsk procedure from installation media but it doesn't find any errors.

 

Probably no one's waiting with bated breath, but...

I plugged the drive with the corrupt partition into my other computer, and ended up using MiniTool Partition Wizard to check and repair it, and though I was skeptical because MTPW had caused the bad partition in the first place, it succeed in making the partition contents visible ... while leaving the drive still without boot capability. Ultimately I used EasyRE again to auto-repair the boot capability.

Tomorrow I'll revisit the encryption issue.

 

You still have system in partition 3? I do believe it doesn't matter but it could be the case it needs to be before C. That is only a guess though.

I suppose try it as it is then if it still doesn't work you could either move partitions with MTPW or reinstall. Moving system from partition from 3 to 1 would take absolutely ages as it has to move all the data on the disk (I swapped order of OSX and Windows and it took many hours)

Perhaps you could consider making an image backup of C with Macrium or something, destroy partitions 1 and 3 (so they are unallocated space) and clean install. Your data partition you could leave where it is. This would create system in partition 1 and a 149GB C in partition 2. You could then restore back C volume from your backup - it would probably be quicker as you wouldn't have to reinstall everything - just reregister recovery.

 

I'll try putting partition 3 before C, but my guess is the same as yours, @lx07, that it shouldn't matter.

In any event, I think maybe Windows is looking in the wrong place for the file it's missing, or a file that should be in a couple of different places has somehow been removed from where it needs to be to encrypt C. I imagine it's not gone altogether, since E can be encrypted, unless this is a particular file required for the OS partition. I don't know how to investigate such a thing. It would be nice if BitLocker said what it was looking for.

I chatted with a Microsoft support rep who said I should follow up with my computer's manufacturer because it could be a matter of a missing driver. I don't know how that could be true since E can be encrypted.

The Microsoft rep suggested that I try scannow and DISM to find and repair corrupt Windows files. I've done that now, and some corrupt files were indeed found and repaired, but it didn't result in C becoming encryptable. I get the same "cannot find the file specified" error.

I'll try escalating my inquiry with Microsoft if rearranging my partitions doesn't jog something into place, unless any promising other avenues come to light.

 

Putting 3 before C hasn't solved the problem.

@lx07, I'm not sure I understand your last paragraph. Windows is on the C partition. Are you saying I can do a clean Windows install and then copy my C drive back over that install so I don't have to reinstall my programs?

 

Yes exactly. Make an image with Macrium or something first.

Boot from Windows installation USB (you can make one using the Media Creation Tool ) and delete C and system reserved (so they are both unallocated space) during the installation process. You can leave your big data partition.

When you install Windows it will create 500MB system first and C in the remaining 149.5GB space. Ignore all the prompts but let it finish.

Then you can boot from Macrium recovery USB and restore your C volume (that you backed up elsewhere before of course) over the top to the C volume created by the clean install. All your programs will be intact.

Now whether after this whatever file bitlocker is complaining about is still there I don't know. In theory the bitlocker files should be in the system partition so it might work as you'd be replacing it.

If that doesn't work it is clean install (and install all your programs again) time. Even then you can leave your data partition though.