Bitlocker keeps prompting for Recovery Key
Every once in a while, a laptop experiences problems where Bitlocker keeps prompting for Recovery key every time the laptop is rebooted. Obviously, this should not happen and can be extremely annoying. Not sure how this happens but one suspicion is that the user inadvertently interrupts the encryption process by powering off the laptop right in the middle of the encryption process. Even though you should be able to interrupt the encryption process, it could create some instability. I know it’s weak but it’s all I got. The instructions below outline a process to fix this issue instead of just re-imaging the PC. This process has worked successfully for me in the past and is worth a shot before having to reinvest the time to re-image the PC.
STEP 1
Bitlocker must be suspended
Open elevated command prompt or recovery boot to command prompt.
To recovery boot go to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery > Under Advanced Startup, click Restart After Reboot go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt. After changes you must enable secure boot in the bios if it was disabled previously.
STEP 2
Convert MBR to GPT using the mbr2gpt Disk Conversion Tool
Run the following commands one at a time.
mbr2gpt /validate <– run this command first
mbr2gpt /convert <– run this command second
** If you enter in a Bitlocker Recovery key and log into Windows, then you will need to run the commands with the /allowFullOS switch
mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS <– run this command first
mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS<– run this command second
Sample Output
This sample shows that all volumes but DO NOT have Bitlocker suspended. If Bitlocker has not been suspended, you should receive results similar to the example below.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>mbr2gpt /validate
MBR2GPT: Attempting to validate disk 0
MBR2GPT: Retrieving layout of disk
MBR2GPT: Validating layout, disk sector size is: 512 bytes
All BitLocker-encrypted volumes on the disk must have protection suspended.
Cannot get volume information to restore drive letter mapping.
Successful validation
This sample shows that all volumes AND HAVE Bitlocker suspended. If Bitlocker HAS been suspended, you should receive results similar to the example below.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>mbr2gpt /validate
MBR2GPT: Attempting to validate disk 0
MBR2GPT: Retrieving layout of disk
MBR2GPT: Validating layout, disk sector size is: 512 bytes
MBR2GPT: Validation completed successfully
Successful conversion
This sample shows that all volumes were converted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>mbr2gpt /convert
MBR2GPT will now attempt to convert the default book disk.
If conversion is successful the disk can only be booted in GPT mode.
These changes cannot be undone!
MBR2GPT: Attempting to convert disk 0
MBR2GPT: Retrieving layout of disk
MBR2GPT: Validating layout, disk sector size is: 512 bytes
MBR2GPT: Trying to shrink the OS partition
MBR2GPT: Creating the EFI system partition
MBR2GPT: Installing the new boot files
MBR2GPT: Performing the layout conversion
MBR2GPT: Migrating default boot entry
MBR2GPT: Adding recovery boot entry
MBR2GPT: Fixing drive letter mapping
MBR2GPT: Conversion completed successfully
MBR2GPT: Before the new system can boot properly you need to switch the firmware to boot to UEFI mode!
STEP 3
Reboot your PC
Please remember that MBR2GPT can only be used from the Windows Preinstallation Environment. To use it from your computer after you’ve logged on to Windows, you have to use /allowFullOS to override.
References
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/convert-mbr-to-gpt-disk
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/mbr2gpt-tool-windows-10
