This tutorial will teach you how to recover deleted or lost files from an inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drive, mainly covering the following aspects:
- Why Does a BitLocker-Encrypted Drive Become Inaccessible?
- How to Recover Data from an Inaccessible BitLocker-Encrypted Drive?
- Tutorial to Recover Data from an Inaccessible BitLocker-Encrypted Drive
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Why Does a BitLocker-Encrypted Drive Become Inaccessible?
There are numerous causes that can result in a BitLocker-encrypted drive becoming inaccessible. The most common issues include virus attacks, unexpected system shutdowns, and unsafe removal of USB drives. The root cause is that the drive's file system gets corrupted, making it impossible for Windows to read the file structure properly. When you attempt to access such a drive, Windows will display the error message: "D:\ is not accessible. Access is denied". Many users assume all their files are permanently lost in this situation. In reality, the files are not gone — they still remain on the drive but are simply unrecognizable to Windows. Given that the files are still stored on the drive, using data recovery software to retrieve them is the correct approach. However, it is important to note that data recovery from an inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drive is far more challenging than from a regular unencrypted drive. After testing multiple data recovery tools, you will find that most of them fail to recover data from inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drives. This is because all data on the drive is protected by BitLocker encryption, and standard data recovery software does not support BitLocker decryption.
How to Recover Data from an Inaccessible BitLocker-Encrypted Drive?
The answer lies in using professional BitLocker data recovery software. We recommend Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery, a tool specifically designed to recover data from BitLocker-encrypted drives. It correctly parses encrypted data and displays found files in a clear file tree, allowing you to recover lost files as needed. The following tutorial provides step-by-step instructions.
Tutorial to Recover Data from an Inaccessible BitLocker-Encrypted Drive
Step 1: Download, install, and run Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery
Step 2: Select a Location to Scan
1. Select the inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drive, then click the "Scan" button to locate all BitLocker-encrypted partitions on the device.
2. A pop-up window will appear asking you to enter the BitLocker password or 48-digit BitLocker recovery key. If you don't want to enter the password or BitLocker recovery key here, just click the "Skip" button to skip it.
3. Hasleo Data Recovery will list all found BitLocker encrypted partitions on the inaccessible device. If you have entered the password or BitLocker recovery key in the previous step, the password status will show whether the password or BitLocker recovery key matches this partition.
4. Double-click the partition you want to recover data from. If you've already entered the password or BitLocker recovery key and the password or recovery key matches, Hasleo Data Recovery will start scanning lost files. Otherwise, a prompt will appear asking for your BitLocker password or 48-digit recovery key. After entering the correct credentials and clicking "OK", the scan will start.
Step 3: Preview and Recover Deleted Files
When the scanning process gets finished, you can filter and preview found files by path and file types. When you locate the files you want, just select them and click on "Recover" button to save them to your hard drive or other storage device. If some files are not found, please click "Deep Scan" button to start the Deep Scan Recovery process, deep scan takes more time, but can find much more lost files.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Inaccessible BitLocker Drive Recovery
A: BitLocker-encrypted drives become inaccessible due to file system corruption caused by virus attacks, unexpected system shutdowns, unsafe removal of USB drives, or hardware issues. Windows cannot read the file structure and displays 'Access is denied' error.
A: No, the files are not permanently lost. They remain on the drive but become unrecognizable to Windows due to file system corruption. Professional BitLocker data recovery software can recover these files.
A: Normal data recovery software cannot recover data from inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drives because all data on the drive is protected by BitLocker encryption. Standard recovery tools don't support BitLocker decryption.
A: Yes, you need either the BitLocker password or the 48-digit recovery key to decrypt and access the data on an inaccessible BitLocker-encrypted drive. Without these credentials, the data cannot be recovered.
A: Yes, Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery can recover data from BitLocker-encrypted drives showing 'Access is denied' error. The software can parse encrypted data and display recoverable files.
A: First, stop using the drive to prevent further damage. Then use professional BitLocker data recovery software like Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery to recover your files. Avoid running chkdsk as it may cause more damage.
A: If the drive has physical damage, recovery is more challenging. You may need to connect the drive to another computer or use data recovery services. Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery can help if the drive is still readable.
A: Yes, deep scan is recommended for inaccessible drives as it performs a more thorough search. It takes more time but can find many more recoverable files from corrupted file systems.
Conclusion
Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery is a professional BitLocker data recovery software which can help us recover data from an inaccessible BitLocker encrypted drive with just a few simple steps.
With the help of Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery, you can not only recover data from an inaccessible BitLocker encrypted drive, but also recover deleted or lost files from a BitLocker encrypted drive or recover data from a deleted or lost BitLocker encrypted drive.
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