Bitlocker Activated

[Mrmurillo]

I am having trouble understanding the issue of why bitlocker was activated on the laptop that I have. I am running a windows 10 Home Edition on the laptop HP Spectre x360 Laptop. After speaking with microsoft support team they referred me to HP for some help. Windows 10 Home Edition does not have bitlocker settings but this laptop does. I need to know if this bitlocker key is stored on an account with HP or where I can find this code. 

The issue really resides with who has this key? When setting up my computer I created an account with microsoft and it was not saved on the account. So how can I find this key that I was never given at time of purchase. Can I send in my computer to HP to recover the key from the motherboard? I need to obtain some crucial files from the hard drive. 

[tk_srq · Accepted solution]

@Mrmurillo,

See this HP article that states that even Windows10 Home laptops are capable for Bitlocker encryption if they come with Modern Standby (S0), which is an advanced type of power configuration mode. 

HP PCs - BitLocker encryption is enabled by default (Windows 10) | HP® Support

The above article is in the Security and Viruses section of your model's support home page. Click the link below then click on "Protective Measures (20)."

HP Spectre x360 Laptop - 15-eb0053dx - Security and Viruses | HP® Support

Evidently some of high-end HP Windows10 Home laptops like yours come with TPM 2.0 and Moden Standby, and when you sign in with Microsoft account during the initial setup, the drive is automatically encrypted without your knowledge.

Normally when the drive encryption is enabled, a Bitlocker recovery key is stored in MS account. Are you sure you didn't see a key in your MS account? You can try this:

See this Microsoft document that states you can use another PC or smartphone to access your MS account for a BitLocker key.

Finding your BitLocker recovery key in Windows - Microsoft Support

This article provides detailed instructions for a recovery key.

How to Find a BitLocker Key and Recover Files from Encrypted Drives | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.c...

[Mrmurillo]

@Tk_srq,

Thank you for your response. It has been a while since I have been online here. Your answer did spark doubt in my mind about the key being on an account. I tried every account that I know I have created. I never would have thought that it was on my school account. I do not remember at initial setup using that account. I might have put it in a mail account on the computer but not to initial the actual laptop. I called my university and they were able to give me the bitlocker key. I was a little confused but happy that I was able to get back on my drive.

Thank you for introducing doubt into my mind and giving me another go on emails. It just find it odd that it saved in on the school account. 

Or maybe it is my memory not working as well as it has before. Maybe I did use my school account for some reason. In any case, problem is fixed. Thank you! 

[tk_srq]

I'm glad to hear that you got a recovery key from school. You did exactly what the MS document posted in my post says you can do. 

"In a work or school account: If your device was ever signed into an organization using a work or school email account, your recovery key may be stored in that organization's [content removed]. You may be able to access it directly or you may need to contact the IT support for that organization to access your recovery key."

Again, I'm glad that your laptop is working again.