My new Laptop has some C: space missing.

[Joy-M]

I recently got a new laptop advertised on amazon for 2T storage but when I opened it only had 475GB of storage. It is 100% BitLocker encrypted. The SSD is a WD green SN350 2T.

[Bill_To]

Greetings @Joy-M 

Welcome back to the Forum.

I don't use BitLocker because it is unneeded on my Desktop PCs. Many folks have been burned by BitLocker.

You should have backed up the 48 digit BitLocker recovery key. Sometimes a valid BitLocker recovery key fails.

It would be prudent to back up the important stuff on Disk0, while you are using Windows, to multiple external storage devices (data redundancy).

Don't use BitLocker if you don't need it.

What's happening in File Explorer?

Disk Management shows C: at 1860 GBs. You also have a 2.70 GB partition with no label. 

The 2.70 GB partition may be the HP Recovery Partition since it is not: Raw or Unallocated space.

Disk0 shows 476 GBs of the total available 1860 GBs are using BitLocker. Only used space is being encrypted.

You must have a lot of programs/files/data on Disk0.

The 2 TB drive should be okay if File Explorer reflects C: at 1860 GBs (File Explorer should agree with Disk Management).

And your last PowerShell image reflects a 2 TB drive.

Regards

[Joy-M]

File explorer only shows 475GB of total space (I have used some of it). 

[Bill_To]

Greetings @Joy-M 

Thanks for the image.

Well, that's a curve ball seeing (C:) at 475 GBs.

I don't use BitLocker. BitLocker may be truncating Disk0 capacity, only in File Explorer, to the size of the encrypted volume.

Again, BitLocker is also, coincidentally, encrypting only used space at 475 GBs on (C:). 

Do you need BitLocker?

BitLocker Negatives::

Any unintended changes/corruption to the UEFI TPM will cause reinstallation of the operating system from scratch. Or reimaging the system drive if the user does system backups.

However, UEFI TPM corruption may still cause BitLocker recovery key failure when using a backup system image.

There are cases where the correct BitLocker recovery key may fail to decrypt the drive. Even when the TPM is not corrupted.

All data on the encrypted system drive may be forever inaccessible to the owner of the data if the BitLocker recovery key fails..

A Microsoft Account associated device using BitLocker means Microsoft stores the BitLocker recovery key. This looks like a potential back door to me.

BitLocker Positives:

Data protection if the device is lost or stolen.

I can't think of anything else.

=============================================================

I suggest temporarily turning off BitLocker in Control Panel>Device Encryption. Restart the PC.

Then check File Explorer again.

You can then enable BitLocker if needed. Make sure to back up the new 48 digit BitLocker recovery key after enabling BitLocker.

Finally, the Windows Disk Management image and PowerShell image in your previous responses clearly show Disk0 is a 2 TB drive.

I think BitLocker is doing some weird stuff.

Your problem would be another reason to add to my list of reasons why I don't use BitLocker.

Regards

[Joy-M]

Hello

I cannot deactivate bitlocker in device encryption .

[Bill_To]

Greetings @Joy-M 

I don't know what's going on???

I have W11 Pro. I can configure BitLocker in Control Panel.

Try: Settings>Privacy & security to see if you can turn off BitLocker.

You can also terminate BitLocker and modify it's startup behavior in: Control Panel>Windows Tools>Services.

I have BitLocker off and set to "Manual Startup " in Services.

Important, don't shut down BitLocker in Services unless you have turned off BitLocker in Privacy & security.

Shutting down BitLocker in Services when it is active may cause you to subsequently lose access to the system drive at the next restart or cold boot. I haven't tried the Services option when BitLocker was enabled.

I modified BitLocker in Services when BitLocker was turned off because I've never used BitLocker.

One last question.

Are you storing 475 GBs of data on (C:)? If so, you might see drive capacity expand in File Explorer as you add more data to this drive. BitLocker is encrypting used space.

I can, sort of, understand drive (C:) at 475 GBs if you have 475 GBs of data on the drive.

I don't know how BitLocker affects drive capacity in Disk Management and File Explorer since I don't use BitLocker.

Your previous PowerShell images show a 2 TB capacity drive.

Regards