Bitlocker Decryption On Win 7 Pro

[kevin08]

First off, I consider myself a very savvy computer user. I have searched for a solution to this problem for a while, and I have an idea in mind, but it's a last resort. Here's my issue...

I ORIGINALLY had win 7 ultimate 32bit on my PC, with a total of 3 hard drives (one for OS, one for storage, and one for backup) I decided to encrypt them all with ultimate's bitlocker program. I didn't necessarily need the OS drive encrypted, but in order to "automatically unlock this drive", the system drive needed bitlocker as well... Not a big deal at the time I thought. Recently, I became enrolled in the MSDN Academic Alliance, where I had access to Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. Because I have the core 2 quad, with 4 gigs of RAM, I thought the 64 bit would run faster (as it would actually use all 4 gigs). So, I formatted my OS drive, and installed Win 7 pro 64 bit. So far, I love it. Except for one huge inconvenience... Everytime I restart my computer, my storage drive (where all my documents, etc. are stored), as well as my backup drive, are both locked. For those who don't know, Bitlocker is not included in Win 7 pro. HOWEVER, it does allow me to right click on the drive, and unlock it (password prompt). But because my OS drive is no longer encrypted (due to the fact that I formatted it, and can't put bitlocker on it with 7 pro), I no longer have the option to "automatically unlock these drives on this machine". I ALSO do not have the option to "turn off bitlocker" or to "decrypt" those drives... It is extremely annoying to have to manually unlock both drives every time I do a restart. Now, from what I've read, there is no way to get bitlocker on 7 pro. But the fact that I can somewhat use it (by being able to unlock them) makes me think there must be a way to turn off bitlocker, or decrypt the drives (same thing pretty much). The only solution I can think of, is to get an old machine, load 7 ultimate on it, plug those two bitlocked drives in, and decrypt them... I guess I'm being lazy, but that would be an extreme pain in the a$$.

SOO, my question is, does anybody know how to decrypt, or turn off Bitlocker in Windows 7 pro?? I thought there HAS to be a tool made by microsoft (or someone else for that matter) that can turn off Bitlocker. Please let me know. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciate.

Thanks In Advance,
Kevin

 

[kevin08]

up...

 

[Borg 386]

I found this that I hope helps out

Turn off a BitLocker drive on Windows 7 Professional

 

[kevin08]

Thank you for your reply. I've stumbled across that link as well... That happens to be the same problem I'm having, but unfortunately, the Microsoft Support person that responded obviously didn't understand the issue... He merely suggests going into control panel and clicking on the BitLocker icon to decrypt, or turn off BitLocker... Win 7 PRO does not have BitLocker in the control panel, as it's not an included feature.

 

[Borg 386]

Any chance you can actually install bitlocker, that should give you an access screen once you officially install it.

It sounds like Windows recognizes the bitlocker code and takes the appropriate action, but without bitlocker installed, it's just basically following orders, and since you can't turn it off, every time it boots, it's going to intercept those instructions and run the routine.

 

[kevin08]

From what I've read, you can't install bitlocker on anything except ultimate... Although if anyone knows of a way, please let me know.

 

[Borg 386]

My research at this point shows that you're right on that, apparently only available on Ultimate. Why MS would limit it to Ultimate, don't know.

If that's true, any chance you can take the HD and plug it into a machine that has Ultimate, you could disable it from that machine. I know it's a PIA, but it will probably fix the prob.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a solution...

Windows help has a specific informational/tutorial page for Bitlocker, which says it is available for ALL versions of Windows 7. Thus I attempted to locate and use it on my Windows 7 Professional operating system. (Control Panel - Security - Bitlocker, per Windows instruction page.) It was not present (and, of course, there is not actually a CP option called "Security", but one called "System and Security").
Additional research located other Windows pages, comparing the Win7 versions; these all stated that only Ultimate has Bitlocker. As usual, Windows needs to get its act together and stop confusing its customers with misinformation.
(Interesting: did one more search of Windows under "Bitlocker" and came across other tutorial pages that DO say it's only available on Ultimate. Make up your mind!)

 

[logicearth]

Copy all the files off that you want and format the drives?

 

[Brykneval]

You can try this

1) Go to the "component services", that can be searched easily from the search box in start button.
2) Services(Local)
3) Go to right panel on the BitLocker Drive Encryption Service
4) Right click on it and click properties
5) Set startup type to diabled

I have not practically done it but hope this works

 

[wvangelderen]

Solution found
Look at this page: The Lazy Admin : Manage BitLocker Via The CLI
Use this command in elevated command promt
manage-bde
this will pull up drive encryption options via command prompt
to decrypt a drive just type in
manage-bde -off C:

I am currently doing this in Windows 7 Professional not Ultimate, it looks like it is possible after all