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Windows 10 Laptop Locked w/ Bitlocker - Don't know password
Posted on 3/28/22 at 8:34 am
Posted on 3/28/22 at 8:34 am
I have a laptop that I'm wanting to use but I don't know the pw to unlock it. When I try to do a factory reset and delete everything, it asks for the bitlocker code, which I also don't have. Can I buy a new hard drive and a copy of windows 10 to boot from usb and be able to use the laptop again?
P.S. it's not stolen, it belonged to a family member that passed away and none of us have been able to figure out his pw.
P.S. it's not stolen, it belonged to a family member that passed away and none of us have been able to figure out his pw.
6
Posted on 3/28/22 at 8:49 am to Slim Chance
You don't need to buy another copy of Windows 10 or a new drive. If the laptop already has Windows 10, you can download another copy free and legally here.
However, I don't think the Windows installer will let you wipe the Bitlocker-locked drive. You'll probably have to use a Linux-based liveCD like GParted Live to boot into and wipe everything off the drive first. Then use the Windows 10 installer above to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.
However, I don't think the Windows installer will let you wipe the Bitlocker-locked drive. You'll probably have to use a Linux-based liveCD like GParted Live to boot into and wipe everything off the drive first. Then use the Windows 10 installer above to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.
This post was edited on 3/28/22 at 8:50 am
Posted on 3/28/22 at 11:39 am to efrad
quote:I did this once in a similar situation. there are many pages online of people explaining how to do it. but know that it does work.
You'll probably have to use a Linux-based liveCD like GParted Live to boot into and wipe everything off the drive first. Then use the Windows 10 installer above to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.
there are several builds of Windows 10 and I had to use the specific build that this laptop had prior. the windows build of my previous laptop wouldn't work on this laptop.
Posted on 3/28/22 at 11:50 am to Slim Chance
quote:i'd say its a
Can I buy a new hard drive and a copy of windows 10 to boot from usb and be able to use the laptop again?
quote:
Slim Chance
Posted on 3/28/22 at 1:04 pm to efrad
Thankd efrad! I'm going to give your advice a shot. It was my brother's laptop and I'm trying to get it working for my mom to be able to use. It's only a year old.
Posted on 3/28/22 at 5:14 pm to Slim Chance
It would take a lawyer and a letter to Bitlocker to even attempt to get this done by them.
I would just hold on to it until the software has more vulnerability disclosures(obviously this could be years) but in time there will probably be a way to open it. There just isn't an easy way currently.
I would just hold on to it until the software has more vulnerability disclosures(obviously this could be years) but in time there will probably be a way to open it. There just isn't an easy way currently.
Posted on 3/28/22 at 5:37 pm to hometownhero89
I'm not trying to open it to be able to see my brother's files, that's why I was wondering if I could scrap the hard drive and replace it with a new one. I just want the laptop to work. Is bitlocker on the actual hard drive? I know how to swap parts and click buttons, but that's about where my tech saviness runs out. LOL
Posted on 3/28/22 at 5:40 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
It would take a lawyer and a letter to Bitlocker to even attempt to get this done by them.
Bitlocker is an encryption scheme created by Microsoft as a feature in Windows, not a company.
quote:
Is bitlocker on the actual hard drive? I know how to swap parts and click buttons, but that's about where my tech saviness runs out. LOL
Bitlocker is just the way the data is encrypted as it's stored. Once you wipe the drive, there won't be anything of it remaining.
Posted on 3/29/22 at 8:11 am to Slim Chance
Got any Russian friends?
Posted on 3/29/22 at 8:50 am to xenon16
quote:
Got any Russian friends?
Umm, I think they're all dead in Ukraine....
Posted on 3/29/22 at 9:45 am to Slim Chance
Use something like DBAN or GParted to wipe the drive, and reinstall your OS of choice. No need to buy any hardware. Bitlocker is just software encryption, nothing fancy.
Posted on 3/29/22 at 11:09 am to Slim Chance
BTW, sorry for your loss, slim. Tough for it for be a brother and a son.
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