Acer laptop locked by Microsoft Bitlocker. I am using Acer s50-53 laptop on windows 10.

Hi Everybody,

I have been locked out of my computer by Microsoft’s Bitlocker on my Acer Aspire. I do not possess a Bitlocker recovery key. I have found three options I can use for unlocking my computer apparently, without losing my documents

I chose the easiest method, in which I go to the bios and access boot and change it to boot legacy. However when I go to boot there doesn’t seem to be a boot legacy option.

I need to know if it’s possible for me to enable legacy boot and how to do it on my computer.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

I use an Acer s50-53 laptop on windows 10.

I have found advice that says if I choose and enter 'Change configuration' on security in my BIOS, I will be able to reboot my computer and it will be unlocked from Bitlocker.

However,

On my security screen, under 'security boot' I only have the following three options:

1. Erase all secure boot settings

2. Select an UEFI file as trusted for executing

3. Restore secure boot to factory default

Some questions, if I may:

1. How can I change configuration in my BIOS if I have no change configuration option and why can't I find 'change configuration' under secure boot?

2. Is restoring secure boot to factory default and restoring BIOS to factory settings the same thing?

3. One person bypassed Bitlocker by reseting 'security keys'. Does anyone know how to do this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Edited the thread to add model number to the title]

Accepted answers

All comments

GAMING6698

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/720150/acer-laptop-locked-by-microsoft-bitlocker

it means your hard drive has been encrypted and you need to enter a recovery key to access your data; this key is usually saved in your Microsoft account and can be retrieved by logging in to your account on another device if you don't have a physical copy.

Log in to your Microsoft account on another device and navigate to the "Devices" section to find your BitLocker recovery key.

Check this-

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

Delay

Hi GAMMING6698,

I'm sure I checked my Microsoft account before, but it told me that there was no Bitlocker recovery key there. I am checking again, but it is taking time for me to successfully access the account. Once I am in and find or don't find the recovery key, I will relate the result to this site.

Your input is much appreciated.

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1323512#Comment_1323512

Hi, there is no other option, if the 48 digits key was not saved in your MS account. T. You cannot even boot to save mode to reformat the drive or run Diskpart as you will have to enter the 48-digit key. I recommend you buy a new SSD and install Windows11 on it.

Delay

Hi Puraw,

Thanks for your suggestion. It is something I am seriously considering.

Delay

Here is a picture of my security Bios page. As mentioned in a previous post, there is no 'Change configuration' under secure boot. I don't have a recovery key.

Is there anybody out their who has an idea of what I can do to bypass Bitlocker and unlock my computer without a recovery key?

What would happen if I restored Secure Boot to factory default or erased all Secure Boot Setting? would I lose my documents or would it cause damage in anyway? Or would it help in anyway?

Thanks.

Axxo

If you have access to another to create installation media, please follow these instructions:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d

Once you have the USB created you can attach this to your new Pc and boot to it, delete the Bitlocker data and then reinstall Windows.

Delay

Thank You Axxo,

I do have access to another computer. This sounds doable

Could you explain a bit about how I boot to my Pc and delete the Bitlocker data? Also, am I likely to lose my files and documents if I use this method?

Much appreciated!

Delay

Hi all. An update.

I downloaded the windows 10 installation media onto a USB, from another computer without any apparent problems.

When I attempted to install it on my windows 10 bitlocker locked laptop,everything was going smoothly until I got to the "Where do you want to install windows?' box. It could not identify any drivers even when I clicked load driver (see pictures, below), even though my USB with windows 10 installation media was in my computer port. From my research it seems I need to have IRST drivers on my windows installation media USB. Is that correct?

I have found the page on this Acer forum to download the drivers, however there is a choice of four IRST drivers to choose from (see picture, below). Does anybody know why there are four of the same? Does it matter which one I choose? Should I choose the one with the highest MB or maybe the one with the lowest? Apart from that I can't see any difference between the four, except one is a 'utility', whatever that means (see list of drivers, below).

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated..

Delay

An update.

Success!

On the Microsoft forum I was advised to change SATA to AHCI in my BIOS as an alternative to extracting IRST drivers and putting them on my windows installation media. I couldn't find SAFA in my BIOS, but after further research I found that disabling the VMD controller was effectively the same action, so I disabled it. This time, when I clicked 'load drivers', seven drives came up including one unallocated space. After deleting the other six drives and clicking 'next', windows started the installation process. The rest of it went smoothly.

Now I have a freshly wiped laptop which I can use again. It feels like I have a new PC. Disabling the VMD was much easier for me than the process of extracting the IRST drivers and getting them onto my installition media USB. It certainly simplified the process, and if not for that, I would probably still be struggling with the IRST drives. I decided to wipe the drive clean after being satisfied that I had saved all of my important files on a USB, previous to my computer being locked.

Thanks again and much appreciation to GAMING6698, Puraw and Axxo Everyone's advice contributed to setting me off on the right track.

Quick Links

Top Members

Weekly

Puraw 225

Diya1811 145

StevenGen 105

Jack22 75

roberthansjorg 62

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™