Windows 10: Restore Windows 10 Home to factory settings - can't disable Bitlocker

Hi

I have Windows 10 Home version and really would like to restore the PC to factory settings. The problem is that when I try to reset the PC it gives me the following message: “Bitlocker must be disabled to proceed. You can enable Bitlocker after this process is complete. Do you wish to continue?”. This is the first time I have come across Bitlocker and I understand that Windows 10 Home does not have Bitlocker. This has meant that I haven't been successful in trying to locate where the bitlocker function is. So if I type into the search bar near the start key 'bitlocker' or 'manage bitlocker' , nothing appears for me to try to disable. Similarly if I right click on the drive (I only have 'c' drive) there is no bitlocker option.
I thought I had success when I went to control panel – administrative tools – services, because I was surprised to see a file called BitLocker Drive Encryption which I changed from manual to disable.

There seems to be something somewhere on the PC to do with the bitlocker that is stopping me at the last hurdle from resetting the PC. Could you tell me where I am going wrong please? Your help would be really appreciated.

Thank you

:)

 

Restore Windows 10 Home to factory settings - can't disable Bitlocker

Hi

I have Windows 10 Home version and really would like to restore the PC to factory settings. The problem is that when I try to reset the PC it gives me the following message: “Bitlocker must be disabled to proceed. You can enable Bitlocker after this process is complete. Do you wish to continue?”. This is the first time I have come across Bitlocker and I understand that Windows 10 Home does not have Bitlocker. This has meant that I haven't been successful in trying to locate where the bitlocker function is. So if I type into the search bar near the start key 'bitlocker' or 'manage bitlocker' , nothing appears for me to try to disable. Similarly if I right click on the drive (I only have 'c' drive) there is no bitlocker option.
I thought I had success when I went to control panel – administrative tools – services, because I was surprised to see a file called BitLocker Drive Encryption which I changed from manual to disable.

There seems to be something somewhere on the PC to do with the bitlocker that is stopping me at the last hurdle from resetting the PC. Could you tell me where I am going wrong please? Your help would be really appreciated.

Thank you

 

Restore Windows 10 Home to factory settings - can't disable Bitlocker

Hi @GratefulPerson,

What is the exact Model of your DELL PC?

To check whether it meets the prerequisites for Device Encryption, please type System Information in the search field, next to the START button, and click on Run as Administrator as shown in the screenshot below.









If your system meets the prerequisites, I would also advise you to turn on the Bitlocker Service (which you turned off) to Manual and make it running. Restore it to the right condition before following any advice given here by the experts.

I would also like to state if your system meets the prerequsites for Device Encryption, unless you log in with your Microsoft Account, Device Encryption is not activated. Means if you use a local account your system will not get automatically encrypted.
(My DELL system is Device Encryption enabled. During the initial setup I logged in with my Microsoft account and my disk got encrypted automatically. Under this condition, you can see Device Encryption in Settings> Update & Security) where you can turn it off or on and save the Recovery Key/s to a file.)

See my post #3 here Device Encryption for Dell windows 10

 

Restore Windows 10 Home to factory settings - can't disable Bitlocker




Thanks all, I really appreciate your time in helping me solve the problem

Pejole2165 - I've added the screenshot of the disk management screen (well, hopefully it's been saved - I couldn't be sure when I uploaded it. I tried uploading 2 attachments, this and the Bitlocker screenshot but it seems only one has been saved to my reply). I have a virus because I have pop up scam notifications that arrive from the right hand of the screen and are of the size of a credit card. I can click on them to go away but of course they return.
I've right clicked the C:\ drive in My Computer and unfortunately there isn't an option to enable/disable BitLocker.
The message to disable Bitlocker is shown at the point that the PC would wave me through to resetting the PC to factory settings. The message acts as a gatekeeper which I can't get past so it sends me back to undo changes.
Apologies because I took a picture of that screen a couple of days ago which doesn't have great resolution (again hopefully it's saved to this reply).
I tried to right click next to 'Elevation Required to View' which is next to 'Device Encryption Support' (under
System Summary in System Information) but no options appear when I right click

Samuria and Caledon Ken - thanks for your insight and a clean installation would be an answer. To create a USB flash drive to store the Windows 10 update do you know what space requirement I would need on the USB to accommodate the Windows 10 programme download?

Thanks again