Restore Windows 10 on BitLocker Locked Drive

BitLocker is a built-in feature in Windows 10 that provides encryption for your data to protect it from unauthorized access. However, there might be instances where you need to restore Windows 10 on a BitLocker locked drive. In this article, we will guide you through the process of restoring Windows 10 on a BitLocker locked drive, step by step.

Before You Begin

Before you proceed with the restoration process, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• Restoring Windows 10 on a BitLocker locked drive will remove all your data, so it's important to have a backup of your important files.
• You will need a Windows 10 installation media (USB or DVD) to perform the restoration process.
• Make sure you have the BitLocker recovery key handy. This key is required to unlock the BitLocker encrypted drive during the restoration process.

Restoring Windows 10 on a BitLocker Locked Drive

Follow the step-by-step process below to restore Windows 10 on a BitLocker locked drive:

1. Insert the Windows 10 installation media (USB or DVD) into your computer and restart it.
2. When the computer starts, press the appropriate key (usually F12 or Esc) to access the boot menu.
3. Select the option to boot from the Windows 10 installation media.
4. On the Windows Setup screen, select your language preferences and click "Next".
5. Click on "Install now" to begin the installation process.
6. Accept the license terms and click "Next".
7. On the next screen, click on "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)".
8. You will now see a list of available drives. Select the drive that is locked with BitLocker and click on "Delete". This will remove all the partitions on the drive.
9. Click on "New" to create a new partition on the drive.
10. Specify the size for the new partition and click "Apply".
11. After creating the partition, select it and click "Next" to continue with the installation process.
12. Windows 10 will now be installed on the BitLocker locked drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
13. Once the installation is complete, your computer will restart.
14. During the restart, you will be prompted to enter the BitLocker recovery key to unlock the drive.
15. Enter the recovery key and press "Enter" to unlock the BitLocker encrypted drive.
16. After unlocking the drive, Windows 10 will continue with the setup process.
17. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up Windows 10, including creating a user account and choosing your preferences.
18. Once the setup is complete, you will have a fresh installation of Windows 10 on the BitLocker locked drive.

Conclusion

Restoring Windows 10 on a BitLocker locked drive can be a straightforward process if you follow the steps outlined in this article. Just make sure you have a backup of your important files and the BitLocker recovery key handy. If you encounter any issues during the restoration process, it's recommended to seek assistance from a professional or contact Microsoft support for further help.

References

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