BitLocker was first introduced by Microsoft in Windows Vista. Like Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Vista and Windows 7, this feature is also present in Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions.

What is BitLocker?

BitLocker is a logical volume encryption program. Using BitLocker you can protect an entire volume from unauthorized access. By default BitLocker uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm in Cipher block chaining (CBC) mode with a 128 bit security key. It also includes the Elephant diffuser (Microsoft removed Elephant Diffuser from Windows 8 by NSA request) to provide additional disk encryption-specific security, which cannot be provided by Advanced Encryption Standard.

BitLocker

You must need to have at least two NTFS volumes to use BitLocker. One volume is where your operating system is installed and another is system volume (minimum of 100 MB) from where the OS boots. You cannot use BitLocker for system volume. If you have set BitLocker on for a volume, you will need to have the password to open it. No doubt, it is a good encryption and security tool. But the security is not unbreakable. If your machine is turned on, then the keys are stored in the physical memory of your machine. The keys can be read by a process that can access physical memory, e.g. through a 1394 DMA channel.

Follow the steps below to enable BitLocker in your Windows 8 PC.

Steps to Enable BitLocker

1. First of all right-click on a drive, and select Turn on BitLocker option.

Turn on BitLocker

2. Now, you will ask to choose a password. Confirm it by retyping the password and click Next.

3. Now, you will be asked to take back up of your recovery key. In case, if you forget your password, this recovery key will be needed to unlock the drive. There are several ways to back up the key. You can select Save to your Microsoft account option to store it. You can also store it into a USB flash drive, by connecting the flash drive to the computer and then selecting Save to USB flash drive option. There is also a way to store the key in your local hard drives. In that case you need to select Save to a file option. To print the key file select Print the recovery key option.

back up bit locker key

It is better not to save the key file in your local drives. If someone gets the file, then it can be misused. Among these four options Save to your Microsoft account and Save to USB flash drive is recommended.

4. I have connected a USB flash drive to my computer and selected Save to USB flash drive option. A small window appears, select Save.

5. You can see that a .TXT file has been created in the USB flash drive.

Bit locker key file

You can select different options together to back up the key file in more than one way. Press “Next” to continue.

6. Now, select how much of your drive to encrypt. Set the radio button according to your requirement. Press “Next” and then click “Start encrypting” button.

Select encrypt mode

You will see the progress bar.

Bit locker encryption running

When it reaches 100% click “Close”. Restart your system. You will see the drive is protected by BitLocker.

Steps to unlock BitLocker enabled drive

To access BitLocker enabled encrypted drive, double-clicks on the drive and enter the password. If you have forgotten your password select More options.

Enter password to decrypt the drive

After selecting “More options” select “Enter Recovery key”, then type 48-digit recovery key, this is in that .TXT file. You can also select “Load key from USB drive” option. It will automatically search for the .TXT file in connected USB flash drive and will unlock your drive if it finds the .TXT file with proper value within it.

About 

Nick is a Software Engineer. He has interest in gadgets and technical stuffs. If you are facing any problem with your Windows, feel free to ask him.

12 COMMENTS

  1. You review about Bitlocker is good but one thing I want to ask, you didn’t mentioned about when any wrong happens when allowing Bitlocker for Windows 8

  2. my bitlocker has vanished 🙁 it is no longer on my pc… how do i get it back?? i cannot encrypt anything but i can unlock drives that were already encrypted with bitlocker… i right click and there is no option to turn bitlocker on, it simply isn’t there as a option. it is not on my harddrive anywhere… very frustrating….

    • Hi Kunal,

      Bit locker is available only for Windows 8.1 Pro and Enterprise Editions. If you want to use it.. you have to upgrade your OS to Windows 8.1 Pro from Windows 8.1

      Cheers
      Nick

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