Windows restore without bitlocker password
Discussion
I have been asked if I can reset a laptop to factory settings. I thought it would be easy - usually you just press and hold the SHIFT key while rebooting the machine which takes you into the diag screens from where you can restore, however this laptop is asking for a bitlocker recovery key. I don't have it but the data on the laptop is not important, so I am prepared (and wish) to restore to a "clean" Windows installation. I am hoping the bitlocker key is only important if you wish to retain or access the data already on the drive.
Is it possible or is this SSD locked permanently if I do not have the bitlocker recovery key?
TIA.
Is it possible or is this SSD locked permanently if I do not have the bitlocker recovery key?
TIA.
Further to this, the chap whose laptop this is does not know any of his passwords (declining health issues) including his Microsoft account key. The prompt on-screen requesting the bitlocker key says you can recover the key by going into your Microsoft account and typing-in a long code presented on-screen.
Yes, but you will probably need a windows image on usb drive to restore from.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
Alex Z said:
Yes, but you will probably need a windows image on usb drive to restore from.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
Oh, OK. Thanks. I had started to think a bitlockered drive was inaccessible without the key. https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
If I go down this route, I guess that I'll need to re-purchase Windows? I do not know the original key this laptop came with.
Thanks. I don't actually want to retain anything on the laptop - I want a clean installation. This is my uncle's machine. He's finding life a bit complicated these days. He set-up the laptop a while back without my involvement and can't remember any of his passwords. We thought he might find an iPad easier to use but he didn't like that so I'm trying to reset the machine to "factory" and I will keep a copy of all his accounts and passwords going-forward.
He doesn't know his Windows password or PIN, his googlemail password, and didn't even know he has a bitlocker key (that might have been applied by the factory I suppose).
The only thing I would have liked to have kept is the original Windows activation key but without being able to access Windows at all, I will have to buy a new one for him. I'm sure there are "deals" on eBay for these but if I have to pay full price then I'm OK with that.
He doesn't know his Windows password or PIN, his googlemail password, and didn't even know he has a bitlocker key (that might have been applied by the factory I suppose).
The only thing I would have liked to have kept is the original Windows activation key but without being able to access Windows at all, I will have to buy a new one for him. I'm sure there are "deals" on eBay for these but if I have to pay full price then I'm OK with that.
simon_harris said:
You won’t need to, it will be built into the laptop. What ever the brand of laptop is google for a factory reset process, I suspect you will need to interrupt the boot process with an F5 key press or similar. From there you should be able to do the re-install
Yes, done that - it all works fine until I get to a screen asking for a bitlocker password which I don't have and cannot get. There is no way around this other than rebuilding from a USB stick.^^^ Thanks.
So, as per these instructions:
I think this is bitlocker hiding the disk from me.
Is my next step to see if I can remove the SSD from the laptop and connect it via a USB interface to my own PC to remove partitions using disk manager?
So, as per these instructions:
Alex Z said:
Yes, but you will probably need a windows image on usb drive to restore from.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
... I booted from a Win11 USB media stick and went into diskpart and then list disk but it only shows me the USB key as a disk (disk 0 = 115GB) and not the drive that is installed in the laptop.https://www.partitionwizard.com/news/how-to-reset-...
I think this is bitlocker hiding the disk from me.
Is my next step to see if I can remove the SSD from the laptop and connect it via a USB interface to my own PC to remove partitions using disk manager?
Edited by Mars on Monday 28th October 23:11
simon_harris said:
What laptop is it?
ASUS X515EAIt looks decent enough - nice screen.
Sheepshanks said:
Is he getting email on his iPad? Might it be possible to reset the password for his Microsoft account to see the bitlocker key?
No, when he forgot all his useful info on his laptop, my mother bought him an iPad thinking it'd be easier for him to use but he couldn't remember any of his old passwords, so setup new accounts on the iPad. Nothing relevant to the laptop is on the iPad.I've tried to access his Microsoft account by claiming the backup email address is mine, and then going through a questionnaire on-line which I "failed". They wanted any old passwords he'd used which he doesn't remember. There's no getting-in that way either.
It's frustrating. My next plan is to remove the SSD and try
1. Killing the partition using a USB connector slaved to my PC, and/or
2. Installing a different SSD (if I have a compatible one somewhere). See if the bitlocker hardware on the mobo will allow this
Edited by Mars on Monday 28th October 23:22
If you successfully booted from the official Windows Media Creation tool on a usb stick you don’t need to use any cmd prompts.
I use this method 4 or 5 times a week when laptops come back to me from leavers who’s devices need wiping and reinstalling.
https://youtu.be/R7VLs8FwD2M?si=0ZmEH7If70xG77iH
I use this method 4 or 5 times a week when laptops come back to me from leavers who’s devices need wiping and reinstalling.
https://youtu.be/R7VLs8FwD2M?si=0ZmEH7If70xG77iH
DirktheDaring said:
If you successfully booted from the official Windows Media Creation tool on a usb stick you don’t need to use any cmd prompts.
I use this method 4 or 5 times a week when laptops come back to me from leavers who’s devices need wiping and reinstalling.
https://youtu.be/R7VLs8FwD2M?si=0ZmEH7If70xG77iH
Went booting off the USB stick, I cannot see the internal disk to install Windows onto. It's all because of this bitlocker, I'm sure. I use this method 4 or 5 times a week when laptops come back to me from leavers who’s devices need wiping and reinstalling.
https://youtu.be/R7VLs8FwD2M?si=0ZmEH7If70xG77iH
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