Bitlocker solution

[faizanvayani]

Hey community, I need some help.

My system is locked by BitLocker, and unfortunately, I don’t have the BitLocker recovery key. I’ve been told that the only solution is to reinstall Windows.

However, when I try to install Windows 11 using a bootable external SSD, the installation process doesn’t show my internal drive as an option—it only displays the external SSD.

Has anyone encountered this issue or knows how to fix it? I’d appreciate any guidance. Thanks in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, no one can help you with that.

See this link for how to recover the BitLocker key:

Find your BitLocker recovery key - Microsoft Support

If you can't find the key, your only option would be to reinstall Windows on the encrypted drive.

The data currently on the drive cannot be recovered without the BitLocker key.

[faizanvayani]

Thanks for your response!

I understand that the data can’t be recovered without the BitLocker key, and I’m okay with losing the data on this system. I’m still trying to reinstall Windows on the locked internal drive to remove BitLocker, but the issue is that the internal drive doesn't show up as an option during the Windows installation.

Only the external SSD (which I'm using to boot the installer) is visible. I’d appreciate any guidance on how to get the internal drive to appear so I can proceed with the installation.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

OK, so you were already on your way to fixing the problem by reinstalling Windows.

PC's with the Intel 11th > 13th gen core processors need to have the Intel storage controller drivers installed in order for Windows to find the drive.

I have zipped up and attached below, the Intel storage controller drivers needed for Windows to find the drive.

The file is good for any PC with an Intel 11th > 13th gen core processor.

Unzip and copy all of the files in the folder in the attachment to a USB flash drive.

Have the flash drive and your Windows installation media plugged into USB ports.

Boot from the Windows installation flash drive.

When you get to the screen where no drives can be found, click on the Load driver option, browse to the flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

If Windows still can't find the drive, uncheck the box to include the compatible driver and try any of the ones listed.

Click Next, and Windows should install.

[faizanvayani]

Thanks a lot for the detailed instructions and the driver files!

I followed your steps and successfully installed the drivers; now the internal drive is finally showing up during the Windows installation.

However, I’m still running into an issue. I get the error message:
“Windows 11 can’t be installed on this disk: BitLocker Drive Encryption.”

Just to add, when I created the bootable external drive using Rufus, I also checked the option to remove BitLocker. But it seems the encryption is still active on the internal drive.

Any ideas on how I can proceed from here?

Thanks again for your help!

[faizanvayani]

Hey, good news!

I selected the internal drive and deleted the primary partition, and now it’s allowing me to install the new Windows on it. Hopefully, this will also remove BitLocker.

Thanks again for your support!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Instead of what you did, I would have recommended that you run the diskpart utility to clean the disk when you were at the screen where you got the message 'Windows 11 can’t be installed on this disk: BitLocker Drive Encryption.

That would have removed all of the partitions from the drive and left a raw drive.

The next time you run into a situation like that, here's how to use the diskpart utility to clean the disk:

1. Press Shift+F10 from inside Windows Setup screen to open a command prompt window.
2. Type diskpart and press the Enter key.
3. Type list disk to find your disk number.
4. Type select disk (e.g., select disk0) to choose the disk you want to format.
5. Finally, type clean to wipe the disk completely.
6. Exit diskpart and install Windows.

[faizanvayani]

Thanks. Again, brother, If I face this problem again, I will try to do it from your method. THanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

I could never figure out why Bitlocker encrypts drives in W11 Home.

It is my understanding that Bitlocker was only supported in W11 Pro.

It's super easy to turn off Bitlocker in W11 Pro, but in W11 Home it is not so easy.

See if the guidance this person from Microsoft provided works for you to turn off Bitlocker so you don't get any more unpleasant surprises.

Deactivating Bitlocker on Windows 11 Home - Microsoft Community