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How To Find Out My Bit Locker Key #

Robert Allen 0 Reputation points
2025-10-19T00:09:44.06+00:00

I have a back-up Dell Inspiron 3580 laptop with Windows 10 Home 64 bit installed. For about 2 years it is unable to book to the hard drive with a message the "operating system loader failed signature verification" and "no bootable device found". I suspect that this is the result of a conflict between Dell installed Encription and a Microsoft update MSq6-100 aka KB3172729. I am trying to remediate/repair the problem (whatever is causing it) to regain access to my programs and files i.e. without having to reinstall Windows.

I have installation media from Microsoft. I have installed it on a USB flash drive which is attached to the defective computer and the program has loaded. I am at the page entitled "Startup Repair" that is asking for the recovery key for my Inspiron 3580 laptop. It tells me a "recovery Key ID" is not the "recovery key" itself. It tells me that my Drive Label for this computer is DESKTOP-4NF1ECG OS 4/11/2020. I don't know my recovery key for this Inspiron 3580 laptop. I have signed into my Microsoft account at the Microsoft website and search for my bit locker keys which I think is the same as the recovery key. I find two computers with a bit locker key with are my two active computers now. It identifies additional computers, including the drive label DESKTOP-4NG1ECG, but lists them as inactive or not registered and does not include their bid locker key.

How can I obtain the bit locker key aka recovery key for my Dell Inspiron 3580 with a Drive Label of DESKTOP-4NF1ECG OS 4/11/2020 or otherwise workaround this roadblock so I can complete this Microsoft Start up Repair?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Recovery and backup
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  1. EmilyS726 171.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-10-19T00:43:23.01+00:00

    Hello,

    I wish I could share good news, but the truth is no one can get you the bitlocker key, including Microsoft staff/support.

    Have you looked into the Microsoft account here to see if it is stored there? https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    Any chance your laptop was purchased used, or already set up for you? Or was it gifted? Or have you set it up with a different account at first? The key is stored with the very Microsoft account used to set up the computer for the first time, even if you had got rid of that account and set it up with a different account. So, if your computer was set up by anyone at the store you bought it from, it would be that person's account.

    If you set it up with school or work account, it is worth checking here as well https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey sign in with your work/school email credential in that case.

    I assume you don't remember opting out of not saving it in Microsoft account, and saving it to a local file instead? That's another possibility.

    If you can't find it at all, there's really no way to crack it. Bitlocker means business. If it can be cracked, then it means the encryption is not working. Your only option is to do a clean install of Windows. In that case, you do lose your files. I am very sorry. I hate to share this kind of information, but I rather give you the correct info.

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