BitLocker recently locked two backup drives, resulting in a loss of 3TB of data for a user on Reddit. The incident occurred after the user, known as "Soup," reinstalled Windows on their PC, which had six drives, including two 3TB backup drives.
Auto-Encryption and Data Inaccessibility
Following the Windows reinstallation, BitLocker encrypted the backup drives, and Windows prompted for a recovery key that was not recorded. While the recovery key for the boot drive appeared in the user's Microsoft account, the keys for the backup drives were missing, leaving the 3TB of data inaccessible.
Despite attempts to use recovery software, the data remained locked due to BitLocker encryption's security measures. The episode highlights the necessity for storing recovery keys and maintaining separate data backups.
Encryption Performance and Best Practices
BitLocker can influence system performance: software encryption can reduce SSD random read/write speeds by up to 45%. This stands in contrast to hardware encryption methods like OPAL, which don't impact SSD speeds. To avoid data loss, users are advised to check Microsoft account settings to ensure recovery keys are backed up and verified.
Additionally, the article emphasizes reviewing BitLocker settings regularly and saving recovery keys in secure locations. Keeping separate backup copies of critical data is crucial to prevent significant losses.
