- Key Generator For Games
- Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Free
- Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Download
- Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Free
If you can still log on to your Surface Pro tablet as administrator, you can find and recover BitLocker recovery key easily, by using the Command Prompt. Here’s how: Press the Windows key + X to open the Power User menu. Select “Command Prompt (Admin)“. At the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter. Mar 05, 2018 How to Backup BitLocker Recovery Key for Drive in Windows 10 A BitLocker recovery key is a special key that you can create when you turn on Bitlocker Drive Encryption for the first time on each drive that you encrypt. You can use the recovery.
Applies to
- Windows 10
This topic for IT professionals describes how to recover BitLocker keys from AD DS.
Organizations can use BitLocker recovery information saved in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to access BitLocker-protected data. Creating a recovery model for BitLocker while you are planning your BitLocker deployment is recommended.
This article assumes that you understand how to set up AD DS to back up BitLocker recovery information automatically, and what types of recovery information are saved to AD DS.
This article does not detail how to configure AD DS to store the BitLocker recovery information.
What is BitLocker recovery?
BitLocker recovery is the process by which you can restore access to a BitLocker-protected drive in the event that you cannot unlock the drive normally. In a recovery scenario, you have the following options to restore access to the drive:
- The user can supply the recovery password. If your organization allows users to print or store recovery passwords, the user can type in the 48-digit recovery password that they printed or stored on a USB drive or with your Microsoft Account online. (Saving a recovery password with your Microsoft Account online is only allowed when BitLocker is used on a PC that is not a member of a domain).
- A data recovery agent can use their credentials to unlock the drive. If the drive is an operating system drive, the drive must be mounted as a data drive on another computer for the data recovery agent to unlock it.
- A domain administrator can obtain the recovery password from AD DS and use it to unlock the drive. Storing recovery passwords in AD DS is recommended to provide a way for IT professionals to be able to obtain recovery passwords for drives in their organization if needed. This method requires that you have enabled this recovery method in the BitLocker Group Policy setting Choose how BitLocker-protected operating system drives can be recovered located at Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsBitLocker Drive EncryptionOperating System Drives in the Local Group Policy Editor. For more information, see BitLocker Group Policy settings.
What causes BitLocker recovery?
Key Generator For Games
The following list provides examples of specific events that will cause BitLocker to enter recovery mode when attempting to start the operating system drive:
On PCs that use BitLocker Drive Encryption, or on devices such as tablets or phones that use BitLocker Device Encryption only, when an attack is detected, the device will immediately reboot and enter into BitLocker recovery mode. To take advantage of this functionality Administrators can set the Interactive logon: Machine account lockout threshold Group Policy setting located in Computer ConfigurationWindows SettingsSecurity SettingsLocal PoliciesSecurity Options in the Local Group Policy Editor, or use the MaxFailedPasswordAttempts policy of Exchange ActiveSync (also configurable through Windows Intune), to limit the number of failed password attempts before the device goes into Device Lockout.
On devices with TPM 1.2, changing the BIOS or firmware boot device order causes BitLocker recovery. However, devices with TPM 2.0 do not start BitLocker recovery in this case. TPM 2.0 does not consider a firmware change of boot device order as a security threat because the OS Boot Loader is not compromised.
Having the CD or DVD drive before the hard drive in the BIOS boot order and then inserting or removing a CD or DVD.
Failing to boot from a network drive before booting from the hard drive.
Docking or undocking a portable computer. In some instances (depending on the computer manufacturer and the BIOS), the docking condition of the portable computer is part of the system measurement and must be consistent to validate the system status and unlock BitLocker. This means that if a portable computer is connected to its docking station when BitLocker is turned on, then it might also need to be connected to the docking station when it is unlocked. Conversely, if a portable computer is not connected to its docking station when BitLocker is turned on, then it might need to be disconnected from the docking station when it is unlocked.
Changes to the NTFS partition table on the disk including creating, deleting, or resizing a primary partition.
Entering the personal identification number (PIN) incorrectly too many times so that the anti-hammering logic of the TPM is activated. Anti-hammering logic is software or hardware methods that increase the difficulty and cost of a brute force attack on a PIN by not accepting PIN entries until after a certain amount of time has passed.
Turning off the support for reading the USB device in the pre-boot environment from the BIOS or UEFI firmware if you are using USB-based keys instead of a TPM.
Turning off, disabling, deactivating, or clearing the TPM.
Upgrading critical early startup components, such as a BIOS or UEFI firmware upgrade, causing the related boot measurements to change.
Forgetting the PIN when PIN authentication has been enabled.
Updating option ROM firmware.
Upgrading TPM firmware.
Adding or removing hardware; for example, inserting a new card in the computer, including some PCMIA wireless cards.
Removing, inserting, or completely depleting the charge on a smart battery on a portable computer.
Changes to the master boot record on the disk.
Changes to the boot manager on the disk.
Hiding the TPM from the operating system. Some BIOS or UEFI settings can be used to prevent the enumeration of the TPM to the operating system. When implemented, this option can make the TPM hidden from the operating system. When the TPM is hidden, BIOS and UEFI secure startup are disabled, and the TPM does not respond to commands from any software.
Using a different keyboard that does not correctly enter the PIN or whose keyboard map does not match the keyboard map assumed by the pre-boot environment. This can prevent the entry of enhanced PINs.
Modifying the Platform Configuration Registers (PCRs) used by the TPM validation profile. For example, including PCR[1] would result in BitLocker measuring most changes to BIOS settings, causing BitLocker to enter recovery mode even when non-boot critical BIOS settings change.
Note: Some computers have BIOS settings that skip measurements to certain PCRs, such as PCR[2]. Changing this setting in the BIOS would cause BitLocker to enter recovery mode because the PCR measurement will be different.
Moving the BitLocker-protected drive into a new computer.
Upgrading the motherboard to a new one with a new TPM.
Losing the USB flash drive containing the startup key when startup key authentication has been enabled.
Failing the TPM self-test.
Having a BIOS, UEFI firmware, or an option ROM component that is not compliant with the relevant Trusted Computing Group standards for a client computer. For example, a non-compliant implementation may record volatile data (such as time) in the TPM measurements, causing different measurements on each startup and causing BitLocker to start in recovery mode.
Changing the usage authorization for the storage root key of the TPM to a non-zero value.
Note: The BitLocker TPM initialization process sets the usage authorization value to zero, so another user or process must explicitly have changed this value.
Disabling the code integrity check or enabling test signing on Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr).
Pressing the F8 or F10 key during the boot process.
Adding or removing add-in cards (such as video or network cards), or upgrading firmware on add-in cards.
Using a BIOS hot key during the boot process to change the boot order to something other than the hard drive.
Note: Before you begin recovery, we recommend that you determine what caused recovery. This might help prevent the problem from occurring again in the future. For instance, if you determine that an attacker has modified your computer by obtaining physical access, you can create new security policies for tracking who has physical presence. After the recovery password has been used to recover access to the PC, BitLocker will reseal the encryption key to the current values of the measured components.
For planned scenarios, such as a known hardware or firmware upgrades, you can avoid initiating recovery by temporarily suspending BitLocker protection. Because suspending BitLocker leaves the drive fully encrypted, the administrator can quickly resume BitLocker protection after the planned task has been completed. Using suspend and resume also reseals the encryption key without requiring the entry of the recovery key.
Note: If suspended BitLocker will automatically resume protection when the PC is rebooted, unless a reboot count is specified using the manage-bde command line tool.
If software maintenance requires the computer be restarted and you are using two-factor authentication, you can enable BitLocker Network Unlock to provide the secondary authentication factor when the computers do not have an on-premises user to provide the additional authentication method.
Recovery has been described within the context of unplanned or undesired behavior, but you can also cause recovery as an intended production scenario, in order to manage access control. For example, when you redeploy desktop or laptop computers to other departments or employees in your enterprise, you can force BitLocker into recovery before the computer is given to a new user.
Testing recovery
Before you create a thorough BitLocker recovery process, we recommend that you test how the recovery process works for both end users (people who call your helpdesk for the recovery password) and administrators (people who help the end user get the recovery password). The –forcerecovery command of manage-bde is an easy way for you to step through the recovery process before your users encounter a recovery situation.
To force a recovery for the local computer
- Click the Start button, type cmd in the Start Search box, right-click cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator.
- At the command prompt, type the following command and then press ENTER:
manage-bde -forcerecovery <BitLockerVolume>
To force recovery for a remote computer
- On the Start screen, type cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator.
- At the command prompt, type the following command and then press ENTER:
manage-bde. -ComputerName <RemoteComputerName> -forcerecovery <BitLockerVolume>
Note: Recovery triggered by -forcerecovery persists for multiple restarts until a TPM protector is added or protection is suspended by the user. When using Modern Standby devices (such as Surface devices), the -forcerecovery option is not recommended because BitLocker will have to be unlocked and disabled manually from the WinRE environment before the OS can boot up again. For more information, see BitLocker Troubleshooting: Continuous reboot loop with BitLocker recovery on a slate device.
Planning your recovery process
When planning the BitLocker recovery process, first consult your organization's current best practices for recovering sensitive information. For example: How does your enterprise handle lost Windows passwords? How does your organization perform smart card PIN resets? You can use these best practices and related resources (people and tools) to help formulate a BitLocker recovery model.
Organizations that rely on BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go to protect data on a large number of computers and removable drives running the Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 operating systems and Windows to Go should consider using the Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) Tool version 2.0, which is included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for Microsoft Software Assurance. MBAM makes BitLocker implementations easier to deploy and manage and allows administrators to provision and monitor encryption for operating system and fixed drives. MBAM prompts the user before encrypting fixed drives. MBAM also manages recovery keys for fixed and removable drives, making recovery easier to manage. MBAM can be used as part of a Microsoft System Center deployment or as a stand-alone solution. For more info, see Microsoft BitLockerAdministration and Monitoring.
After a BitLocker recovery has been initiated, users can use a recovery password to unlock access to encrypted data. You must consider both self-recovery and recovery password retrieval methods for your organization.
When you determine your recovery process, you should:
Become familiar with how you can retrieve the recovery password. See:
Determine a series of steps for post-recovery, including analyzing why the recovery occurred and resetting the recovery password. See:
Self-recovery
In some cases, users might have the recovery password in a printout or a USB flash drive and can perform self-recovery. We recommend that your organization create a policy for self-recovery. If self-recovery includes using a password or recovery key stored on a USB flash drive, the users should be warned not to store the USB flash drive in the same place as the PC, especially during travel, for example if both the PC and the recovery items are in the same bag it would be very easy for access to be gained to the PC by an unauthorized user. Another policy to consider is having users contact the Helpdesk before or after performing self-recovery so that the root cause can be identified.
Recovery password retrieval
If the user does not have a recovery password in a printout or on a USB flash drive, the user will need to be able to retrieve the recovery password from an online source. If the PC is a member of a domain the recovery password can be backed up to AD DS. However, this does not happen by default, you must have configured the appropriate Group Policy settings before BitLocker was enabled on the PC. BitLocker Group Policy settings can be found in the Local Group Policy Editor or the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) under Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsBitLocker Drive Encryption. The following policy settings define the recovery methods that can be used to restore access to a BitLocker-protected drive if an authentication method fails or is unable to be used.
- Choose how BitLocker-protected operating system drives can be recovered
- Choose how BitLocker-protected fixed drives can be recovered
- Choose how BitLocker-protected removable drives can be recoveredIn each of these policies, select Save BitLocker recovery information to Active Directory Domain Services and then choose which BitLocker recovery information to store in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). Select the Do not enable BitLocker until recovery information is stored in ADDS check box if you want to prevent users from enabling BitLocker unless the computer is connected to the domain and the backup of BitLocker recovery information for the drive to AD DS succeeds.
Note: If the PCs are part of a workgroup, users should be advised to save their BitLocker recovery password with their Microsoft Account online. Having an online copy of your BitLocker recovery password is recommended to help ensure that you do not lose access to your data in the event that recovery is required.
Amazon gift card generator 2014 v8 0 activation key. Facebook hacker lite v2.8.1 activation key 2014-20. SpeedConnect Internet Accelerator v8.0 Crack,keyge. Turbo internet accelerator v2.1.16 crack,keygen,pa. Gmail Password Finder 2.8.5 unlock code,activatio. Yahoo Password Hacker 2.8.9 Key, Serial Number, ac. PayPal Hack v2.2.3 incl activation key 2014; PayPal Money Adder v2.1.2 incl activation key 2014. Fake Webcam 7.2 full incl. Amazon Gift Card Generator V8.0 incl activation ke. PayPal Money Adder 2014; Zbigz Premium Account Generator v8.0.0 incl activa. Asphalt 8 Airborne Hack Tool; Fileice Downloader 2014 v9.0 Final Incl Activation. CleanFiles Downloader 2014 incl activation key; SkyHook Wireless Hack 7.3.9; SpeedBit Video Accelerator Premium V 3.3.8.0 Build.
The BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer for Active Directory Users and Computers tool allows domain administrators to view BitLocker recovery passwords for specific computer objects in Active Directory.
You can use the following list as a template for creating your own recovery process for recovery password retrieval. This sample process uses the BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer for Active Directory Users and Computers tool.
Record the name of the user's computer
You can use the name of the user's computer to locate the recovery password in AD DS. If the user does not know the name of the computer, ask the user to read the first word of the Drive Label in the BitLocker Drive Encryption Password Entry user interface. This is the computer name when BitLocker was enabled and is probably the current name of the computer.
Verify the user's identity
You should verify that the person that is asking for the recovery password is truly the authorized user of that computer. You may also wish to verify that the computer with the name the user provided belongs to the user.
Locate the recovery password in AD DS
Locate the Computer object with the matching name in AD DS. Because Computer object names are listed in the AD DS global catalog, you should be able to locate the object even if you have a multi-domain forest.
Multiple recovery passwords
If multiple recovery passwords are stored under a computer object in AD DS, the name of the BitLocker recovery information object includes the date that the password was created.
If at any time you are unsure what password to provide, or if you think you might be providing the incorrect password, ask the user to read the eight character password ID that is displayed in the recovery console.
Since the password ID is a unique value that is associated with each recovery password stored in AD DS, running a query using this ID will find the correct password to unlock the encrypted volume.
Gather information to determine why recovery occurred
Before you give the user the recovery password, you should gather any information that will help determine why the recovery was needed, in order to analyze the root cause during the post-recovery analysis. For more info about post-recovery analysis, see Post-recovery analysis.
Give the user the recovery password
Because the recovery password is 48 digits long the user may need to record the password by writing it down or typing it on a different computer. If you are using MBAM, the recovery password will be regenerated after it is recovered from the MBAM database to avoid the security risks associated with an uncontrolled password.
Note: Because the 48-digit recovery password is long and contains a combination of digits, the user might mishear or mistype the password. The boot-time recovery console uses built-in checksum numbers to detect input errors in each 6-digit block of the 48-digit recovery password, and offers the user the opportunity to correct such errors.
Post-recovery analysis
When a volume is unlocked using a recovery password, an event is written to the event log and the platform validation measurements are reset in the TPM to match the current configuration. Unlocking the volume means that the encryption key has been released and is ready for on-the-fly encryptionwhen data is written to the volume, and on-the-fly decryption when data is read from the volume. After the volume is unlocked, BitLocker behaves the same way, regardless of how the access was granted.
If you notice that a computer is having repeated recovery password unlocks, you might want to have an administrator can perform post-recovery analysis to determine the root cause of the recovery and refresh BitLocker platform validation so that the user no longer needs to enter a recovery password each time that the computer starts up. See:
Determine the root cause of the recovery
If a user needed to recover the drive, it is important to determine the root cause that initiated the recovery as soon as possible. Properly analyzing the state of the computer and detecting tampering may reveal threats that have broader implications for enterprise security.
While an administrator can remotely investigate the cause of recovery in some cases, the end user might need to bring the computer that contains the recovered drive on site to analyze the root cause further.
Review and answer the following questions for your organization:
- What BitLocker protection mode is in effect (TPM, TPM + PIN, TPM + startup key, startup key only)? Which PCR profile is in use on the PC?
- Did the user merely forget the PIN or lose the startup key? If a token was lost, where might the token be?
- If TPM mode was in effect, was recovery caused by a boot file change?
- If recovery was caused by a boot file change, is this due to an intended user action (for example, BIOS upgrade), or to malicious software?
- When was the user last able to start the computer successfully, and what might have happened to the computer since then?
- Might the user have encountered malicious software or left the computer unattended since the last successful startup?
To help you answer these questions, use the BitLocker command-line tool to view the current configuration and protection mode (for example, manage-bde -status). Scan the event log to find events that help indicate why recovery was initiated (for example, if boot file change occurred). Both of these capabilities can be performed remotely.
Resolve the root cause
After you have identified what caused recovery, you can reset BitLocker protection and avoid recovery on every startup.
The details of this reset can vary according to the root cause of the recovery. If you cannot determine the root cause, or if malicious software or a rootkit might have infected the computer, Helpdesk should apply best-practice virus policies to react appropriately.
Note: You can perform a BitLocker validation profile reset by suspending and resuming BitLocker.
- Changes to boot files
Unknown PIN
If a user has forgotten the PIN, you must reset the PIN while you are logged on to the computer in order to prevent BitLocker from initiating recovery each time the computer is restarted.
To prevent continued recovery due to an unknown PIN
- Unlock the computer using the recovery password.
- Reset the PIN:
- Right-click the drive and then click Change PIN
- In the BitLocker Drive Encryption dialog, click Reset a forgotten PIN. If you are not logged in with an administrator account you must provide administrative credentials at this time.
- In the PIN reset dialog, provide and confirm the new PIN to use and then click Finish.
- You will use the new PIN the next time you unlock the drive.
Lost startup key
If you have lost the USB flash drive that contains the startup key, then you must unlock the drive by using the recovery key and then create a new startup key.
To prevent continued recovery due to a lost startup key
- Log on as an administrator to the computer that has the lost startup key.
- Open Manage BitLocker.
- Click Duplicate start up key, insert the clean USB drive on which you are going to write the key and then click Save.
Changes to boot files
This error might occur if you updated the firmware. As a best practice you should suspend BitLocker before making changes the firmware and then resume protection after the update has completed. This prevents the computer from going into recovery mode. However if changes were made when BitLocker protection was on you can simply log on to the computer using the recovery password and the platform validation profile will be updated so that recovery will not occur the next time.
Windows RE and BitLocker Device Encryption
Windows Recovery Environment (RE) can be used to recover access to a drive protected by BitLocker Device Encryption. If a PC is unable to boot after two failures, Startup Repair will automatically start. When Startup Repair is launched automatically due to boot failures, it will only execute operating system and driver file repairs, provided that the boot logs or any available crash dump point to a specific corrupted file. In Windows 8.1 and later, devices that include firmware to support specific TPM measurements for PCR[7] the TPM can validate that Windows RE is a trusted operating environment and will unlock any BitLocker-protected drives if Windows RE has not been modified. If the Windows RE environment has been modified, for example the TPM has been disabled, the drives will stay locked until the BitLocker recovery key is provided. If Startup Repair is not able to be run automatically from the PC and instead Windows RE is manually started from a repair disk, the BitLocker recovery key must be provided to unlock the BitLocker–protected drives.
Using additional recovery information
Besides the 48-digit BitLocker recovery password, other types of recovery information are stored in Active Directory. This section describes how this additional information can be used.
BitLocker key package
If the recovery methods discussed earlier in this document do not unlock the volume, you can use the BitLocker Repair tool to decrypt the volume at the block level. The tool uses the BitLocker key package to help recover encrypted data from severely damaged drives. You can then use this recovered data to salvage encrypted data, even after the correct recovery password has failed to unlock the damaged volume. We recommend that you still save the recovery password. A key package cannot be used without the corresponding recovery password.
Note: You must use the BitLocker Repair tool repair-bde to use the BitLocker key package.
The BitLocker key package is not saved by default. To save the package along with the recovery password in AD DS you must select the Backup recovery password and key package option in the Group Policy settings that control the recovery method. You can also export the key package from a working volume. For more details on how to export key packages, see Retrieving the BitLocker Key Package.
Resetting recovery passwords
You should invalidate a recovery password after it has been provided and used. It should also be done when you intentionally want to invalidate an existing recovery password for any reason.
You can reset the recovery password in two ways:
- Use manage-bde You can use manage-bde to remove the old recovery password and add a new recovery password. The procedure identifies the command and the syntax for this method.
- Run a script You can run a script to reset the password without decrypting the volume. The sample script in the procedure illustrates this functionality. The sample script creates a new recovery password and invalidates all other passwords.
Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Free
To reset a recovery password using manage-bde
Remove the previous recovery password
Add the new recovery password
Get the ID of the new recovery password. From the screen copy the ID of the recovery password.
Backup the new recovery password to AD DS
Warning: You must include the braces in the ID string.
To run the sample recovery password script
Save the following sample script in a VBScript file. For example: ResetPassword.vbs.
At the command prompt, type a command similar to the following:
cscript ResetPassword.vbs
Important: This sample script is configured to work only for the C volume. You must customize the script to match the volume where you want to test password reset.
Note: To manage a remote computer, you can specify the remote computer name rather than the local computer name.
You can use the following sample script to create a VBScript file to reset the recovery passwords.
Retrieving the BitLocker key package
You can use two methods to retrieve the key package, as described in Using Additional Recovery Information:
- Export a previously-saved key package from AD DS. You must have Read access to BitLocker recovery passwords that are stored in AD DS.
- Export a new key package from an unlocked, BitLocker-protected volume. You must have local administrator access to the working volume, before any damage has occurred.
The following sample script exports all previously-saved key packages from AD DS.
To run the sample key package retrieval script
Save the following sample script in a VBScript file. For example: GetBitLockerKeyPackageADDS.vbs.
At the command prompt, type a command similar to the following:
cscript GetBitLockerKeyPackageADDS.vbs -?
You can use the following sample script to create a VBScript file to retrieve the BitLocker key package from AD DS.
The following sample script exports a new key package from an unlocked, encrypted volume.
To run the sample key package retrieval script
Save the following sample script in a VBScript file. For example: GetBitLockerKeyPackage.vbs
Open an administrator command prompt, type a command similar to the following:
cscript GetBitLockerKeyPackage.vbs -?
See also
-->Applies To: Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8
This topic for the IT professional explains how BitLocker features can be used to protect your data through drive encryption.
BitLocker is included with the operating system for computers running Windows 8.1 Enterprise or Pro editions. All editions of Windows 8.1 support Device Encryption, which is based off BitLocker Drive Encryption, but is not as customizable. For all Windows Server editions designated in the Applies To list at the beginning of this topic, BitLocker is installed as an optional feature using Server Manager.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, BitLocker is provisioned post installation for system and data volumes through either the manage-bde command line interface or the Control Panel user interface.
For computers running other operating systems designated in the Applies To list at the beginning of this topic, BitLocker can be provisioned before the operating system is installed.
The following sections provide information that will help you put together your basic deployment plan for implementing BitLocker in your organization:
Using BitLocker to encrypt volumes
BitLocker provides full volume encryption (FVE) for operating system volumes, as well as fixed and removable data volumes. To support fully encrypted operating system volumes, BitLocker uses an unencrypted system volume for the files required to boot, decrypt, and load the operating system. This volume is automatically created during a new installation of both client and server operating systems.
In the event that the drive was prepared as a single contiguous space, BitLocker requires a new volume to hold the boot files. The BdeHdCfg.exe tool shipped with Windows can create these volumes.
Note
For more information about using this tool, see Bdehdcfg in the Command-Line Reference.
BitLocker encryption can be done using the following methods:
BitLocker control panel
Windows Explorer
manage-bde command line interface
BitLocker Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Encrypting volumes using the BitLocker control panel
Encrypting volumes with the BitLocker control panel is how many users will utilize BitLocker. The name of the BitLocker control panel is BitLocker Drive Encryption. The BitLocker control panel supports encrypting operating system, fixed data and removable data volumes. The BitLocker control panel will organize available drives in the appropriate category based on how the device reports itself to Windows. Only formatted volumes with assigned drive letters will appear properly in the BitLocker control panel applet.
To start encryption for a volume, select Turn on BitLocker for the appropriate drive to initialize the BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard. BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard options vary based on volume type (Operating system volume or Data volume).
Operating system volume
Upon launch, the BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard verifies the computer meets the BitLocker system requirements for encrypting an operating system volume. By default, the system requirements are:
Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
Hardware configuration | The computer must meet the minimum requirements for the supported Windows versions. For more information about Windows 8 requirements, see the Windows 8 Web site. |
Operating system | BitLocker is an optional feature which can be installed by Server Manager on Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2. |
Hardware TPM | TPM version 1.2 or 2.0 A TPM is not required for BitLocker; however, only a computer with a TPM can provide the additional security of pre-startup system integrity verification and multifactor authentication. |
BIOS configuration |
|
File system | For computers that boot natively with UEFI firmware, at least one FAT32 partition for the system drive and one NTFS partition for the operating system drive. For computers with legacy BIOS firmware, at least two NTFS disk partitions, one for the system drive and one for the operating system drive. For either firmware, the system drive partition must be at least 350 megabytes (MB) and set as the active partition. |
Hardware encrypted drive prerequisites (optional) | To use a hardware encrypted drive as the boot drive, the drive must be in the uninitialized state and in the security inactive state. In addition, the system must always boot with native UEFI version 2.3.1 or higher and the CSM (if any) disabled. |
Upon passing the initial configuration, users are required to enter a password for the volume. If the volume does not pass the initial configuration for BitLocker, the user is presented with an error dialog describing the appropriate actions to be taken.
Note
For more information on creating strong passwords, see Strong passwords section in the Passwords Technical Overview.
Once a strong password has been created for the volume, a recovery key will be generated. The BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard will prompt for a location to save this key. A BitLocker recovery key is a special key that you can create when you turn on BitLocker Drive Encryption for the first time on each drive that you encrypt. You can use the recovery key to gain access to your computer if the drive that Windows is installed on (the operating system drive) is encrypted using BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker detects a condition that prevents it from unlocking the drive when the computer is starting up. A recovery key can also be used to gain access to your files and folders on a removable data drive (such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive) that is encrypted using BitLocker To Go, if for some reason you forget the password or your computer cannot access the drive.
You should store the recovery key by printing it, saving it on removable media, or saving it as a file in a network folder or on your OneDrive, or on another drive of your computer that you are not encrypting. You cannot save the recovery key to the root directory of a non-removable drive and cannot be stored on the encrypted volume. You cannot save the recovery key for a removable data drive (such as a USB flash drive) on removable media. Ideally, you should store the recovery key separate from your computer. After you create a recovery key, you can use the BitLocker control panel to make additional copies.
When the recovery key has been properly stored, the BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard will prompt the user to choose how to encrypt the drive. There are two options:
Encrypt used disk space only - Encrypts only disk space that contains data
Encrypt entire drive - Encrypts the entire volume including free space
It is recommended that drives with little to no data utilize the used disk space only encryption option and that drives with data or an operating system utilize the encrypt entire drive option.
Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit product key generator online. Mar 09, 2020 Overview of Windows 7 Product Key Generator Windows 7 is a generally accepted Windows worldwide. It is now widely considered as the Windows OS with the friendliest interface. This makes people have an interest in getting it installed on their laptop. Various kinds of people use it, both for personal works and for business-oriented programs. Windows 7 Product Key List (32/64 bit) Windows 7 initiation key comes with the original purchase of windows. If you purchase it from a stock, you will get it from a stock. If your PC is already with the windows 7 then there will be chances that windows 7 key label behind your machine. You can also get windows 7 ultimate product key for free.
Note
Deleted files appear as free space to the file system, which is not encrypted by used disk space only. Until they are wiped or overwritten, deleted files hold information that could be recovered with common data forensic tools.
Selecting an encryption type and choosing Next will give the user the option of running a BitLocker system check (selected by default) which will ensure that BitLocker can properly access the recovery and encryption keys before the volume encryption begins. It is recommended to run this system check before starting the encryption process. If the system check is not run and a problem is encountered when the operating system attempts to start, the user will need to provide the recovery key to start Windows.
After completing the system check (if selected), the BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard will restart the computer to begin encryption. Upon reboot, users are required to enter the password chosen to boot into the operating system volume. Users can check encryption status by checking the system notification area or the BitLocker control panel.
Until encryption is completed, the only available options for managing BitLocker involve manipulation of the password protecting the operating system volume, backing up the recovery key, and turning BitLocker off.
Data volume
Encrypting data volumes using the BitLocker control panel interface works in a similar fashion to encryption of the operating system volumes. Users select Turn on BitLocker within the control panel to begin the BitLocker Drive Encryption wizard.
Unlike for operating system volumes, data volumes are not required to pass any configuration tests for the wizard to proceed. Upon launching the wizard, a choice of authentication methods to unlock the drive appears. The available options are password and smart card and automatically unlock this drive on this computer. Disabled by default, the latter option will unlock the data volume without user input when the operating system volume is unlocked.
After selecting the desired authentication method and choosing Next, the wizard presents options for storage of the recovery key. These options are the same as for operating system volumes.
With the recovery key saved, selecting Next in the wizard will show available options for encryption. These options are the same as for operating system volumes; used disk space only and full drive encryption. If the volume being encrypted is new or empty, it is recommended that used space only encryption is selected.
With an encryption method chosen, a final confirmation screen displays before beginning the encryption process. Selecting Start encrypting will begin encryption.
Encryption status displays in the notification area or within the BitLocker control panel.
Windows OneDrive option
There is a new option for storing the BitLocker recovery key using the Windows OneDrive. This option requires that computers are not members of a domain and that the user is using a Microsoft Account. A Microsoft Account is an account tied to a user's Windows Live ID. Local accounts do not give the option to utilize OneDrive. Using the OneDrive option is the default, recommended recovery key storage method for computers that are not joined to a domain.
Users can verify the recovery key was saved properly by checking their OneDrive for the BitLocker folder which is created automatically during the save process. The folder will contain two files, a readme.txt and the recovery key. For users storing more than one recovery password on their OneDrive, they can identify the required recovery key by looking at the file name. The recovery key ID is appended to the end of the file name.
Using BitLocker within Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer allows users to launch the BitLocker Drive Encryption wizard by right clicking on a volume and selecting Turn On BitLocker. This option is available on client computers by default. On servers, you must first install the BitLocker and Desktop-Experience features for this option to be available. After selecting Turn on BitLocker, the wizard works exactly as it does when launched using the BitLocker control panel.
Down-level compatibility
The following table shows the compatibility matrix for systems that have been BitLocker enabled then presented to a different version of Windows.
Table 1: Cross compatibility for Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 encrypted volumes
Encryption Type | Windows 8.1 | Windows 8 | Windows 7 |
Fully encrypted on Windows 8 | Presents as fully encrypted | N/A | Presented as fully encrypted |
Used Disk Space Only encrypted on Windows 8 | Presents as encrypt on write | N/A | Presented as fully encrypted |
Fully encrypted volume from Windows 7 | Presents as fully encrypted | Presented as fully encrypted | N/A |
Partially encrypted volume from Windows 7 | Windows 8.1 will complete encryption regardless of policy | Windows 8 will complete encryption regardless of policy | N/A |
Encrypting volumes using the manage-bde command line interface
Manage-bde is a command-line utility that can be used for scripting BitLocker operations. Manage-bde offers additional options not displayed in the BitLocker control panel. For a complete list of the options, see Manage-bde.
Manage-bde offers a multitude of wider options for configuring BitLocker. This means that using the command syntax may require care and possibly later customization by the user. For example, using just the manage-bde -on command on a data volume will fully encrypt the volume without any authenticating protectors. A volume encrypted in this manner still requires user interaction to turn on BitLocker protection, even though the command successfully completed because an authentication method needs to be added to the volume for it to be fully protected.
Command line users need to determine the appropriate syntax for a given situation. The following section covers general encryption for operating system volumes and data volumes.
Operating system volume
Listed below are examples of basic valid commands for operating system volumes. In general, using only the manage-bde -on <drive letter> command will encrypt the operating system volume with a TPM-only protector and no recovery key. However, many environments require more secure protectors such as passwords or PIN and expect to be able to recover information with a recovery key.
Determining volume status
A good practice when using manage-bde is to determine the volume status on the target system. Use the following command to determine volume status:
This command returns the volumes on the target, current encryption status and volume type (operating system or data) for each volume. Using this information, users can determine the best encryption method for their environment.
Enabling BitLocker without a TPM
For example, suppose that you want to enable BitLocker on a computer without a TPM chip. To properly enable BitLocker for the operating system volume, you will need to use a USB flash drive as a startup key to boot (in this example, the drive letter E). You would first create the startup key needed for BitLocker using the –protectors option and save it to the USB drive on E: and then begin the encryption process. You will need to reboot the computer when prompted to complete the encryption process.
Enabling BitLocker with a TPM only
It is possible to encrypt the operating system volume without any defined protectors using manage-bde. The command to do this is:
This will encrypt the drive using the TPM as the protector. If a user is unsure of the protector for a volume, they can use the -protectors option in manage-bde to list this information with the command:
Provisioning BitLocker with two protectors
Another example is a user on non-TPM hardware who wishes to add a password and SID-based protector to the operating system volume. In this instance, the user adds the protectors first. This is done with the command:
This command will require the user to enter and then confirm the password protector before adding them to the volume. With the protectors enabled on the volume, the user just needs to turn BitLocker on.
Data volume
Data volumes use the same syntax for encryption as operating system volumes but they do not require protectors for the operation to complete. Encrypting data volumes can be done using the base command: manage-bde -on <drive letter> or users can choose to add protectors to the volume. It is recommended that at least one primary protector and a recovery protector be added to a data volume.
Enabling BitLocker with a password
A common protector for a data volume is the password protector. In the example below, we add a password protector to the volume and turn BitLocker on.
Using manage-bde to encrypt volumes with BitLocker
Encrypting volumes using the BitLocker Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Windows PowerShell cmdlets provide an alternative way to work with BitLocker. Using Windows PowerShell's scripting capabilities, administrators can integrate BitLocker options into existing scripts with ease. The list below displays the available BitLocker cmdlets.
Name | Parameters |
Add-BitLockerKeyProtector | -ADAccountOrGroup -ADAccountOrGroupProtector -Confirm -MountPoint -Password -PasswordProtector -Pin -RecoveryKeyPath -RecoveryKeyProtector -RecoveryPassword -RecoveryPasswordProtector -Service -StartupKeyPath -StartupKeyProtector -TpmAndPinAndStartupKeyProtector -TpmAndPinProtector -TpmAndStartupKeyProtector -TpmProtector -WhatIf |
Backup-BitLockerKeyProtector | -Confirm -KeyProtectorId -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Disable-BitLocker | -Confirm -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Disable-BitLockerAutoUnlock | -Confirm -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Enable-BitLocker | -AdAccountOrGroup -AdAccountOrGroupProtector -Confirm -EncryptionMethod -HardwareEncryption -Password -PasswordProtector -Pin -RecoveryKeyPath -RecoveryKeyProtector -RecoveryPassword -RecoveryPasswordProtector -Service -SkipHardwareTest -StartupKeyPath -StartupKeyProtector -TpmAndPinAndStartupKeyProtector -TpmAndPinProtector -TpmAndStartupKeyProtector -TpmProtector -UsedSpaceOnly -WhatIf |
Enable-BitLockerAutoUnlock | -Confirm -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Get-BitLockerVolume | -MountPoint |
Lock-BitLocker | -Confirm -ForceDismount -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Remove-BitLockerKeyProtector | -Confirm -KeyProtectorId -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Resume-BitLocker | -Confirm -MountPoint -WhatIf |
Suspend-BitLocker | -Confirm -MountPoint -RebootCount -WhatIf |
Unlock-BitLocker | -AdAccountOrGroup -Confirm -MountPoint -Password -RecoveryKeyPath -RecoveryPassword -RecoveryPassword -WhatIf |
Similar to manage-bde, the Windows PowerShell cmdlets allow configuration beyond the options offered in the control panel. As with manage-bde, users need to consider the specific needs of the volume they are encrypting prior to running Windows PowerShell cmdlets.
A good initial step is to determine the current state of the volume(s) on the computer. You can do this using the Get-BitLocker volume cmdlet. The output from this cmdlet displays information on the volume type, protectors, protection status, and other useful information.
Occasionally, all protectors may not be shown when using Get-BitLockerVolume due to lack of space in the output display. If you do not see all of the protectors for a volume, you can use the Windows PowerShell pipe command ( ) to format a listing of the protectors.
Note
In the event that there are more than four protectors for a volume, the pipe command may run out of display space. For volumes with more than four protectors, use the method described in the section below to generate a listing of all protectors with protector ID.
If you wanted to remove the existing protectors prior to provisioning BitLocker on the volume, you can utilize the Remove-BitLockerKeyProtector cmdlet. Accomplishing this requires the GUID associated with the protector to be removed.
A simple script can pipe the values of each Get-BitLockerVolume return out to another variable as seen below:
Using this, we can display the information in the $keyprotectors variable to determine the GUID for each protector.
Using this information, we can then remove the key protector for a specific volume using the command:
Note
The BitLocker cmdlet requires the key protector GUID enclosed in quotation marks to execute. Ensure the entire GUID, with braces, is included in the command.
Operating system volume
Using the BitLocker Windows PowerShell cmdlets is similar to working with the manage-bde tool for encrypting operating system volumes. Windows PowerShell offers users a lot of flexibility. For example, users can add the desired protector as part command for encrypting the volume. Below are examples of common user scenarios and steps to accomplish them using the BitLocker cmdlets for Windows PowerShell.
To enable BitLocker with just the TPM protector. This can be done using the command:
The example below adds one additional protector, the StartupKey protectors, and chooses to skip the BitLocker hardware test. In this example, encryption starts immediately without the need for a reboot.
Data volume
Data volume encryption using Windows PowerShell is the same as for operating system volumes. You should add the desired protectors prior to encrypting the volume. The following example adds a password protector to the E: volume using the variable $pw as the password. The $pw variable is held as a SecureString value to store the user defined password. Last, encryption begins.
Using a SID based protector in Windows PowerShell
The ADAccountOrGroup protector is an Active Directory SID-based protector. This protector can be added to both operating system and data volumes, although it does not unlock operating system volumes in the pre-boot environment. The protector requires the SID for the domain account or group to link with the protector. BitLocker can protect a cluster-aware disk by adding a SID-based protector for the Cluster Name Object (CNO) that lets the disk properly failover and be unlocked to any member computer of the cluster.
Warning
The SID-based protector requires the use of an additional protector (such as TPM, PIN, recovery key, etc.) when used on operating system volumes.
To add an ADAccountOrGroup protector to a volume requires either the actual domain SID or the group name preceded by the domain and a backslash. In the example below, the CONTOSOAdministrator account is added as a protector to the data volume G.
For users who wish to use the SID for the account or group, the first step is to determine the SID associated with the account. To get the specific SID for a user account in Windows PowerShell, use the following command:
Note
Use of this command requires the RSAT-AD-PowerShell feature.
Tip
In addition to the PowerShell command above, information about the locally logged on user and group membership can be found using: WHOAMI /ALL. This does not require the use of additional features.
In the example below, the user wishes to add a domain SID based protector to the previously encrypted operating system volume. The user knows the SID for the user account or group they wish to add and uses the following command:
Note
Active Directory-based protectors are normally used to unlock Failover Cluster enabled volumes.
Using PowerShell to encrypt volumes with BitLocker
Checking BitLocker Status
To check the BitLocker status of a particular volume, administrators can look at the status of the drive in the BitLocker control panel applet, Windows Explorer, manage-bde command line tool, or Windows PowerShell cmdlets. Each option offers different levels of detail and ease of use. We will look at each of the available methods in the following section.
Checking BitLocker status with the control panel
Checking BitLocker status with the control panel is the most common method used by most users. Once opened, the status for each volume will display next to the volume description and drive letter. Available status return values with the control panel include:
Status | Description |
On | BitLocker is enabled for the volume |
Off | BitLocker is not enabled for the volume |
Suspended | BitLocker is suspended and not actively protecting the volume |
Waiting for Activation | BitLocker is enabled with a clear protector key and requires further action to be fully protected |
If a drive is pre-provisioned with BitLocker, a status of 'Waiting for Activation' displays with a yellow exclamation icon on volume E. This status means that there was only a clear protector used when encrypting the volume. In this case, the volume is not in a protected state and needs to have a secure key added to the volume before the drive is fully protected. Administrators can use the control panel, manage-bde tool, or WMI APIs to add an appropriate key protector. Once complete, the control panel will update to reflect the new status.
Using the control panel, administrators can choose Turn on BitLocker to start the BitLocker Drive Encryption wizard and add a protector, like PIN for an operating system volume (or password if no TPM exists), or a password or smart card protector to a data volume.
The drive security window displays prior to changing the volume status. Selecting Activate BitLocker will complete the encryption process.
Once BitLocker protector activation is completed, the completion notice is displayed.
Checking BitLocker status with manage-bde
Administrators who prefer a command line interface can utilize manage-bde to check volume status. Manage-bde is capable of returning more information about the volume than the graphical user interface tools in the control panel. For example, manage-bde can display the BitLocker version in use, the encryption type, and the protectors associated with a volume.
To check the status of a volume using manage-bde, use the following command:
Note
If no volume letter is associated with the -status command, all volumes on the computer display their status.
Checking BitLocker status with Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell commands offer another way to query BitLocker status for volumes. Like manage-bde, Windows PowerShell includes the advantage of being able to check the status of a volume on a remote computer.
Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Download
Using the Get-BitLockerVolume cmdlet, each volume on the system will display its current BitLocker status. To get information that is more detailed on a specific volume, use the following command:
This command will display information about the encryption method, volume type, key protectors, etc.
Provisioning BitLocker during operating system deployment
Administrators can enable BitLocker prior to operating system deployment from the Windows Pre-installation Environment. This is done with a randomly generated clear key protector applied to the formatted volume and encrypting the volume prior to running the Windows setup process. If the encryption uses the Used Disk Space Only option described later in this document, this step takes only a few seconds and incorporates well into regular deployment processes.
Decrypting BitLocker volumes
Decrypting volumes removes BitLocker and any associated protectors from the volumes. Decryption should occur when protection is no longer required. BitLocker decryption should not occur as a troubleshooting step. BitLocker can be removed from a volume using the BitLocker control panel applet, manage-bde, or Windows PowerShell cmdlets. We will discuss each method further below.
Decrypting volumes using the BitLocker control panel applet
BitLocker decryption using the control panel is done using a Wizard. The control panel can be called from Windows Explorer or by opening the directly. After opening the BitLocker control panel, users will select the Turn off BitLocker option to begin the process.
Once selected, the user chooses to continue by clicking the confirmation dialog. With Turn off BitLocker confirmed, the drive decryption process will begin and report status to the control panel.
The control panel does not report decryption progress but displays it in the notification area of the task bar. Selecting the notification area icon will open a modal dialog with progress.
Once decryption is complete, the drive will update its status in the control panel and is available for encryption.
Decrypting volumes using the manage-bde command line interface
Decrypting volumes using manage-bde is very straightforward. Decryption with manage-bde offers the advantage of not requiring user confirmation to start the process. Manage-bde uses the -off command to start the decryption process. A sample command for decryption is:
This command disables protectors while it decrypts the volume and removes all protectors when decryption is complete. If a user wishes to check the status of the decryption, they can use the following command:
Decrypting volumes using the BitLocker Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Decryption with Windows PowerShell cmdlets is straightforward, similar to manage-bde. The additional advantage Windows PowerShell offers is the ability to decrypt multiple drives in one pass. In the example below, the user has three encrypted volumes, which they wish to decrypt.
Using the Disable-BitLocker command, they can remove all protectors and encryption at the same time without the need for additional commands. An example of this command is:
Bitlocker Recovery Key Generator For Windows 7 Free
If a user did not want to input each mount point individually, using the -MountPoint parameter in an array can sequence the same command into one line without requiring additional user input. An example command is: