Can't boot into Windows 7 Ultimate with Bitlocker

[PocketAcesDMB]

Can't boot into Windows 7 Ultimate with bitlocker anymore....I know the boot sector is messed up more than likely...I have done all the tricks with bootsec.exe and the commands ..I even tried startup repair it repairs but still doesn't boot ....The bitlocker key is on a usb hard drive and is connected but still the error....


Booting up i get a black screen loading operating system then a message on the screen saying please remove any discs from drive and press any key to reboot HELP

 

[gregrocker]

Copy out your files to external USB drive using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console
or Paragon rescue dis to recover data.

Then Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - the steps are the same for retail install.

If necessary wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command from DVD Command line using DISKPART At PC Startup

 

[PocketAcesDMB]

i have 2 partitions a windows 7 C: with all my progs/files which i can wipe and a d: with all my music/movies/pics that i dont want to lose....

 

[gregrocker]

I would back it all up. Even if you preserve D with the greatest of care there is still a slight risk of something going wrong during an install or repair.

Can you access your files now using either of the methods recommended, or a Linux CD?

 

[PocketAcesDMB]

i can see the drives etc etc but can't click them

 

[gregrocker]

Bitlocker must secure them even in boot mode.

I would try another method or two: Paragon, Win7 DVD, and a Linux CD.

 

[PocketAcesDMB]

See the problem is i have a windows 7 pro x64 dvd but not ultimate if that matters at all..i have used the tools in paragon but still nothing

 

[gregrocker]

As long as it's the same bit-version then it should work for repairs and copying out files. The latest installer ISO for your licensed version is in the Clean Reinstall tutorial I linked earlier. Perhaps you should read it.

 

[PocketAcesDMB]

can't do that either....it says to turn ff bitlocker it wont let me install if i could turn off bitlocker i wouldnt need this lol windows

 

[gregrocker]

So you are ready to Clean Reinstall?

Boot the Win7 DVD to wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

Since Bitlocker is on the 100mb System Reserved partition it should be wiped along with the whole HD and unable to block it unless it has another method to foil Diskpart in a booted DVD which does not need to access the HD at all. We shall see.

If it fails I'd try another method like free Partition Wizard CD which uses a Linux Boot disk and can wipe the HD from its Disk tab when you click on Disk # to highlight it.

 

[PocketAcesDMB]

will that trash my d partition ?

 

[gregrocker]

Was your data partition encrypted? If so I dont know if the data is recoverable. Did you try to access it using the Rescue Disks? I don't know why it would be blocked then unless BitLocker is encrypting it.

I would boot the installer, choose Custom install, use Custom Drive options to delete all other partitions besides D if you want to try to save the data. After reinstall see if you can access the data since Bitlocker will be deleted from the disk when System Reserved is deleted.

However with D remaining the installer will not recreate a 100mb System Reserved partition unless you create one first and mark it Active. But after your experience here I am guessing you may not want to mess with BitLocker any longer so I'd forget the SysReserved partition.

Another case today was posted of a USB password key not working.

This is another reason why data should always be backed up externally or to another HD. If you have the data backed up then I would wipe the HD to clear the boot sector of any protective code Bitlocker has written there.

This is all assuming BitLocker will even let you have access to reinstall. We shall see.