As is well known, BitLocker drive encryption is an integrated Windows feature that shields your data from being stolen, corrupted, or copied by malevolent users. But from BitLocker encrypted hard drives, how can data be recovered? All will be explained by MiniTool.
Most people worry how to keep confidential data from being read, changed, or destroyed by outsiders after saving it to a hard disk. Many of them will therefore enable BitLocker to protect hard drives containing sensitive information.
BitLocker Overview
Why Use BitLocker?
Microsoft has a built-in encryption program called BitLocker. Having debuted with Windows Vista, it has always been user-friendly. Adding this capability to Windows was mostly done to improve PC data protection.
In order to guarantee that system settings and critical data won't be altered even when you are not next to the computer or the device is lost or stolen, BitLocker employs TPM to help safeguard Windows OS (Operating System) and your data.
In some places where TPM is not permitted, BitLocker can also function well without it. To alter the default behavior of the BitLocker setup process or to configure BitLocker using a script, however, you will need to employ a group policy.
The Ultimate/Enterprise versions of Windows 7 and the Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions of Windows 10/11 come with BitLocker.
Rewards of BitLocker Encryption
Windows BitLocker can be your first option if you wish to encrypt your sensitive/private/business data to guarantee data security. Just typing "BitLocker" into Google will get a tonne of hits. It indicates the great interest in BitLocker among many people.
A poll indicates that BitLocker is turned on mostly for the following reasons.
After Windows is installed, BitLocker is inevitably enabled.
The choice of the business about data security.
Strong feeling of data security among users.
For uses in research.
Reasons BitLocker Encrypted Drives Lose Data
People are asking more and more how to get data back from BitLocker protected hard disks. Directly, BitLocker drive encryption is causing data loss for an increasing number of users.
Now let us examine the most typical specific situations where BitLocker is enabled and data is lost.
Note that the BitLocker will start working right away after encryption is finished. Rather, before a computer restarts, you can access data in it as usual. At this moment, incorrect actions like drive formatting and file deletion could result in the loss of your data.
It is possible to lose data stored on a BitLocker secured device even after the protection was turned on. You might unintentionally format the drive or malware might assault it.
To sum up, there exist a few typical causes of data loss on BitLocker protected devices.
Unintentional user errors include destroying files, formatting disks, visiting dubious websites and becoming infected with viruses.
Hardware issues include, among others, physical damage to the disc, a faulty connection between computers and hard drives, and an unstable power supply.
BitLocker may crash because of an unforeseen problem that forces the encryption to be terminated. And then you can fail at any attempt to carry on with the procedure.
What to do when you run across these issues is as follows.
First of all, please remain composed and upbeat; frequently, this is the secret to success.
Second, to start data recovery, select third-party software.
Thirdly, if at all possible, repair the damaged hard disk or partition and review the recovered files.
Operating a BitLocker Drive Encryption Recovery
Let's learn now how to retrieve data from hard disks encrypted with BitLocker.
A BitLocker drive encryption recovery must be done with a third-party recovery software.
Having many users, BLR BitLocker Data Recovery is a solid option. When data loss suddenly occurs, you can recover data as soon as possible if you are prepared with this tool.
To try BLR BitLocker Data Recovery Software right now, download and launch it.
Then, to successfully recover data from a BitLocker encrypted drive, do as instructed below.
The BitLocker encrypted drive should be double-clicked in File Explorer. Type the password in the resulting window to decrypt it.
Start the programme to view the main window. Choose the proper drive under Logical Drives and click Scan to begin file detection.
The programme will display the files it detected during the scan after it has finished. To be sure the necessary files are included, you can preview them.
To stop the scanning if it has located the files you require, click the "Stop" button.
If the scan has not yet turned up any objects you wish to recover, you can wait for it to finish and then review the scan findings when it is.
Choose every file you wish to recover. Click Save and then select a location for those files to be stored. Click OK at last to finish your choice and begin file recovery to the designated location.
Naturally, you can decide to retrieve critical files from a BitLocker protected drive by depending on a BitLocker data recovery agent. But after the recuperation is over, you have to be ready to shell out a lot of money for it. Furthermore, there can be a leak of privacy if any sensitive data is involved.
Nevertheless, as practically all of the third-party BitLocker data recovery software/BitLocker key recovery tools are not available for physically damaged hard drives, you will be forced to contact a data recovery agent if your file loss issue is unfortunately brought on by hardware issues.
BitLocker Hard Disk Encryption and Decryption
In reality, you might have never utilized BitLocker even if you have seen it available from the context menu when you right-click on a drive in File Explorer. You may follow these steps to try BitLocker encryption.
1. What BitLocker Encrypts
To start, choose Turn on BitLocker by right-clicking the drive you wish to encrypt.
And then you may finish the encryption procedure by doing those actions.
Select a smart card or a password as one or more methods of drive unlocking.
Press "Next."
Select to print or save the recovery key to a file or to your Microsoft account.
Referring to the screen directions, click the "Next" button to set up more values.
Confirm by hitting the "Start encrypting" button in the "Are you ready to encrypt this drive" dialog.
2. Bitlocker Decryption
The BitLocker drive can be decrypted in the following ways.
Method 1. Use a password to immediately decrypt
Choose Manage BitLocker by doing a right-click on the encrypted drive.
To decrypt the partition, pick the encrypted drive and choose Unlock drive.
Method 2. Use of TPM chip
All the keys and other information required in the encryption and decryption process are stored on this specific chip, which must be fixed or added to the motherboard (Windows' BitLocker feature requires a 1.2 or higher version of TPM chip).
Method 3. Use PIN code
PIN code can be used in the absence of a TPM chip. Said another way, use a smart card to unlock your disk.
Method 4. Recover with the BitLocker key.
A file produced during encryption, the BitLocker recovery key cannot be utilized on its own and requires a PIN code or TPM chip.
Bottom Line
Everyday life requires you to be aware of data security. Activating BitLocker on Windows is one of the most often used ways to safeguard private or business sensitive data. Data loss issues do, however, typically arise either during or after the encryption process is finished.
For BitLocker drive encryption recovery, you should thus select trustworthy data recovery software such as BLR BitLocker Data Recovery.
Besides, you should regularly back up your files.
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