How to overcome a Bitlocker notification on blue screen when I don't have a BitLocker key?

[Butch692]

I have a "PIN not available problem" on Windows 11 Home Version 2009, 10.0.26100.6899 System type, HP Slim Desktop S01-pF2xxx - I tried to resolve it by using Shift/Restart to get to Troubleshoot, but coulnd't go any further as the mouse was switched off and the arrow keys didn't work -  tried numerous times and now the original blue "PIN not available" screen has been replaced by a screen asking for a BitLocker recovery key, which I don't have

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Without having the Bitlocker key your only option would be to reinstall Windows on the encrypted drive.

All data on the drive cannot be recovered without the Bitlocker key.

If your PC is supported by the HP cloud recovery tool, I recommend that you use that utility on another PC to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reset the drive to its 'out of the box' condition.

Here is an info link for how to use the cloud recovery tool:

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support

[Butch692]

Many thanks, Paul - do you have any idea how the the "PIN not available" problem may have come about? It happened a couple of weeks ago and I seem to remember that it occurred just after I got one of those unsolicited Windows updates - the first ever, as I've only had the PC for two months - I tried numerous times to overcome it by using the steps recommened on a few YouTube videos - holding Shift and clicking on Restart but I couldn't access Troubleshhot because the mouse switched off and the arrow keys didn't work - I presume that the BitLocker screen followed on from too many attempts at this process....

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, I don't know how that error may have come about.

I set up all of my PCs using a local account and just a password to log on to them.

How or why the Bitlocker thing happens, I don't know how that happens either.

I happened to me once but fortunately, I had exported the key to my Microsoft account when I first set up the PC.

Then I set up a local account on my PC, deleted the Microsoft user account and turned Bitlocker off in Windows so that would not happen again.

Periodically, I check to make sure the drive doesn't have that lock icon on it because about a year after I turned off Bitlocker, it magically enabled itself again, so I had to turn it off again.

I hasn't happened again after a few years of use. 

Still I check...