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There is no doubt forcing BitLocker on is a GIANT misstep by Microsoft. No warnings, notices, explanations.
There is also this: if you have multiple computers with BitLocker turned on AND you changed your device’s name {aka Computer name} so as you can readily identify it in the list of BitLocker devices via your Microsoft account, GOOD LUCK.
The list contains the generic name assigned when the computer was “born” by the manufacturer and NOT the name you changed it to! In other words, Microsoft is not updating the name change for the BitLocker device.
I ran into this for a customer’s account. I needed the Bitlocker key turned off to access the drive via USB, signed into their Microsoft Account and saw 6 different GENERIC computer names! None matched the name of the computer I was working on. I had to paste the key of each computer listed to get the right one {fifth one of six was the one}.
This can certainly confuse a non technical person. It is a minefield just getting to the BitLocker area in a Microsoft account then trying to find your computer in the list that may appear.
I feel that when doing an initial setupof a windows computer, BitLocker should be explained as to what it is, ask to turn it on or not and divulge it uses a 48 numeric character set to access it and HOW to find it to save it somewhere.
I would have no problem believing a turned on BitLocker key would be a thorn in the side in many a repair shop’s business. Think of a call to a customer asking for their BitLocker key would entail.
Microsoft needs to do a {much} better job with BitLocker integration.
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As promised, this is an update to my earlier posting of 08 June 2023.
To recap, an attempt to upgrade a Dell desktop computer from Windows 8.1 Professional to Windows 10 Professional kept failing at 99% completion, and, of course, no error codes.
On 27 June 2023, I re-attempted the same routine.
I performed the aforementioned malware removal routine {nothing found} and Windows 8.1 updates {2 minor ones’}. Ran Revo Uninstaller for Apps & Programs, nothing found to uninstall.
This time around, I re-downloaded the Windows 10 Upgrade utility to the C: drive and executed it from there {as I have done in the past}. To my utter amazement, SUCCESS was attained.
Windows 10 Professional is now installed and no issues running Apps encountered.
I completed the entire gamut in Settings, created a Restore Point and called it a day.
I did not have to do an in-place repair of Windows 8.1 {whew}.
Kind regards,
Christopher J. Spilker1 user thanked author for this post.
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PKCano,
thank you for all that pertinent information!
While I did not include it originally, I already have run CHKDSK C: /r {after running DISKPART List Volume and SFC /Scannow. No issues found.
Next attempt at this will be on 27 June 2023.
Will update here after the attempt is made.
Kind regards,
Christopher J. Spilker1 user thanked author for this post.
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Ben, I have yet to meet a filthy, dirty, greased on fan / processor heat sink assembly that could outwit my leaf blower. Sparkling clean is the answer. Hu rah!
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Well Ben, I may take some “hell” from this response! 🙂 My modus operandi in cleaning the interior of a desktop computer and keyboards is thusly: remove all cables from the motherboard {20/24 pin power molex, all fans, the P4 cable (?), block all fans from rotating. take off the front face plate. Now, go get yer leaf blower and fire it up! in 15 to 30 seconds, the case will look like it just came off the showroom floor! No muss, no fuss. Never had a piece of stubborn dirt that “defied” the leaf blower! Forget those expensive compressed air cans! Does an equally great job on keyboards. I have been using this method for 20+ years and never damaged a computer to date. Re-assemble the computer and smile. Good for another year or two. Repeat and rinse, as they say! In lieu of the leaf blower, a good quality air compressor will work as well. O.K., you can wear ear protectors, good idea.
You may be wondering why you should block the fans from spinning even though they are disconnected. One, you may have missed one. Two, spinning a motor manually can make it a generator of power, three, you may spin the blades faster than their bearings are designed to handle.
Oh yeah, do this work OUTSIDE!!!
My “two cents”.
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First, Macrium Reflect IS a CLONING program, I use it for just that. Tedious, works well. It is not JUST for imaging.
I am from the cloning camp. Mostly use free Aomei Backupper, has served me WELL. It is forgiving when cloning from a less than perfect drive. Clone once a month to a second internal drive {desktop computer} as well as a USB drive.
I find that when a clone fails to complete, running CHKDSK on the source drive can many times help.
I use Karen’s Replicator {free} to back up my files daily to the second internal drive as well as two USB drives. I find Karen’s Replicator the best folder / file backup there is. Authors are responsive to questions and improvements.
Acronis True Image no longer gets my money. Way too picky for a PERFECT source drive. Like Norton Security, wants to “own” your drive and hogs plenty of resources. Been using Acronis True image for nearly 20 years and gave up. Disappointing. Except for a one time installation to the C: drive, I only used it by booting to its CD and running it from there. Better results.
As for Imaging, my personal opinions / feelings here: too much of a hassle: not readily understandable by customers, has to be “mounted” to see any files for recovery and always needing the SAME program available to use the compressed image for any reason. Possibly, needing the same version of the program that created the image rather than a newer version of the program.
Cloning is “one and done”. Not too much of a hassle to test the clone, depending on the computer. On mine, a Dell desktop, I can switch the boot drive in BIOS to test the clone {it is MBR not UEFI}.
In both cases, Cloning and Imaging, a second drive is needed. To test an image fully, a third drive is needed.
Files on a cloned drive are readily available, requiring no special software.
I keep up-to-date copies of my data and all downloaded files installed and backed up at my office {away from my home}.
I use web based Gmail for e-mail. Works for me.
It is not my intention to get into a Clone versus Imaging debate. It is whatever works for you that makes you comfortable. I understand that imaging allows you to image several computers on ONE hard drive and that is convenient. On the backside, if that drives fails so, too, does the images for several computers.
That issue that bothers me the most is that for 99% of my customers, they NEVER think about backing up or they simply feel the computer is automatically doing it for them! This is a case of being ignorant is truly blind. They fail to understand no device on the planet will last forever, why would they believe that a computer would?
I have been into personal computers and mainframes since 1987. Worked on a ten member team deploying, setting up and repairing computers in all of the northeast states. It was a great job and learning experience. Made some good friends, especially with those smarter than myself!
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