Windows 10: Encryption Recovery Key

I am desperately trying to get hold of Microsoft support and have been trying without any luck for over a week.


For some reason my Laptop was 'Automatically' Encrypted, and I only found this out when the hard drive got damaged and was sent to a Data Recovery Firm.


The company has told me that I need my Encryption Recovery Key Code/Password in order for them to access the data. I have logged on with 5 different windows accounts but none of them have a 'Bitlocker' set up so no Recovery. I never set it up as it was already Encrypted. The Data Recovery Firm gave me the details that I need in order to get the Code/Password but Its no good as I can't get hold of anyone. I need to get hold of Technical Support, or someone who can advise me on where I can get this from.


I am desperate to get the data off...it isn't a work Laptop, it is my own, and as a result of this I have lost 6 months of baby photos which, having a Baby, wasn't backed up. Please someone help me as I feel I am having a massive melt down, and feel totally abandoned.

:)

 

[BitLocker] Encrypting without generating recovery key?

Hi,

is there a way to encrypt a BitLocker drive without generating a recovery key?

Other encryption tools such as DiskCryptor/VeraCrypt/TrueCrypt or those found on Linux can simply be used with one PIN, no recovery key required.

BitLocker also allows to encrypt using a PIN. But, even when using a PIN, it still always seems to require to generate a recovery key in addition.

Is it possible to disable recovery keys altogether? So that only a PIN is set up to encrypt the drive and nothing else?

Why would you want a recovery key anyway, when you are already using a PIN? Why would you want to generate two passwords (PIN + recovery key) instead of just one password (only PIN without any recovery key)?

 

Issues with entering recovery key for safe mode

Hello,

Apology for the delay in response.

What is the make and model of your device?

Did you tried using function keys(F1-F10) to enter BitLocker recovery key?

Did you tried using some other external keyboard?

Suggest you to disable the Bit locker Drive Encryption to see if it helps. You can follow the below mentioned steps and check if it helps

To turn off BitLocker Drive Encryption:

• 
  Click Start, type Manage BitLocker and select same from the list.
  
• 
  Under BitLocker Drive Encryption, find the drive on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off(I.e. In this case you system drive), and click
  Turn Off BitLocker.
  
• 
  A message is displayed, informing you that the drive will be decrypted and that decryption may take some time. Click
  Decrypt the drive to continue and turn off BitLocker on the drive.
  

Once done, try to check if you're able to boot into Safe Mode successfully.

Keep us posted for any concerns with windows, we're glad to assist you.

 

[BitLocker] Encrypting without generating recovery key?

Edit: See later posts

I understand what you're saying. I am saying that disposing of the recovery key has the same effect as having just one PIN.

The actual encryption/decryption key is 128 bits. So a brute-force attack has a 1 in 2^128 chance of getting it correct.

The recovery key is also 128 bits and is unrelated to the encryption key. So a brute-force attack has a 1 in 2^128 chance of getting it correct.

So whether you attack the actual key or the recovery key, you have the same probability of success.

There's no way to skip generation of the recovery key but it is literally just a random number.

Edit: Sorry, I take that back. You can disable the recovery password in group policy.