Windows 10: Bitlocker on SSD external disk

Hello, I had a computer that had a Windows 11 operating system, it had two disks on it, the C: disk where I had the operating system installed and a D: disk where I had very important personal files, I did not realize at what moment the encryption was activated on both disks, I changed the computer and when I put the external disk D: it appears blocked and asks me for the "Bitlocker", I have two questions. 1. Is the same Bitlocker code for both disks C: and D:? 2. If I put the D: disk back in the old computer will I be able to open it?

:)

 

External USB HDD drive bitlocker encrypted without a key

Hello CatchyWater7200,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community. We're sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you.

I am aware that you're having trouble accessing your external USB disk drive that has been encrypted by BitLocker. I am here to help. Allow me to ask a question.

• Would you mind sharing what exactly the message shows when ask for the USB key?
  

Your drive appears to have been encrypted using BitLocker, a function that guards your data against illegal access. For access to the drive, BitLocker requires a password or recovery key. Since you don't have a BitLocker USB key, you can try using the BitLocker recovery key to unlock the drive. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Connect the external USB disk drive to your Surface Pro 6.
   
2. When prompted to enter the BitLocker key, click on "More options". Or you can enter "Esc" key or the Windows key to continue.
   
3. Click on "Enter recovery key".
   
4. Enter the BitLocker recovery key that you found on your Microsoft account.
   
5. Click on "Unlock".
   

If the above steps don't work, you can try disabling BitLocker on the external USB disk drive. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Connect the external USB disk drive to your Surface Pro 6.
   
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the external USB disk drive.
   
3. Click on "Manage BitLocker".
   
4. Click on "Turn off BitLocker".
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to disable BitLocker on the external USB disk drive.
   

Please note that disabling BitLocker will remove the encryption from the external USB disk drive and make it less secure. Therefore, it's recommended to re-enable BitLocker once you've accessed your files and photos.

Let me know how it goes.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

 

Renamed external disk defaults to 'Local Disk'. Maybe something to do with BitLocker?

Hi Russell,

The issue you're experiencing with modifying the name of your external hard disk might be caused by a misconfiguration with BitLocker. We'll need additional information to properly address your concern. Please answer the following questions:

• Are you getting any error messages?
• How did you modify the name of the external hard disk? Did you change it through the File Explorer or through Disk Management? Also, is BitLocker disabled when you changed the name of the storage device?
• Is the external hard disk showing the same issue when you connect it to a different PC?

If you haven't tried it yet, you can modify the external hard disk name using an elevated
Command Prompt:

• Select the Start button.
• Type Command Prompt.
• Right-click Command Prompt and then select
  Run as administrator.
• If prompted, click Yes or enter the administrator password.
• In the Command Prompt window, type the command below and then hit Enter.
  • label <drive letter>: <desired name>
  • Replace <drive letter> with the actual driver letter of the external hard disk.
  • For example: label E: Backup files
• Restart your PC.

We'll be waiting for your response.

 

bitlocker autolocking not working on external drive at boot

Hi lankylad，

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I'm Hahn and I'm here to help you with your concern.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with your external USB drive's BitLocker auto-unlock feature. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Ensure BitLocker is Enabled on the External Drive:

- Confirm that BitLocker is indeed enabled on the external USB drive.

- Open File Explorer, right-click on the external drive, and select "Manage BitLocker" to check its status.



2. Verify Auto-Unlock is Enabled:

- Double-check that auto-unlock is enabled for the external drive.

- Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

manage-bde -status

This command will display the status of all drives. Verify that auto-unlock is listed as "On" for the external drive.



3. Check for Drive Letter Changes:

- Ensure that the external drive is assigned the same drive letter as before. If the drive letter changes, BitLocker may not recognize the drive correctly.

- You can manage drive letters in Disk Management.

4. Recreate BitLocker Protector:

- Suspend BitLocker on the external drive and then resume it.

- Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following commands:

manage-bde -protectors -disable X:

manage-bde -protectors -enable X:

Replace "X:" with the actual drive letter of your external drive.



5. Update Device Drivers:

- Ensure that your USB controller and disk drive drivers are up to date.

6. Recovery Key:

- If all else fails, you may need to use the BitLocker recovery key to unlock the external drive. Ensure you have a backup of the recovery key. Finding your BitLocker recovery key in Windows - Microsoft Support

After trying these steps, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, you may need to further investigate specific events or errors in the Windows Event Viewer related to BitLocker or disk management for additional clues.

Your Sincerely

| Microsoft Community Support Specialist