Windows 10: BitLocker recovery screen asking me for a key but I never installed it

[COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]Hi all,[/COLOR]



Sorry this post is quite long because I want you to understand well my case and surely hundreds of thousands Win users

[COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]I have a Lenovo X270 laptop that was running Windows 10 Professional. Hereis what happened:[/COLOR]

• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]One day a little bit of soda poured out on it so I’ve turned it OFFimmediately, dried it but it didn’t help, some keys stopped working, so I’ve decidedto replace the keyboard.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]While I was waiting to get the spare, I removed the internal drive andplugged it into another laptop and there I got a BitLocker recovery screen.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]So I’ve thought, it is just protection like someone who stole thelaptop/drive and was trying to steal the data. I’ve said to myself, once I getthe laptop fixed, this should not happen.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]So once, I got the new keyboard, I’ve replaced it but as misfortune nevercomes alone, despite the laptop was turning ON, and the fan spinning, the screen remained black.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]After some crossover tests, I’ve found out that the RAM memory got damaged soafter replacing it, I could have the screen turning ON, and instead of going toWindows, I had again the damn BitLocker recovery screen.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]Now all my internal SSD contents got encrypted on their own.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]Of course, I’ve contacted Microsoft Support, checked since the pastsleepless 5 weeks a lot of KBs, forums tried many prompt commands, different BIOSsettings, watched hours of videos, contacted recovery software companies likeElcomsoft, Passware, TheGrideon... all of them said their product won't be much helpin my case because my drive seems to be encrypted with a numeric password which is a 48 digits recovery key.[/COLOR]
• [COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]Microsoft Support was useless: I had countless exchanges with them, it islike a ping pong discussion between Windows and Lenovo, each other rejects the responsibilityon the other one and none wants to be liable...[/COLOR]

Based on my reading and conversations with Microsoft Tech Support, when a Windows 10 computer is purchased, and the user signs in toa Microsoft account on the first startup, BitLocker is setup automatically.


So I went to that same Microsoft account that I used to set up the affectedcomputer. Sure enough, my device was listed there, I went clicking on Devices, Manage...








However when I clicked in “Manage” then “Get Biclocker recovery keys”:




I was almost happy to see my nightmare end until I got this…




It even tells me BitLocker is ON:




It seems that no recovery key is associated with my account. How is that possible given that this was the correct account that was used to setup the device, the device is listed in the account, and it even tells me BitLocker ON?


Regarding the other possibilities where BitLocker recovery keys may be found:


1. The hyperlinks https://onedrive.live.com/recoverykey, also don't work.

2. This is a home/personal computer nobody ever used but me, so the recovery keycannot be on Azure Active Directory service just to follow some people’s advises,I’ve still created an account and checked there just in case but nothing.

3. Since BitLocker was activated by itself, there’s alsono way the recovery key could be on a printout.

4. It’s been +30 years I am in IT started before Windows 95 so I know a bitmore than the basics: I know what is BitLocker, that it comes preinstalled inWindows but I never ran and less configured it! My laptop was brandnew/unboxed, never used by anyone else than me.

5. To summarize: I don't have that key in any Microsoft/OneDrive account, on aprintout I saved, on a USB flash drive, in an Azure Active Directory, held by asystem administrator or whatsoever! Please trust me, even if I had Alzheimer'sdisease, I will remember it!


The data in my computer is very valuable so I can't afford to format the disk.

Could someone help?

I am in hell! :’

Thanks a lot.

P.S: I found a user who in 2019 was, in almost the same situation so I've copied some parts as they were well explained
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...4ea-95a9-458f-a75c-169d2c7c009c?auth=1&page=1

[COLOR=rgba0, 0, 0, 1]B[/COLOR]

:)

 

BitLocker recovery key

Hi Dan,

We understand that you're experiencing an issue related to Bitlocker.

Just to confirm, are you being asked for a Bitlocker recovery key from the lock screen after booting PC? If not, where are you exactly being asked for a Bitlocker recovery key?

Also, are you the only person that has an account on your device? Have you already done any troubleshooting steps to try to resolve the issue? If yes, what are these troubleshooting steps?

We'll be waiting for your confirmation.

Regards.

 

recovery bitlocker blue screen

Hi Rick,

Please follow the suggestions below and check if you are able to boot to your desktop.

• Places to look for your BitLocker key:
  • On a printout you saved. Look in places you keep important papers.
    
  • Saved on a USB flash drive. Plug the USB flash drive into your locked PC and follow the instructions. If you saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different computer to read the text file.
  • In your Microsoft account. To get your recovery key, go to
    BitLocker Recovery Keys.

• Or ask someone for help:
  • Ask someone with administrator privileges on the same PC to unlock it with their key.
  • If your PC is connected to a domain (usually a work or school computer), ask a system administrator for your recovery key

Hope this helps in resolving the bitlocker recovery keys. Keep us posted on the bitlocker recovery key issues. We are happy to help!

 

Asking for Bitlocker recovery key on login

So I was playing with BIOS settings for reformatting my laptop and reinstalling Windows using bootable USB drive. I didn't succeed and I probably did something stupid. Now I'm not able to login into my laptop. It's asking me for bitlocker recovery key on both disabled and enabled settings of secure boot.

On "Enabled" setting, it says "Bitlocker needs your recovery key to unlock your drive because Secure Boot policy has unexpectedly changed."




On "Disabled" setting, it says "Bitlocker needs your recovery key to unlock your drive because Secure Boot has been disabled. Either Secure Boot must be re-enabled, or Bitlocker must be suspended for Windows to start normally."




I don't have a recovery key. I don't remember setting one. I even searched for it in my Microsoft account. My device (ASUS X205TA) is listed but the recovery key is not.

Note that I don't have any useful data in the laptop, so I'd be fine with reinstalling windows even if I loose all the data. I just want to be able to use my laptop again.