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Replace SSD in Bitlocked laptop

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codfishsteve

PCHF Member
Sep 14, 2023
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#1
Hi, I've got my daughter-in-law's old laptop that's Bitlocked and she forgotten the Bitlock Key and Recovery Key.
She doesn't care about any data on the existing hard drive and just wants to replace it to get the laptop working again.
I put in a new SSD in but am still asked for the Bitlocker key.
To get round this do I need to clear the TPM keys and then disable TPM - I've considered this but am concerned that I may cause issues. If not, what do I need to do to install a new SSD and load windows.
I repeat, she does not want to recover the data, so there is no security issue.
Any advice would be most appreciated.
 
#2
codfishsteve said:
I put in a new SSD in but am still asked for the Bitlocker key.
Click to expand...

Have you made sure that secure boot is disabled in the BIOS.

codfishsteve said:
I repeat, she does not want to recover the data, so there is no security issue.
Click to expand...

I`m afraid that there is a security issue as you are asking for help with getting around a Bitlocker key and that is something that we will not do.

As per the PCHF Terms and rules that you agreed to abide by when becoming a member;

13. We will not assist with recovery of or figuring out of system passwords, PINs, or 2FA codes for any reason.


The above asides, Bitlocker is not enabled by default, not available in less than Windows Pro and being purely Windows related it should have no bearing if you are trying to clean install Windows on an out of the box new SSD.
 
#3
As I stated in my original question, I do not need help with the Bitlocker key and do not want the data on the existing SSD, that will be destroyed. I have put in a new SSD but on startup it still asks for the Bitlocker key. So I believe that TPM on the chip needs to be disabled and/or the TPM keys cleared BUT I am unsure if this will cause problems so am asking for advice.
 
#4
codfishsteve said:
As I stated in my original question, I do not need help with the Bitlocker key
Click to expand...
codfishsteve said:
I have put in a new SSD but on startup it still asks for the Bitlocker key.
Click to expand...
codfishsteve said:
So I believe that TPM on the chip needs to be disabled and/or the TPM keys cleared BUT I am unsure if this will cause problems so am asking for advice.
Click to expand...

Sorry but you are asking if disabling the TPM will help you get around the Bitlocker issue so you are asking for how to circumvent a security setting.

phillpower2 said:
Have you made sure that secure boot is disabled in the BIOS.
Click to expand...

If enabled the above could be stopping you from being able to install Windows, have you checked the setting.

What are you using to clean install Windows, a DVD or is it on a USB thumbdrive.

Fwiw; TPM is a BIOS security related feature relating to CPUs and has zero to do with Windows.
 
#6
Re TPM and Bitlocker I found this on the Microsoft site https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/a...tlocker-with-without-tpm-whats-the-difference
QUOTE - TPM is a chipset inside the motherboard of your system and when you have this hardware in your device when you attempt to encrypt hard disk, it will store the key inside the TPM. So next time when you boot into your system, it will read they key from the TPM and even if someone take away your hard disk , they won't be able to access the key because it is secure inside the TPM.
 
#7
@codfishsteve I'm going to add the link below not to contradict what you posted but the link you posted has wording, although similar, from a random person on the internet. My link is direct from Microsoft regarding TPM.
The reasoning behind this is at PCHF we want to disseminate actual sources than random sources. Simply for future browsers to learn from proper sources.

TPM Explained
 
#8
codfishsteve said:
Put in new SSD. Went into BIOS and disabled secure boot, set boot as Windows install USB, saved and continued. Then asked for Bitlocker key before it will proceed.
Click to expand...

Which unfortunately means that it has nothing to do with Windows itself but instead a manually created hardware password which means that our hands are tied and the thread must be locked.

Apologies regarding the TPM, I had it in my head that this was a Windows 11 PC which does require CPUs to be TPM compatible.

Thanks for the input xrobwz71 (y)
 
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