Unable to unlock Bitlocker external drive in W11 E (Drive created in W10 E).


mystvearn

mystvearn

Well-known member
Local time
5:57 AM
Posts
23
OS
Windows 11 Enterprise
I am using the same pc which was a W10 enterprise and now upgraded (clean install) to W11 enterprise and I can no longer access my work files on my external HD on this PC. I get this message when I try to unlock the folder:
"The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows. Try opening the drive using a newer version of Windows."

When I right-click the folder, there is an option to unlock, but when I go to unlock, I still get the same message. Any ideas how do I get access to my external drive?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 EnterpriseRyzen 5 360032 GB DDR4MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Own built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Auros B550M
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM, Dell U2715H, 1080p philips monitor
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440*2
    Hard Drives
    1
    PSU
    650W

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7 9750H16 GBGTX 1650
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell G3 3590
    CPU
    i7 9750H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1650
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Toshiba, 240GB Koxia
mystvearn said:
I am using the same pc which was a W10 enterprise and now upgraded (clean install) to W11 enterprise and I can no longer access my work files on my external HD on this PC. I get this message when I try to unlock the folder:
"The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows. Try opening the drive using a newer version of Windows."

When I right-click the folder, there is an option to unlock, but when I go to unlock, I still get the same message. Any ideas how do I get access to my external drive?
Click to expand...
Do you see an option to 'turn off' BitLocker? If not, use another computer. It will take time to decrypt the external drive.

Then encrypt the external drive on your upgraded work PC.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro
OS
Windows 10 Pro
Haydon said:
Do you see an option to 'turn off' BitLocker? If not, use another computer. It will take time to decrypt the external drive.

Then encrypt the external drive on your upgraded work PC.
Click to expand...
Yes, but "turn on" for C drive. Not for that drive. Nothing for that drive
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 EnterpriseRyzen 5 360032 GB DDR4MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Own built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Auros B550M
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM, Dell U2715H, 1080p philips monitor
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440*2
    Hard Drives
    1
    PSU
    650W

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7 9750H16 GBGTX 1650
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell G3 3590
    CPU
    i7 9750H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1650
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Toshiba, 240GB Koxia
I did a quick Web search on "The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows. Try opening the drive using a newer version of Windows." I used the quotation marks. Some of the hits included software tools (paid, I imagine) to work around that. I have no recommendations, as I've never used any.

One obvious free solution would be to restore Win10 Enterprise on the PC, and decrypt the drive. It may not work, though.

Good luck. If you have no backups for the files, I hope they aren't of critical importance.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 26200.8728Amd Threadripper 7970X128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    OS
    Windows 11 26200.8728
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D Rev. 1.0
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Innocn 32" OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    BeQuiet! Straight Power 12 1500W
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    SilverStone Technology XE360-TR5, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Cherry KC 500 MX LP (mechanical)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    2000/250 Mbps (down/up)
    Other Info
    xFinity gateway

  • At a glance

    windows 11 26200.8728Intel I9-13900K64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Operating System
    windows 11 26200.8728
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 27" OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Cherry Streaming (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
bobkn said:
I did a quick Web search on "The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows. Try opening the drive using a newer version of Windows." I used the quotation marks. Some of the hits included software tools (paid, I imagine) to work around that. I have no recommendations, as I've never used any.

One obvious free solution would be to restore Win10 Enterprise on the PC, and decrypt the drive. It may not work, though.

Good luck. If you have no backups for the files, I hope they aren't of critical importance.
Click to expand...
I found those too, thought not sure if it is paid or some spyware meant for the PC. I did not bother for a solution from non-official channels. I have the data backed up, only that additional data needs to be placed there. That is the problem
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 EnterpriseRyzen 5 360032 GB DDR4MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Own built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Auros B550M
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM, Dell U2715H, 1080p philips monitor
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440*2
    Hard Drives
    1
    PSU
    650W

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7 9750H16 GBGTX 1650
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell G3 3590
    CPU
    i7 9750H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1650
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Toshiba, 240GB Koxia
mystvearn said:
Yes, but "turn on" for C drive. Not for that drive. Nothing for that drive
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you mean by that response, but you may be mucking around with BitLocker on your work PC which can be dangerous.

In any case, look for a spare/empty PC with a clean OS installation WITHOUT BitLocker > enter BitLocker key to unlock the external drive > copy contents to a second (non-encrypted) external drive.

You can then encrypt the second external drive on your work PC, and there should not be any problem locking/unlocking the second external drive on your work PC.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro
OS
Windows 10 Pro
mystvearn said:
I am using the same pc which was a W10 enterprise and now upgraded (clean install) to W11 enterprise and I can no longer access my work files on my external HD on this PC. I get this message when I try to unlock the folder:
"The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows. Try opening the drive using a newer version of Windows."

When I right-click the folder, there is an option to unlock, but when I go to unlock, I still get the same message. Any ideas how do I get access to my external drive?
Click to expand...
This is a list of results from Microsoft regarding BitLocker & issues with it, might be something there or by following a link trail that can help you.
Search results for 'after Windows upgrade can no longer access BitLocker drive' - Microsoft Support
 

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Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build: 22621.521Intel i7-12700K 3.6GHz Base (5.0GHz Turbo)64GB DDR 3600MhzAsus Tuff RTX 3080 10GB OC
OS
Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build: 22621.521
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Scan 3XS Custom 1700
CPU
Intel i7-12700K 3.6GHz Base (5.0GHz Turbo)
Motherboard
Asus ProArt Creator B660 D4
Memory
64GB DDR 3600Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Asus Tuff RTX 3080 10GB OC
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Gigabyte G32QC 32inch 16:9 curved @2560 x 1440p 165Hz Freesync Premium Pro/ Dell SE2422H 24inch 16:9 1920 x 1080p 75Hz Freesync
Screen Resolution
2560 x 1440p & 1920 x 1080p
Hard Drives
WD SN570 1TB NVME (Boot), Samsung 870QVO 1TB (SSD), SanDisk 3D Ultra 500Gb (SSD) x2, Seagate 3Tb Expansion Desk (Ext HDD), 2x Toshiba 1Tb P300 (Ext HDD)
PSU
Corsair RM1000X Modular
Case
Corsair 4000D Airflow Desktop
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H150i RGB Pro XT 360mm Liquid Cooler, 3 x 120mm fans, 1x Exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft Ergonomic
Mouse
Logitech G402
Internet Speed
800Mbs
Browser
Edge Chromium
Antivirus
Defender, Malwarebytes
Thanks. I will try it. In the worse case scenario, I will backup everything first (from another PC) and then reformat the drive. I had made backups, only that I am not sure if it is the latest of the drive.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 EnterpriseRyzen 5 360032 GB DDR4MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Own built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Auros B550M
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM, Dell U2715H, 1080p philips monitor
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440*2
    Hard Drives
    1
    PSU
    650W

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7 9750H16 GBGTX 1650
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell G3 3590
    CPU
    i7 9750H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1650
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Toshiba, 240GB Koxia
Be aware that external drives use a hard drive controller. If Win11 uses a different driver as compared to Win10, possibly, this driver is the culprit.
I would remove the drive housing and connect it using the native interface and retry.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win11
OS
Win11
I am able to log into the drive from another W11 laptop, W10 PC. It is just not my own W11 PC. I guess that is ok then.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 EnterpriseRyzen 5 360032 GB DDR4MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Own built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Auros B550M
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060 12 GB
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM, Dell U2715H, 1080p philips monitor
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440*2
    Hard Drives
    1
    PSU
    650W

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7 9750H16 GBGTX 1650
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell G3 3590
    CPU
    i7 9750H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1650
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Toshiba, 240GB Koxia
If the other win11 laptop has different hardware, then the combination of USB-Port and external USB-controller can lead to different results.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win11
OS
Win11
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