Windows 10: My laptop's hard drive was encrypted with Bitlocker without me enabling it and now I need a...

I have an HP Elitebook 840 G1. It runs windows 10 on a 500gb hard drive. Today I turned it on to be greeted with a bitlocker screen telling me I need to put in a key because of a system change. I have no memory of ever enabling bitlocker and have never changed any settings in the past week or so. My Microsoft account has no bitlocker keys connected to it. What do I do or how would I get the files off it?

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:)

 

BitLocker Encrypted Hard Drive to MAC

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.



I suggest you to perform below mentioned steps to disable BitLocker.

To disable BitLocker I would suggest you try the following steps and see if it helps.

• 
  Press Windows key + X and click on
  Control Panel.
  
• 
  Change View by from Category
  to Large Icons/Small Icons.
  
• 
  Click on BitLocker Drive Encryption and click on
  Turn BitLocker Off.
  
• 
  Follow on screen instructions. Click on Decrypt the Drive
  when the message appears.
  

I would suggest you click on the link below and refer the following article.

Scenario 12: Turning Off BitLocker Drive Encryption (Windows 7)

Scenario 12: Turning Off BitLocker Drive Encryption (Windows 7)

(You can refer the steps in the above link as they are applicable for Windows 10 as well)



Check if it helps.



I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

 

Bitlocker Drive Encryption(Not Responding) at 84.5%

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

We understand your concern, as you are trying to encrypt the complete hard drive with BitLocker Drive Encryption and now it’s not responding as well.



We would suggest you to refer this
BitLocker: Use BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools to manage BitLocker article and check manage-bde section, if that helps to make the changes.



However, for further queries we would suggest you to post your query in

TechNet forums, where we have experts and support professionals who are well equipped with the knowledge on BitLocker to assist you with the appropriate troubleshooting steps.



Aditya Roy

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

What does BitLocker encrypt?

Usually when you use Bitlocker you have TPM (Trusted Platform Module) enabled in your BIOS. In effect, the TPM provides Bitlocker with the encryption key (as long as TPM detects that nothing in the bootloader or hardware has changed). So, when you turn on your PC, the TPM module will provide the bitlocker encryption key, which will then be used to decrypt your hard drive.

Here is an example.

• You go to lunch at Taco Bell, and you leave your computer sitting at the table and walk out.
• Somebody else walks in, sees the laptop sitting there, and turn's it on.
• The computer boots, sees nothing nefarious has happened with the bootloader and it will decrypt the hard drive.
• The person manages to guess your windows password and they are logged in and can see all of your data.
• Encryption here got you ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, as your Windows password was weak.

Example #2

• You go to lunch at Taco Bell, and you leave your computer sitting at the table and walk out.
• Somebody else walks in, sees the laptop sitting there, and turn's it on.
• The computer boots, sees nothing nefarious has happened with the bootloader and it will decrypt the hard drive.
• Your Windows passsword is too hard and the end user gives up guessing it
• The person takes your laptop home, takes it apart, takes out your hard drive and then connects it with a cable to their home coputer
• The hard drive is encrypted, and Windows can do nothing with it, unless you can provide the 48bit bitlocker recovery key. Without that key, the drive stays encrypted and your files are safe.
• Bitlocker here prevented your drive from being used in another computer to gain access.

So, I'm sitting here at work and my laptop has Bitlocker enabled. I am booted up, and I am logged in. If I get up, and walk away from my PC, anybody can walk up and see any of my files, copy them anywhere, and bitlocker does absolutely nothing to stop them because it "unlocked the drive" when the computer turned on. It's now in a decrypted state.

Lo