OS and bitlocker issue

[Junebug81662014]

Ok, I have a real doozie of a problem that I hope somebody can help me with.

So I found an hp elitebook while dumpster diving. It is in excellent shape, but had an issue with  bitlocker and no recovery key. (I don't care about or want any of the previous owners info off it, just want a good working laptop.) Anyway, I was told to just re-install windows 10, Which I have on a flash drive, but when I was opt'd to pick a drive....(literally, and this is no joke...just my crappy luck) my adorable puppy, who is a terror lol, ran onto the keyboard and I honestly have no clue how he/we did it, but now is saying I dont have an OS....was deleted I guess.

Basically, I have no idea where to even start now. I need to figure out how to get an OS back onto this thing and then still have to figure out how to bypass the bitlocker and in what order to do this. 

I used to be somewhat knowledgeable with computers years ago, but technology grew and I didnt bother to keep up. 

Any help would be so greatly appreciated...and step by step please for the "technologically impaired" here.

Thank you

[TheOldMan]

To verify the situation, run the Diagnostics routine.

To run the Diagnostics routine, Start tapping the Esc key BEFORE starting the PC and then press the start button.
Keep tapping the Esc key until a popup menu shows. Then pick Diagnostics from that popup menu, F2.
Report back with the results. Also need the PC model number.

Depending on the model number it may be covered by the HP Cloud Recovery Tool

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4511095-4511141-16

But if not, then use the Microsoft Media Creation tool to make a install media for Windows

Here is a guide on "How to"

https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-make-a-windows-10-bootable-usb-a-step-by-step-guide/

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @Junebug81662014 

You can't just reinstall W10 on a drive encrypted with BitLocker.

After you run the checks recommended, if everything passes, after you make the bootable W10 installation media and you get to the part when you are asked 'Where do you want to install Windows,' you have to clean the disk using the Diskpart utility or Windows will report that it can't install on the encrypted partition.

Here's how to do that:

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.