I can't log into locked ssd.

[LAPIII1]

HP repair had replaced my old laptop with this one and I had requested that SSD back because I didn't have a chance to back up. I had installed that SSD into my laptop.  I got a BitLocker recovery screen and I couldn't type anything into it even though I made sure that the keyboard layout was US.

What I want to do is get my local repair place to transfer the data from the SSD to another storage medium. So that I can connect it to this laptop via external enclosure and log into it that way.  What do you think and do you have any suggestions?

[zoey7886 · Accepted solution]

@LAPIII1, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your locked SSD! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

Since you’re seeing the BitLocker recovery screen, it means the SSD was encrypted—likely by Windows before the laptop swap. The reason you can’t type anything into the recovery field might be due to the system not fully recognizing the SSD in this new setup.

Your idea of taking it to a local repair shop for data transfer is a solid one. If they can clone or extract the data onto another storage medium (like an external drive), you can try accessing your files from your new laptop using an external enclosure. However, keep in mind that if the data is still encrypted with BitLocker, you’ll need the recovery key to unlock it.

Here are a few things you might want to try first:

Check for Your BitLocker Recovery Key:

• If your old laptop was linked to a Microsoft account, the recovery key might be stored there. You can check by logging into Microsoft’s recovery key page.
• If the laptop was managed by an organization (work or school), IT might have the key.
• Sometimes, it’s saved in a text file or written down somewhere if you had manually backed it up.

Try Accessing the Data on Another PC:

• If you have another Windows PC, you can connect the SSD via an external enclosure and see if it prompts for the BitLocker key there.  

Let me know if you need more help!

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards,