Automatic Repair: Unable to repair your PC Choose "Advanced options" to try other

[asifismail]

Automatic Repair

Automatic Repair: Unable to repair your PC

Choose "Advanced options" to try other ways to repair your PC, or "Shut down" to turn off your PC.

Log file:

F:\Recovery\WindowsRE\Winre.wim\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt

Additionally, the system is requesting a BitLocker recovery key to unlock the drive.

I never personally activated BitLocker encryption on this device, so I do not have the key.

When I tried to access the recovery key from my Microsoft account, the account was blocked due to multiple incorrect password attempts. Therefore, I currently cannot retrieve the BitLocker key through Microsoft either.

My main concern:

If I never enabled BitLocker encryption myself, why is the system asking for a BitLocker rec

 

overy key now?

[Bill_To]

Greetings @asifismail 

Welcome to the HP Forum.

I don't use BitLocker.

Windows will silently do Device Encryption (BitLocker Lite) on new Windows PCs using W11 Home when a Microsoft account is created during the OOBE.

Yes, most users are unaware this is happening.

You need access to your Microsoft account so you can, hopefully, retrieve the BitLocker recovery key.

If the BitLocker recovery key is not accessible using your Microsoft account, or the correct recovery key fails to unlock the system drive, you will lose all data on the system drive.

You will have to reinstall Windows.

Regards

[asifismail]

Thank you for your reply.

However, I must express that this situation is extremely disappointing and unacceptable.

BitLocker encryption was enabled silently by Windows during setup without my knowledge or consent. I was never informed that encryption was activated or that a recovery key would be required in the future.

Now, when I attempt to access my Microsoft account to retrieve the recovery key, Microsoft has blocked my account and requires verification of an old Italian phone number which is no longer active. Therefore, I am currently unable to retrieve the BitLocker recovery key.

This means that my own data is now completely inaccessible through no fault of mine.

Losing all personal data stored on the system drive is not an acceptable solution.

I request that HP provide a real resolution or direct assistance to unlock the drive or recover the BitLocker key. As the device manufacturer, HP should have a way to support customers in such locked-out situations.

I kindly ask you to escalate this issue to a higher support level or a dedicated data recovery / BitLocker specialist within HP.

I look forward to your urgent response and a practical solution.

Regards,

Asif Solanki

[Bill_To]

Greetings @asifismail 

My pleasure.

Opinions or troubleshooting suggestions in this response are provided independently. I am not employed by: HP, Inc. or the HP Forum.

The unfortunate situation you find yourself in is one of many reasons why I don't use BitLocker.

Your BitLocker recovery key problem cannot be resolved by HP. Only you and Microsoft would have the recovery key.

One other reason why I don't use BitLocker relates to TPM problems. A valid recovery key may not work if the TPM gets corrupted. And you must disable BitLocker prior to doing a BIOS update.

Your one and only option to gain access to the data on the encrypted system drive is to get the BitLocker recovery key, if Microsoft backed up the recovery key to your Microsoft account, from your Microsoft account.

Regards