Windows 10: Why are there encrypted files on my disk while BitLocker is turned off and have never been...

Hello,All of a sudden, a window titled "EFS UI Application" popped up asking me to back up my encryption keys. I googled a bit and it seems this is a legit applicaton but I am also 100% certain of the following facts:BitLocker is currently turned off on my system. BitLocker has never been turned on on my system.I don't have any encrypted files of my own.Nevertheless, I run the following command and found out that there are a dozen of encrypted files on my disk. cipher /u /n /hApparently, those are Microsoft's files. For example:C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Cardinal_8wekyb3d8bb

:)

 

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.

 

External USB HDD drive bitlocker encrypted without a key

Hello CatchyWater7200,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community. We're sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you.

I am aware that you're having trouble accessing your external USB disk drive that has been encrypted by BitLocker. I am here to help. Allow me to ask a question.

• Would you mind sharing what exactly the message shows when ask for the USB key?
  

Your drive appears to have been encrypted using BitLocker, a function that guards your data against illegal access. For access to the drive, BitLocker requires a password or recovery key. Since you don't have a BitLocker USB key, you can try using the BitLocker recovery key to unlock the drive. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Connect the external USB disk drive to your Surface Pro 6.
   
2. When prompted to enter the BitLocker key, click on "More options". Or you can enter "Esc" key or the Windows key to continue.
   
3. Click on "Enter recovery key".
   
4. Enter the BitLocker recovery key that you found on your Microsoft account.
   
5. Click on "Unlock".
   

If the above steps don't work, you can try disabling BitLocker on the external USB disk drive. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Connect the external USB disk drive to your Surface Pro 6.
   
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the external USB disk drive.
   
3. Click on "Manage BitLocker".
   
4. Click on "Turn off BitLocker".
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to disable BitLocker on the external USB disk drive.
   

Please note that disabling BitLocker will remove the encryption from the external USB disk drive and make it less secure. Therefore, it's recommended to re-enable BitLocker once you've accessed your files and photos.

Let me know how it goes.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

 

Both Device Encryption and Bitlocker on?? How to turn both off??

-- All here - thanks for your very fast responses to my post at top. I have done something a bit different, as suggested over at AskWoody, with very good results. (At Topic: Why is Bitlocker waiting for Activation? @ AskWoody.) First, I made a Macrium Reflect differential backup of one of the PCs -- the Precision 3660. Then, I went to Settings - Update & Security - Device Encryption at bottom left, and hit “Turn Off” in the right panel for the encryption. (<-- Corrected to Device Encryption in edit.) The machine took a bit of time to decrypt. and I rebooted. I now have very good results:

1. Update & Security no longer has Device Encryption (<-- corrected) on the left.
2. Control Panel – Bitlocker indicates that Bitlocker is OFF. It no longer says it is waiting for activation.
3. Our staffer’s files — in her User account on the PC — appear to be perfectly OK. As it turns out, they had been moved to OneDrive so I’m not 100% sure that all files actually on the PC are OK, but I don’t see any issues.
4. I have rebooted a few times and looked at Event Viewer, and so far everything seems OK.
5. Also, Paul Black's suggested "manage-bde -status" shows that Bitlocker is indeed off.

These good results make me think that Update & Security – Device Encryption (<-- corrected) is indeed the same as Bitlocker, or very highly linked. I think that maybe the WindowsClub article I cited above is wrong or incomplete. Any further thoughts? EDIT - Over at AskWoody, a commentator noted that my Update & Security - Device Encryption disappeared, and he was surprised. Should it NOT have disappeared? Have I lost something here?