I keep several external backup drives for all my stuff. The particular one in question is a 2T Seagate which I have been using for years. Yesterday, I:

--connected it to my desktop and was automatically ordered via popup prompt that I had to start using Bitlocker with it

--I was given the choice of encrypting just going forward or encrypting all existing backup files as well. I chose the latter. This took almost 24 hours.

--I also set a Bitlocker password for this device

Today, I:

--went to open the drive so I could now commence the backup that started this whole thing

--I input the Bitlocker password and it seems to have taken it

--When I go to file explorer, I can see the external drive (D) in the tree

--However, when I click on "My discs" (which I believe is where the backups live), it simply doesn't open. Basically, nothing happens.

I don't see any way to interact meaningfully with the disc so I can do the backup and/or view older ones.

Help!

TIA

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Posted by Dallaswho

Texas

Member since Dec 2023

2449 posts

Posted on 1/11/25 at 8:34 pm to Big Scrub TX

You set a password and not a recovery key? I think doing that is pretty advanced and takes some tinkering.
Did you update system firmware/bios, change hardware, or perhaps you’re logged into a different account? Those would require a recovery key.
If you haven’t messed with hardware or TPM and are logged into the same account, then encryption may have failed. It should take a few minutes (on an SSD at least) and not 24 hours.

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Posted by Big Scrub TX

Member since Dec 2013

36803 posts

Posted on 1/12/25 at 12:24 am to Dallaswho

quote:
You set a password and not a recovery key? I think doing that is pretty advanced and takes some tinkering.

I was given a recovery key also when I set the password. I have both in hand.

quote:
Did you update system firmware/bios, change hardware, or perhaps you’re logged into a different account? Those would require a recovery key.

No. It seems to accept the password. It's just that nothing happens after that.

quote:
If you haven’t messed with hardware or TPM and are logged into the same account, then encryption may have failed. It should take a few minutes (on an SSD at least) and not 24 hours.

I think the drive is like 8 years old - would that matter?

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Posted by Dallaswho

Texas

Member since Dec 2023

2449 posts

Posted on 1/12/25 at 7:54 am to Big Scrub TX

quote:
I think the drive is like 8 years old - would that matter?

Probably. I’d be patient. Connect the drive and give it some time to work. Sounds bad though.

Can maybe try chkdsk fix then bitlocker fix

chkdsk D: /f
repair-bde D: -rp “recovery key no quote”
See more repair parameters here, may need to specify output drive but don’t think so.
LINK

This post was edited on 1/12/25 at 3:20 pm

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Posted by Big Scrub TX

Member since Dec 2013

36803 posts

Posted on 1/12/25 at 12:05 pm to Dallaswho

Great, thank you.

quote:
Connect the drive and give it some time to work.

You mean enter the password and then just let it sit for a long time?

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Posted by Dallaswho

Texas

Member since Dec 2023

2449 posts

Posted on 1/12/25 at 1:26 pm to Big Scrub TX

quote:
You mean enter the password and then just let it sit for a long time?

That’s what I’d do before executing repair tools. Just a guess. Not knowledgeable on bitlocker or modern windows really but have dealt with some finicky drives.

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