From: nospam@needed.invalid   
      
   On Sat, 1/31/2026 9:31 AM, Lars Poulsen wrote:   
   >>>>> On Fri, 1/30/2026 5:03 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   >>>>>> How can we check if it is enabled, anyway?   
   >   
   >>>> On 2026-01-30, Paul  wrote:   
   >>>>> manage-bde -status   
   >   
   >>> On 2026-01-31, Lars Poulsen  wrote:   
   >>>> I did that and I do not understand the answer., which includes   
   >>>> | Conversion Status:    Used Space Only Encrypted   
   >>>> | Percentage Encrypted: 100.0%   
   >>>> | Protection Status:    Protection Off   
   >>>> | Lock Status:          Unlocked   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I guess that means I have an encrypted drive. Very uncool!   
   >>>> Now I have to figure out how to get rid of the encryption.   
   >   
   >> On 2026-01-31 14:51, Lars Poulsen wrote:   
   >>> I asked Bing, and it pointed me to the page   
   >>>   | Control Panel > System ans Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption   
   >>> ... which says:   
   >>>   | Windows (C:) BitLocker waiting for activation   
   >>> ... with an option to "Turn on BitLocker"   
   >>>   
   >>> I am GUESSING this means that the drive is not yet encrypted, but will   
   >>> be as soon as I click that link?   
   >>>   
   >>> I am REALLY confused now. I do NOT want my drive to be encrypted.   
   >   
   > On 2026-01-31, Carlos E.R.  wrote:   
   >> It is waiting for the password creation, I think.   
   >> IIRC, there is a procedure to "unready" it. Ask an AI. I did that some   
   >> years back, but I don't remember what I did.   
   >   
   > It seems to mean that it is already encrypted (100%, but only the files,   
   > not the free space. But Microsoft has not yet been gives the keys, so   
   > the keys are not "Protected".   
   >   
   > To remove the encryption, you type (in an administrator shell):   
   > | manage-bde -off c:   
   > ... and in a few minutes, the drive will be decrypted (in the   
   > background).   
   >   
   > Now I need to do this on the PC I set up for my colleague as well!   
   >   
      
   There may also be a slider in Settings to turn off Bitlocker, as well.   
      
   If you start Googling this topic of "I didn't know it was encrypted",   
   there are some pretty complicated failure cases already. Someone   
   took their laptop to Geek Squad, without knowing the disk was encrypted.   
   The service person installed a new OS (they do that, just to make a dime),   
   and in the process, a new Bitlocker key was made. But... the key was   
   on the service persons MSA, not the customer MSA. And the customer   
   later had a problem and needed the key. And the key on the Microsoft   
   server was for his old OS copy. Then he had a problem trying to trace   
   down the service person. Apparently some companies send all the   
   computers to a central location for service, instead of using   
   "Timmy-behind-the-counter" to do the work.   
      
   Expect more weird tales involving customers who got screwed by this.   
      
   Encryption is a "write once-read never" technology, and it is just   
   asking for trouble to be using it. You need a good reason   
   to be applying it.   
      
      Paul   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)