I have an external HD which is Bitlocker-to-go (BtG) enabled. Everytime I connect it to my W7 machine, I get prompted for the password, which I enter and get access to the data on the drive. Last week, I connected the drive to a server 2008 R2, which by default has bitlocker feature disabled, so I did not get prompted for the BtG password and the drive remained encrypted. While the drive was still connected, I enabled the bitlocker feature on the server and then rebooted the server. After the reboot, I unplugged/replugged the external HD but I still didn't get prompted for the password. When I go to my computer and double click on the disk I get prompted to either enter the 48-bit recovery password or point to the recovery key. Even if I connect the disk to another machine, I get the same issue. Can anyone explain what exactly happened and how to fix the issue? I had posted this last week but for some reason I can't access the post anymore with the message "You are not authorized to perform this action." so I'm now reposting.

Hi, Specific operations or actions will cause Bitlocker to go into Recovery Mode and ask you to enter the 48-digit Recovery Key. This can be caused by several things. For more information, please refer to the following TechNet blog. http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2010/08/04/issues-resulting-in-bitlocker-recovery-mode-and-their-resolution.aspx Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

open elevated command prompt and then run this below command. >manage-bde -protectors -get d: where d is the drive letter of the external HD Let us know the result of this command. Manoj Sehgal

Hi, Specific operations or actions will cause Bitlocker to go into Recovery Mode and ask you to enter the 48-digit Recovery Key. This can be caused by several things. For more information, please refer to the following TechNet blog. http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2010/08/04/issues-resulting-in-bitlocker-recovery-mode-and-their-resolution.aspx Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thank you Juke and Manoj for your helpful replies. I will try the manage-bde command and let you know how it goes once I get hold of the HD next week (went on a trip and left it at home).

Hi, How's going on this? Please free feel to give us any update. Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I will definitely let you know how it goes. Unfortunately, I won't have access to the drive until Oct 10th. Will get back to you then!

Hi, Thanks for your response, if you have any update, please do not hesitate to let us know. Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Ran manage-bde -protectors -get e: and got the below output: C:\Windows\system32>manage-bde -protectors -get e: BitLocker Drive Encryption: Configuration Tool version 6.1.7601 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Volume E: [Label Unknown] All Key Protectors Numerical Password: ID: {F1506B6B-0F8E-487E-86F4-6234B2B2208C} External Key: ID: {74C2768A-B0B7-4082-8A94-9DCFE3CF241B} External Key File Name: 74C2768A-B0B7-4082-8A94-9DCFE3CF241B.BEK External Key: ID: {32ED0370-E47E-40B0-9BC3-C0A006398608} External Key File Name: 32ED0370-E47E-40B0-9BC3-C0A006398608.BEK

Also tried manage-bde -unlock e: -pw output: BitLocker Drive Encryption: Configuration Tool version 6.1.7601 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Enter the password to unlock this volume: BTGPASSWORDHERE ERROR: The password failed to unlock volume E: I'm sure I'm entering the right password! Is it expecting the recovery password instead? What's the difference between the bitlocker-to-go password and the "recovery" password if they both unlock the drive?

Hi, The recovery code is used for decrypting the files when the password you set is missing or Bitlocker to go enters Recovery Mode. So now you need to find out the recovery code which is set during enabling encryption to decypt this drive. Why you need a recovery password for BitLocker Drive Encryption http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Why-you-need-a-recovery-password-for-BitLocker-Drive-Encryption Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Recovery code is not available. How can I get the drive to start prompting for the password (to unlock it) again?

Also tried manage-bde -unlock e: -pw output: BitLocker Drive Encryption: Configuration Tool version 6.1.7601 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Enter the password to unlock this volume: BTGPASSWORDHERE ERROR: The password failed to unlock volume E: I'm sure I'm entering the right password! Is it expecting the recovery password instead? What's the difference between the bitlocker-to-go password and the "recovery" password if they both unlock the drive? Answer: Recovery Password is 48 digit recovery password. BitLocker to go password is the password which you set when you encrypted the volume. open windows explorer, select the drive, right click and select unlock drive. it will prompt for password to unlock it. if you forgot your password, then you have to supply 48 digit password.Manoj Sehgal

Hi, I am afraid you must enter recovery code to gain the access again. The following article is for your reference. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee449438(WS.10).aspx#BKMK_examplesosrec Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi, I am afraid you must enter recovery code to gain the access again. The following article is for your reference. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee449438(WS.10).aspx#BKMK_examplesosrec Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi, Since you need to type the Recovery Code to exit Recovery Mode. I will mark my reply as Answered. If you have further question about this, please feel free to let me know. You may also choose to unmark this thread. Thanks. Regards, Juke TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.