this post was submitted on 05 May 2026
990 points (97.8% liked)
Technology
84413 readers
4257 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Were you able to get your bitlocker key from your Microsoft account or save it when bitlocker activated? IIRC you can use that key to access the drive from a live Linux USB, get all your files off, then just install said Linux over the encrypted Windows install (which you should be able to do even if you don’t have the key).
There is no key. There's no bitlocker account and theres no Microsoft account.
The key is created when bitlocker activates, if bitlocker is on then there is a key. It’s the same as the password you create when you encrypt your Linux disk, it just creates a stupid long one for you so you will be inclined to make an account to save it rather than just remembering it like a password.
Well theres no MS account, and there's no way past the bitlocker screen, so... Its a bit-brick
That sucks. But like I said before, you should still be able to use the drive/machine. You will just need to reinstall Windows or, preferably, install another OS. I recommend Mint or Fedora if you are new to installing OSes and KDE over Gnome if you are used to Windows.
It won't let me. It even blocks factory resetting. I literally mean it's a brick. I tried for three months to fix it.
I’m confused by what you mean when you say it won’t let you. Windows itself shouldn’t have any say over what’s going on as far as booting like a USB drive goes. Assuming this isn’t an ARM device and even then you should still be able to install Linux, have you turned off Secure Boot or tried resetting the BIOS altogether?
Rebooting, resetting, turning it on, etc, it all goes to the same exact bitlocker screen.
Yes. As ive said ive attempted to reset it for theee months.
What kind of machine is it? Typically you will need to tell it to boot to the USB by hitting F1, or F2, or F12, or Del, etc. immediately after you hit the power button.
That is correct. I know your trying to help. But after multiple months I'm over it.
Fair enough. Best of luck to you!
Thanks man