What to do if you find BitLocker preventing Windows install? You come to the right place. This post will show you how to resolve it quickly and offer a better BitLocker tool to manage your encrypted drive.
“I have Windows 11 as a bootable USB, but when I try to do a clean install of it I get the error that I cannot install it onto the laptop's hard drive because it is encrypted by Bitlocker. I don't care if I lose the encrypted data. I just want to be able to use that hard drive again. Is it possible?”
If you're encountering an issue where BitLocker is preventing a Windows installation, it usually occurs because BitLocker is enabled on the drive where you're trying to install or update Windows. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that encrypts the entire drive, protecting your data from unauthorized access. Here's why this can cause problems:
☛ Encryption Interference: When BitLocker is enabled, it encrypts the data on the drive. If you attempt to install or upgrade Windows on an encrypted drive without suspending or decrypting BitLocker, the installation process may be blocked to prevent data loss or corruption.
☛ Drive Locking: BitLocker may lock the drive to protect it during the installation process. This can prevent Windows Setup from accessing the drive, leading to errors or the inability to proceed with the installation.
☛ Secure Boot Requirements: Some Windows installations require Secure Boot to be enabled, and BitLocker may interfere if the correct settings are not in place. This can result in the installation being halted.
If BitLocker is preventing you from installing or upgrading Windows, it's likely because the drive is encrypted, and the Windows installation process cannot proceed with encryption in place. Here are some ways you can try:
Firstly, you can turn off BitLocker temporarily to make the drive accessible to all users.
Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Step 2. Find the drive that has BitLocker enabled, click on Suspend protection, and confirm.
This temporarily disables BitLocker without decrypting the drive, making it possible to install or upgrade Windows.
If suspending BitLocker doesn’t work or you prefer to remove encryption entirely:
Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Step 2. Select the drive with BitLocker enabled, then click on Turn off BitLocker. This will start the decryption process, which might take some time depending on the size of the drive.
After decryption, you can try reinstalling Windows.
Secure Boot is a security feature in Windows that protects the integrity of a computer's boot process by verifying the digital signatures of the operating system and bootloader. Thus, if the above two methods do not work, you can disable Secure Boot and try again.
Step 1. Restart your computer and enter BIOS setup (usually by pressing F2, DEL, or ESC during startup).
Step 2. Look for the "Secure Boot" or "Secure Boot Mode" option in the BIOS menu.
Step 3. Set it to "Disabled" or "Off."
Step 4. Save changes and exit the BIOS.
Hard drive error may prevent you from installing Windows on it. Therefore, it’s feasible to check disk errors and fix it to prepare for Windows installation.
Step 1. Open Command Prompt (run as administrator).
Step 2. Type the command chkdsk X:/f and press Enter (replace "X" with the letter of the partition you want to check for).
Step 3. If prompted, schedule a check during the next system restart.
If the four methods above are not useful, move on to the fifth one.
Actually, in addition to cleaning install the operating system, using a Windows media creation tool to install Windows from USB is also a popular way. Here is the step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Insert the Windows installation USB or DVD, restart your computer, and boot from the media.
Step 2. During the installation process, when you reach the screen to select a drive, delete the encrypted partition. This will remove BitLocker and allow the installation to proceed.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Windows installation.
By following these measures, you should be able to resolve the issue of BitLocker preventing a Windows install.
AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a popular and easy-to-use hard drive partition management tool that supports a wide range of operations, including creating, resizing, merging, splitting, and copying partitions. Most importantly, it is also a powerful BitLocker management tool, allowing you to manage your encrypted drives orderly and effective.
Here are some outstanding features of AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional:
» Supports practically all Windows systems, including Windows 11/10 Home Edition, which is geared for Home Edition users. » Provides a uniform interface for accessing numerous functionality like as recovery key backup, password alteration, drive lock/unlock, and BitLocker on/off. » Tailored for users of various competency levels, particularly beginners, to offer a worry-free experience. » Uses the AES encryption technique and adheres to Microsoft BitLocker's stringent security requirements.
Here is a comprehensive instruction manual on managing BitLocker with AOMEI Partition Assistant:
1. Enable/disable BitLocker
To activate or deactivate BitLocker, identify the target drive and choose "Turn on BitLocker" or "Turn off BitLocker" within the software. Identification can be performed utilizing both a password and a recovery key.
2. Back up your BitLocker recovery key
If you misplace or lose your keys, gaining them again can be challenging. PA permits you to back up the key via exporting it to a file or printing it.
3. Change BitLocker password
Regularly modify or update your BitLocker password to guarantee data security. PA enables you to modify your password by employing the present password or the recovery key.
4. Lock/unlock the drive
Locking a drive prohibits access to secured data on a BitLocker volume. To regain ownership of sensitive information, unlock the drive with a password or recovery key.
BitLocker is a robust security feature, but it can sometimes interfere with system operations like installing Windows. By suspending BitLocker or decrypting the drive, you can temporarily lift the protection and proceed with your installation. If not working, several ways are still offered. After fixing the issue and installing Windows again, consider using a trusted BitLocker tool called AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional on your PC.
