Windows 7: Problem with Bitlocker in Windows 7 RC x64

14 Jul 2009

I have tried to encrypt data drive (100GB), during encryption electricity has gone. Now when I am accessing the drive it asks me to enter password and after entering password system works on decryption for as long as 5 to 6 hours with full hard disk work out but nothing happens. I have tried the same 3 times and each time when I starts my pc it works well but that particular drive is still inaccessible. Please help if possible.

KiwiTT · 09 Aug 2009

Try going into disk management and try to delete the partition and start again.

1) delete volume
2) create new volume
3) format drive
4) re-encrypt

Someone else may have a better suggestion.

09 Aug 2009

Thanks for your valuable suggestion, but actually I don't want to loss my important data that are inside this drive.

But as I was facing lots of problems while I wasn't able to use 100GB space of my Hard Disk Drive, as there were no other option. So I have Format the drive just before your reply and now everything is working fine except that I lost my data.

But still if something like this happens with me or someone else, there must be a solution. So please try to find something if possible.

johngalt · 09 Aug 2009

There is no real solution once you start encrypting the drive. You are pretty much lost.

That is why they always advocate to make a backup of the drive before starting, and to ensure that you are going to have uninterrupted power (as in an uninterruptible power supply, aka battery backup) when engaging n the use of encryption and decryption tools for hardware.

Sorry you had to lose you data - next time, though, make the backup like you're supposed to.

KiwiTT · 11 Aug 2009

Sorry about your "Data Loss". It takes a loss of data for the lesson to sink in about backups. (My last company would not approve a new backup system, until the main file server - lost all it's data in a serious RAID disk crash and employee error)

I have now setup 3 backups and my PC contains no data.

- 1 TB drive for all my data - (including videos)
- 160 GB Drive for my important data - (including photos)
- 16 GB USB Drive for my critical data - (emails, documents, etc.)

I use MS Sync Toy to synchronise the data between these drives.

ardnstiff · 12 Aug 2009

I had the same problem only there was a windows crash when the drive was decrypting and had completed 96% of the process. The recovery tools did not help and I had to use an onld backup to restore most of my data. I have since encrypted the drives again and all is well. I do have 1 problem. My hard drive has 2 OS's (Vista Ultimate x6 & Windows 7 Ultimate x64) I bitlocked both partitions using the bitlocker programs embedded in each OS. I am able to access my visita drive when in Windows 7 using my flash key, however the same is not possible when I am in Vista (no access to the Windows 7 drive) Has anyone else experienced this problem and found a work around. I would appreciate any suggestions?

Windows 7: Problem with Bitlocker in Windows 7 RC x64

Problem with Bitlocker in Windows 7 RC x64 problems?