Can I Reinstall Windows on a Bitlocker-Encryped Laptop?

Make sure to follow a detailed installation guide. There's a good one available online that emphasizes the importance of deleting partitions. Read through it carefully before you begin the installation to ensure a smooth process.

When you boot from a bootable USB stick, just make sure your computer recognizes it first. If your laptop has a license key tied to it, you won’t need to pay for activation, although you can use Windows without a key, but that means you won’t receive updates.

As long as you boot the USB installer from the BIOS or boot menu and not try to reset from the locked Windows, you won't need the Bitlocker key at all. The key is only important if you're trying to access the encrypted data, not when you’re overwriting the drive.

To erase everything, you can delete all partitions during the Windows setup. This will wipe the data and the Bitlocker encryption. If your laptop has an OEM license, Windows should activate automatically once you get online. Just choose "I don't have a key" during setup, and it should work just fine!