Windows 10: unable to access external drive with bitlocker

I have an external drive with bitlocker installed. I know the password and I have the encryption key. When I connect the drive to my computer that is running Windows 10 Pro, I am queried to enter my password for the external drive. However, after entering my password, the drive spins but it never unlocks...the drive just keeps running and it affects various computer functions. When it apparently times out and I can click on the drive once more in Windows Explorer, its starts the effort over to access the drive and takes another 10-15 minutes until it times out again.


Thank you for whatever advice you can provide.

:)

 

Unable to access Bitlocker encrypted External drive

I read the articles. Yet, I am still confused on what to do. I did not see where it tells me how to unlock my external drive with the pass key I have. Can some one give step by step? I am sure I'm not the first to have a external drive with bitlocker on
and try to unlock on a new computer.

Thank you

 

File back up to bitlockered external drive

Thanks John.

By trial and error the solution is,

• Set the file back up to the desired external USB drive, Back up using file history.
• Run backup to completion.
• Dismount, (Remove) the drive used.
• Remount (Plug in) the drive used for the file back up (Steps 1&2) and encrypt using Bitlocker.

Note you can only encrypt drives using some versions of Windows (Pro for eg not Home)

• Once the external drive has been encrypted dismount.
• Remount the drive, go to the file back up option, Open, Settings, Backup,
  Back up using file history.
• The drive should now still be visible and has been encrypted.
• Accessing the drive will be dependant on how it was set up in Bitlocker,
  Open with this PC, password, pin code etc.
• Repeat file back up as in the first two steps.

Hope this helps someone else.

 

Remove BitLocker for external drive

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



We understand that you want to disable BitLocker for the external hard drive. However, we would like to know if you are able to access data from the external hard drive.



In the meantime, you may refer the steps mentioned below to disable BitLocker:

1. Type Command Prompt in the search bar on the
   Taskbar.
   
2. Right click on the Command Prompt icon and select
   Run as administrator.
   
3. Type manage-bde –off X: and hit
   Enter. (Replace X with the drive letter of the external hard drive)
   

Meanwhile, you may also post your query in
TechNet forums, where we have support professionals who are well equipped with the knowledge on BitLocker to address your query.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator