How To Rescue Bitlocker Encrypted Drive With Identifier Code?

[Muhlis]

Hi,

 

I have a friend. He has a disk on his computer which has BitLocker encryption. Previously, he somewhat cloned the disk into his backup drive before he formats his computer. The issue is, now he can't access the files that are BitLocker encrypted.

 

He says there is nothing on the BitLocker recovery page on Microsoft's website. Seems like the BitLocker key is just not saved (or deleted) or he didn't sign in when the disk is being encrypted.

 

He has the disk's identifier code fortunately but how can he use the identifier code to find the BitLocker recovery code? Any helps will be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[Skiiwee29]

<-- Moved to Windows -->

[WereCatf]

2 minutes ago, Muhlis said:

He has the disk's identifier code fortunately but how can he use the identifier code to find the BitLocker recovery code?

Pretty certain that's not possible.

[Analog]

4 minutes ago, Muhlis said:

Hi,

 

I have a friend. He has a disk on his computer which has BitLocker encryption. Previously, he somewhat cloned the disk into his backup drive before he formats his computer. The issue is, now he can't access the files that are BitLocker encrypted.

 

He says there is nothing on the BitLocker recovery page on Microsoft's website. Seems like the BitLocker key is just not saved (or deleted) or he didn't sign in when the disk is being encrypted.

 

He has the disk's identifier code fortunately but how can he use the identifier code to find the BitLocker recovery code? Any helps will be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

If you don't know the Bitlocker code, there is no getting the encryption removed. Even if you call up Microsoft they are not going to help you to get the drive decrypted. The only way to "decrypt" the drive is to format / delete existing partition, but you will loose all of the data that is inside. 

[Kilrah]

Recovery key might be linked to MS account depending on how the encryption was configured:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-10-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

 

If it's not and the key wasn't saved when activating bitlocker he's out of luck.

[Muhlis]

7 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

Recovery key might be linked to MS account depending on how the encryption was configured:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-10-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

 

If it's not and the key wasn't saved when activating bitlocker he's out of luck.

He tells me he has the recovery key and identifier code. But he saved them on a text document, on the encrypted drive. The name of the file was the identifier code, so he only knows the identifier code. He can't open the file obviously because it's encrypted. I feel sorry for him

[DarkEnergy]

2 minutes ago, Muhlis said:

He tells me he has the recovery key and identifier code. But he saved them on a text document, on the encrypted drive. The name of the file was the identifier code, so he only knows the identifier code. He can't open the file obviously because it's encrypted. I feel sorry for him

I'm pretty sure the instructions when setting up bitlocker specify to NOT store the recovery key on the same drive that's being encrypted. He's out of luck for not being very smart.

[Kilrah]

Yes, it doesn't even let you do so for obvious reasons, so you have to jump through hoops to store it on same drive (save it on another drive, then move it back onto the drive you shouldn't store it on).