I'm in a bit of a mess here. I'm a longtime Windows user (going back to Windows 3.x), and last night I decided to try out Ubuntu Linux for a change. I have a 2023 Dell desktop that only takes one SSD at a time. I removed my main SSD (the one with Windows 11 Pro) and installed an older SSD I had lying around to try and install Ubuntu. After some tweaking in the UEFI/BIOS settings, I got Ubuntu running but later wanted to switch back to Windows.
So, I turned off my computer, put my newer SSD back in, and reset the BIOS settings to what they were before. Now, my PC won't boot into Windows and is asking for a BitLocker recovery key. I don't have that key written down anywhere, and I had no idea BitLocker was even enabled on my drive! I've checked my Microsoft account and found some recovery keys, but none match this SSD. I even tried using the Command Prompt for any tricks I could find online.
I'm about to spend $70 on the Pro version of EaseUS, but I'm not sure it will help at this point. I heard from someone that going back into UEFI/BIOS might make my PC think the SSD was never removed, but I can't remember all the settings I changed. I'm considering a complete reinstall of Windows on the SSD, but I'm worried about losing my files. Given that I know my local account password, do I have any options to regain access?
3 Answers
You should definitely start by checking your Microsoft account under the devices section. Sometimes the recovery key might just be stashed there. If it’s not showing up, you might have to face the fact that a wipe and reinstall might be your only option. But make sure to look hard; losing data is a bummer!
If you can find a way back into Windows, maybe through Safe Mode, check for any crash dump files in C:WindowsMinidump. These could provide more clues on what’s happening. If you’re able to collect those, zipping and sharing them online might help in diagnosing the bluescreen issue and could lead to a solution.
I’ll try getting into Safe Mode. Thanks!
Resetting your BIOS settings or re-enabling Secure Boot won't help you here, and I doubt EaseUS will work either. Once BitLocker has been triggered, you really need that recovery key to get back in, that's the way it is. Sorry to say, but if you can't find it, it might be a tough road ahead.
I really want to save the data though! Is there any way to recover it without wiping?