PSA: Do not enable BitLocker unless you immediately activate it with your windows account.
Friends don't let friends have BitLocker enabled unless they activate it.
So, someone comes to me with a laptop - water damage, doesn't power on, ect. It's my job to simply take out the hard drive and grab whatever data I can.
Ok, no problem right?
It's all fun and games until I remove the hard drive from the computer and try to access it. BitLocker. WHY. Why do you have BitLocker enabled if you didn't activate it with your windows account?
Here is the hard truth:
If you have BitLocker enabled without activating it and something happens - like water damage - all the IT support in the world isn't going to be able to get your data.
When the hard drive is removed from the original device, BitLocker is triggered. But you will never know your key to get access to your own information unless you had previously activated your key. Your assorted data, important business information, and family photos are NOT SAFE. They will be lost.
Options:
- Save to the cloud
- Do routine backups elsewhere
- Disable BitLocker
- Fully activate BitLocker
Do not live in limbo, you are playing with fire, only to the disadvantage of yourself!
I spent the entire day, trying to figure out how I could get the data for a loyal customer. You know how bad that sucks when you can't even do the thing you are supposed to be able to do...
I tried anyways. I spent all day googling work-arounds and trying a few things. Massive waste of time. Even if they can log into their Microsoft account, they will not have their BitLocker key if it was not activated.
Go forth now, and save everyone.