Windows 10: Recovery Drive - TPM?

I am in the process of installing a new HDD driive and I used a Recovery Drive to back up my info and transfer the OS. When the info was xferred I was asked about TPM. This is the first I have heard of TPM. I selected NO but want to know if that was the right decision please,

:)

 

TPM update

Don't know if this is the right place for this thread but whatever, laptop informed me that " a firmware update is needed for you security processor (TPM)," now, i looked up what to do and from a microsoft support thing, the last step says to clear the tpm. it has a warning saying to back up my data, i would like to know what clearing the tpm does, and what measures i need to take to make sure nothing goes wrong.

 

Need help on whether to clear TPM on not

Sounds like it was using the tpm to encrypt the main drive. Certainly not the norm. Also, the fact that you could not log in suggests the computer may be illegally repackaged or stolen.

Where did you buy this?

 

Secure Boot and TPM (what does it do to the system drive)

BitLocker encryption

Once the user enables BitLocker on a disk volume, Windows generates a random volume master key (VMK) as well as a recovery key. The master key is then stored in the TPM module; it is also encrypted with the recovery key. The encrypted VMK is then saved in the disk header. Once the computer is rebooted, the following happens:

1. All PCR registers are zeroed out.
2. The system follows steps 1 through 4 described earlier.
3. The OS kernel attempts unlocking the encrypted volume and requests the VMK from the TPM module. The TPM module in turn analyzes the chain of trust by checking PCR registers. If the chain of trust is corrupted, the VMK is not released; the OS kernel than displays a message requesting the user to unlock the volume with a Recovery Key.

As you can see, if the computer is powered off, the only way to obtain the VMK is by launching the original OS in its original configuration. Altering a single component will trigger the prompt for Recovery Key.

Understanding BitLocker TPM Protection | ElcomSoft blog