Windows 10: February 2025 update encrypted my SSD on a local only account, no recovery keys

The Feb update somehow enabled Bitlocker, and when my system locked up after it completed, all I could do was force a power off. When it restarted, the only option I had was Windows Recovery. I could not reverse the latest update because my drive was suddenly locked with Bitlocker and asking for a key to do it. I never enabled Bitlocker, I purchased my system in late '22, and was using a local account, only. After hours and hours of trying to bypass this, with support, the only option was to reset my PC to factory defaults, but I still couldn't even do that without a key. Now, I am running Fed

:)

 

Windows 10 Device Encryption - You need a Microsoft Account to finish encrypting this device

'You need a Microsoft Account to finish encrypting this device'

If you never finish off setting a Microsoft Account, the drive is still encrypted without the user knowing. How does one access the encrypted drive then? Or is this data lost forever if the laptop dies if you don't setup a Microsoft Account to finish encrypting the device?

Is the clear key encrypted even when the laptop is in this state ''You need a Microsoft Account to finish encrypting this device'? If not encrypted, how can you see what the recovery key is?

If you don't finish setting up a Microsoft Account, the drive is still partially encrypted without the user knowing. This is very alarming as Windows doesn't provide any alerts that C: drive is encrypted.

 

Local account installation question

I'm fairly certain that Skip this step was available in 10.0.130 - the workaround in Step 20 (back button) is no longer required.

The currently known, as of 10.0.130, ways to create a Local account sign-in are

• Skip this step at the MS account creation phase
• No Internet connection during the install
• static IP (post# 2 by Fragment) - New (to me anyway)

 

Windows 11 Device encryption with local account

My questions revolves around what happens with Device Encryption on a Windows 11 Home PC with a local user account (no Microsoft account). This article https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/w...ng-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/ states that "If a device uses only local accounts, then it remains unprotected even though the data is encrypted." So,

• What do they mean by it remains unprotected? That statement is very nebulous.
  
• I have personally worked on PCs with a local user account and Windows 11 does indeed encrypt the drive. What is the best way to turn off this Device Encryption using a command prompt? I ask because I have a script that I run on all new Windows 11 Home PCs I send out to my customers and I want Device Encryption turned off. If there is a straight forward command, that's great. If I have to set a registry key, that's great. Just remember, this needs to be able to be set via a command prompt.
  
• Out of curiosity, are there other reasons that a TPM key is required for Windows 11 security other than Device Encryption?
  

Thank you.