From 9b533a657bb9c3967117e21ec3e396b0972999a6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: martyav Date: Tue, 7 May 2019 16:22:10 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 1/6] first draft of bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md --- .../bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 43 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 43 insertions(+) create mode 100644 windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..37f3081e63 --- /dev/null +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ +--- +title: Breaking out of a Bitlocker recovery loop +description: This topic for IT professionals describes how to break out of a Bitlocker recovery loop. +ms.assetid: #c40f87ac-17d3-47b2-afc6-6c641f72ecee +ms.prod: w10 +ms.mktglfcycl: explore +ms.sitesec: library +ms.pagetype: security +ms.localizationpriority: #medium +ms.author: v-maave +author: martyav +manager: dansimp +audience: ITPro +ms.collection: M365-security-compliance +ms.topic: conceptual +ms.date: 05/07/2019 +--- + +# Breaking out of a Bitlocker recovery loop + +Sometimes, when you attempt to perform a Bitlocker recovery, you can get stuck in a loop where you are repeatedly prompted to enter your recovery key. The key may be correct, yet you are unable to boot into your operating system, no matter what. + +If you have entered your key several times and are unable to break out of the recovery loop by successfully booting into your operating system, you can break the loop with the following steps. + +## Alternate recovery steps + +Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once. + +1. On the initial recovery screen, do not enter your recovery key. Select '''Skip this drive'''. + +2. On the next screen, select '''Troubleshoot'''. + +3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select '''Advanced options'''. + +4. On the Advanced options screen, select '''Command prompt'''. + +5. At the WinRE command prompt, you need to manually run an unlock command with your recovery password: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` + +6. After running this command, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` + +7. Once this is run, you can safely exit and continue booting. + +After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to boot into your operating system. \ No newline at end of file From ea83ccbf448ff18cccf48053e4eda39d4f65d6d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: martyav Date: Tue, 7 May 2019 16:40:39 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/6] corrected bold formatting --- .../bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 12 ++++++------ 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md index 37f3081e63..c32392f01c 100644 --- a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -20,24 +20,24 @@ ms.date: 05/07/2019 Sometimes, when you attempt to perform a Bitlocker recovery, you can get stuck in a loop where you are repeatedly prompted to enter your recovery key. The key may be correct, yet you are unable to boot into your operating system, no matter what. -If you have entered your key several times and are unable to break out of the recovery loop by successfully booting into your operating system, you can break the loop with the following steps. +If you have entered your key several times and are unable to break out of the recovery loop by successfully booting into your operating system, try the following steps. ## Alternate recovery steps Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once. -1. On the initial recovery screen, do not enter your recovery key. Select '''Skip this drive'''. +1. On the initial recovery screen, do not enter your recovery key. Select **Skip this drive**. -2. On the next screen, select '''Troubleshoot'''. +2. On the next screen, select **Troubleshoot**. -3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select '''Advanced options'''. +3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select **Advanced options**. -4. On the Advanced options screen, select '''Command prompt'''. +4. On the Advanced options screen, select **Command prompt**. 5. At the WinRE command prompt, you need to manually run an unlock command with your recovery password: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` 6. After running this command, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` -7. Once this is run, you can safely exit and continue booting. +7. Once this is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue booting. After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to boot into your operating system. \ No newline at end of file From cc91e5327f72fe5ec3adad1256d7fe979b4a386d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: martyav Date: Tue, 7 May 2019 17:14:45 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 3/6] refining text --- .../bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 25 ++++++++++++------- 1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md index c32392f01c..24346a5691 100644 --- a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -18,26 +18,33 @@ ms.date: 05/07/2019 # Breaking out of a Bitlocker recovery loop -Sometimes, when you attempt to perform a Bitlocker recovery, you can get stuck in a loop where you are repeatedly prompted to enter your recovery key. The key may be correct, yet you are unable to boot into your operating system, no matter what. +Sometimes, you can get stuck in a loop where you are repeatedly prompted to enter your Bitlocker recovery key. This can be very frustrating. -If you have entered your key several times and are unable to break out of the recovery loop by successfully booting into your operating system, try the following steps. +If you've entered the correct recovery key multiple times, follow these steps to break out of the loop. -## Alternate recovery steps +> [!NOTE] +> Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once. -Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once. +1. On the initial recovery screen, don't enter your recovery key. Instead, select **Skip this drive**. -1. On the initial recovery screen, do not enter your recovery key. Select **Skip this drive**. +![](placeholder-1.png) 2. On the next screen, select **Troubleshoot**. + +![](placeholder-2.png) 3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select **Advanced options**. +![](placeholder-3.png) + 4. On the Advanced options screen, select **Command prompt**. -5. At the WinRE command prompt, you need to manually run an unlock command with your recovery password: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` +![](placeholder-4.png) -6. After running this command, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` +5. From the WinRE command prompt, manually unlock your drive: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` -7. Once this is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue booting. +6. Next, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` -After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to boot into your operating system. \ No newline at end of file +7. Once the last command is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue booting. + +After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to successfully boot into your operating system. \ No newline at end of file From cbbd2b6f9a77bac24bacabfc6831b99cab33137a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Marty Hernandez Avedon Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:36:01 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 4/6] removed placeholders --- .../bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 10 +--------- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md index 24346a5691..4be9c4d282 100644 --- a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -27,24 +27,16 @@ If you've entered the correct recovery key multiple times, follow these steps to 1. On the initial recovery screen, don't enter your recovery key. Instead, select **Skip this drive**. -![](placeholder-1.png) - 2. On the next screen, select **Troubleshoot**. -![](placeholder-2.png) - 3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select **Advanced options**. -![](placeholder-3.png) - 4. On the Advanced options screen, select **Command prompt**. -![](placeholder-4.png) - 5. From the WinRE command prompt, manually unlock your drive: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` 6. Next, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` 7. Once the last command is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue booting. -After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to successfully boot into your operating system. \ No newline at end of file +After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to successfully boot into your operating system. From 296b6d8f029e07a5ccff4d769b27ff4d99fb3d60 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Marty Hernandez Avedon Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:55:23 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 5/6] copy edit --- .../bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 20 +++++++++---------- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-) diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md index 4be9c4d282..0578f6a4ab 100644 --- a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -13,30 +13,28 @@ manager: dansimp audience: ITPro ms.collection: M365-security-compliance ms.topic: conceptual -ms.date: 05/07/2019 +ms.date: 10/28/2019 --- # Breaking out of a Bitlocker recovery loop -Sometimes, you can get stuck in a loop where you are repeatedly prompted to enter your Bitlocker recovery key. This can be very frustrating. +Sometimes, following a crash, you might be unable to successfully restart your device, due to the recovery screen repeatedly prompting you to enter your recovery key. This can be very frustrating. -If you've entered the correct recovery key multiple times, follow these steps to break out of the loop. +If you've entered the correct Bitlocker recovery key multiple times, and are still unable to continue past the first recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the loop. > [!NOTE] > Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once. 1. On the initial recovery screen, don't enter your recovery key. Instead, select **Skip this drive**. -2. On the next screen, select **Troubleshoot**. - -3. On the Troubleshoot screen, select **Advanced options**. +1. On the next screen, select **Troubleshoot**. -4. On the Advanced options screen, select **Command prompt**. +1. On the Troubleshoot screen, select **Advanced options**. -5. From the WinRE command prompt, manually unlock your drive: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` +1. On the Advanced options screen, select **Command prompt**. -6. Next, suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` +1. From the WinRE command prompt, manually unlock your drive: `manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp ` -7. Once the last command is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue booting. +1. Suspend operating system drive protection: `manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:` -After you exit the command prompt in step 7, you will be able to successfully boot into your operating system. +1. Once the last command is run, you can safely exit the command prompt and continue to boot into your operating system From 9854bc2c3f86f4a4cfea28299e625c75bf39a529 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Marty Hernandez Avedon Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2019 17:25:23 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 6/6] slight tweaks to wording --- .../bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md | 4 ++-- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md index 0578f6a4ab..36decb2b2f 100644 --- a/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md +++ b/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md @@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ ms.date: 10/28/2019 # Breaking out of a Bitlocker recovery loop -Sometimes, following a crash, you might be unable to successfully restart your device, due to the recovery screen repeatedly prompting you to enter your recovery key. This can be very frustrating. +Sometimes, following a crash, you might be unable to successfully boot into your operating system, due to the recovery screen repeatedly prompting you to enter your recovery key. This can be very frustrating. -If you've entered the correct Bitlocker recovery key multiple times, and are still unable to continue past the first recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the loop. +If you've entered the correct Bitlocker recovery key multiple times, and are still unable to continue past the initial recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the loop. > [!NOTE] > Only try these steps after you have restarted your device at least once.