How to recover a Windows 11 system image using the recovery drive when BitLocker is active?
How to recover a Windows 11 system image using the recovery drive when BitLocker is active?
I'm trying out this Windows 11 spare machine to learn how to restore a Windows 11 system image for one disk. The disk in question has its primary c: partition set up with BitLocker, and I also have BitLocker enabled on the external drive that holds the system image.
Would this be the correct approach?
I'm attempting this now. After starting from the USB recovery drive for this PC and selecting US, Troubleshoot, System Image Recovery; I was asked to "Enter your recovery key" or "Load your recovery key from a USB device". I selected to enter the recovery key.
Initially, I needed the computer hard drive BitLocker recovery key since I was installing a system image on a BitLocker-protected drive. But if I swapped it for a clean, unencrypted drive, I wouldn't have needed that key.
Then I was asked for the BitLocker recovery key to access the external drive where the Windows 11 system image is stored. Everything seems fine so far.
Now I'm encountering a message asking if I want to "Re-image Your Computer. All disks to be restored will be formatted and replaced with the layout and data in the system image. Are you sure you want to continue?" I chose yes.
At this point we check whether the system image created today using the legacy Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool that comes with Windows 11 functions properly...
I'll provide an update soon. 🤞
The restored drives are not encrypted. You must enable Bitlocker Drive Encryption and re-encrypt any drives that were restored.
I clicked OK, restarted now. It ignored the USB recovery drive and launched Win 11 login, taking me to the desktop. Everything appears fine!
A successful system restore.
Next, I opened Manage Bitlocker and activated bitlocker for the C: drive to secure it. Recovery details will be saved to a backup drive upon completion.
It functioned as expected. That’s satisfactory.
Then you’re asked to provide the Bitlocker recovery key for drives that are part of the system restore. In this instance, both the external source drive and the internal PC drive c: were encrypted. You needed to input two keys. Be sure to note the identifiers shown on the screens to identify which key to use.
That’s all. Close this case.