I recently upgraded my PC hardware but kept the PSU, GPU, and storage. Now, when I boot, I'm told my drive is bitlocked due to a TPM issue. I can't find the BitLocker key in my accounts, and Microsoft support isn't an option for me. My main concern is whether I can recover my files or if I should just erase everything. I'm thinking about putting my old system back together, but I've never assembled a PC myself. Are there other options I haven't considered? If I do reassemble my old PC, what are the odds it'll fix the issue?
3 Answers
It's critical to minimize any changes to the drive until you get your BitLocker key. Rebuilding your old setup is key here. If all else fails, you'll have to wipe the drive and start fresh, but let’s hope it doesn't come to that!
Switching from Intel to AMD can cause TPM issues, especially if the motherboard is different. You’ll need to put the old hardware back exactly as it was, including BIOS settings. This should bring back access to your files. Just remember to back up everything once you’re in, as this situation is a good reminder of why backups are crucial!
Your safest bet is to revert back to your old setup and see if it boots. If it does, you can either disable BitLocker or retrieve the key from your account. You don’t have to fully rebuild the old PC—just the vital parts like the motherboard, RAM, and CPU, and maybe swap the GPU if needed, depending on whether your CPU has integrated graphics.
Is the PSU in the old system up for the job? I think your i5-10400F has integrated graphics, so that should be good enough to get you back into Windows.