can't get past bitlocker password screen and laptop will not factory reset

[laura1717]

I was gifted a laptop for Christmas mostly for school/ streaming uses. After a couple of weeks, the bitlocker recovery screen came up and I dont have my recovery password. (I didn't even know it was a thing.) I've looked through a lot of other people's questions and I can't figure out how to get past this. I've tried factory reseting from the advanced options, but it says "your PC has a problem reseting". I tried to put in what Google said to put in the command prompt and it says that the command won't work. I have tried registering my PC to my Microsoft account but that also won't work. 

[BeemerBiker]

Bitlocker is a Microsoft feature and there was a problem with it and windows 11 a year ago.  They put out a fix and you might check with Microsoft.

For cases related to BitLocker issues, please contact Microsoft Support.

Help at HP is here hp pcs - using bitlocker and finding the recovery key (windows 11, 10)

[TheOldMan]

BitLocker is an encryption software from Microsoft that encrypts the hard drive to keep unauthorized users out.  If that shows up, then someone has enabled the software either on purpose or by mistake.  If you did not do it, then I know of no easy way to get past that.

Hoping that there is not important data on there, as it is locked out.  If Microsoft does not want to help, then replace the hard drive and start over with a new Windows install.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @laura1717 

You don't need to replace the drive.

You can clean install Windows on the existing drive, but you need to run the Diskpart utility to clean the disk when you get to the part of the installation where it asks, 'Where do you want to install Windows.'

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.

Unless you can retrieve your PCs Bitlocker recovery key, all data on the drive is encrypted and not recoverable.

But at least you wil be able to use your PC again.