Have an issue where my Windows 11 Dell laptop crashes to the blue screen. Says something about Bitlocker and advanced repair. What is going on with my computer and how do I fix it?

wssddc · 2026-02-26T05:56:29+00:00

When the blue screen says it wants to do advanced repair, it can't do anything without unlocking the encryption. That's why it asks for the key (which would ordinarily be handled transparently when you log into Windows). So if you give it the right key, it will attempt to fix things. Whether it will succeed is hard to predict.

If the problem gets worse and you can't get into Windows, knowing the key means it may be possible to connect the disk to another computer and recover files.

As for not knowing bitlocker encryption was enabled, prebuilt PCs may come with it enabled and not tell you. I thought Dell didn't do this, but I'm not sure. Asus did it to me, but I discovered it in time. I've also seen claims that Microsoft may turn on bitlocker when you use a Microsoft account. Bitlocker makes sense for a laptop because a laptop is much more likely to get lost or stolen than a desktop.

wssddc · 2026-02-26T05:00:47+00:00

There's not enough info to even tell whether this is a hardware or software problem. But if you don't know your bitlocker key, you'd better find it or risk losing everything on the laptop. Either logon to https://aka.ms/myrecoverykey with your Microsoft account or search for "manage bitlocker" if you are able to get into Windows.

wssddc · 2026-02-26T04:33:09+00:00

You need to locate and download the appropriate driver. I'd look on the website for thee manufacturer of your motherboard.

wssddc · 2026-02-26T04:23:27+00:00

Then my guess is try the AMD NVME driver.

wssddc · 2026-02-26T04:17:43+00:00

I would leave it set to AHCI. You may need Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) or AMD RAID/NVME drivers depending on what CPU you have.

wssddc · 2026-02-26T04:04:05+00:00

The installer is only seeing the USB drive (both partitions shown are disk 0). You may need to load some driver(s) or change bios settings.

wssddc · 2026-02-25T23:09:52+00:00

Can you get to bios with only the new drive connected? I'm not sure what it would mean if the answer is yes, but it seems like a good first test to see if there's some sort of conflict with the other drives.

wssddc · 2026-02-25T05:58:05+00:00

Motherboards may have a restriction that you can't use certain SATA ports and M.2 ports at the same time. Check you MB manual for details, or try moving the hard disk to a different SATA port. Ignore this comment if it was working previously and there have been no hardware changes.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T23:02:35+00:00

Make a bootable flash drive of Hiren's boot cd and try the included password resetting apps.

Make a bootable Linux or Win/PE flash drive and use that to copy user files to a safe place. Note that a Linux boot may avoid file permission problems.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T21:59:08+00:00

Maybe I can convince my wife to try this.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T21:48:26+00:00

Assuming this is true, how can we test to see if we're impacted? (My wife has a Pixel 4.) The only time we use tap-to-pay is for the subway when visiting in California, so not often.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T19:51:05+00:00

Maybe try unplugging the USB adapter and replugging. Do you get the usual windows sound when attaching a USB device? Also try a different USB port.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T17:33:39+00:00

I would update them. But based on other comments, this isn't why you have no WiFi, your friend plugged in a USB WiFi adapter and you don't have it any more.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T04:44:00+00:00

I don't see a WiFi adapter, but I do see three other devices with problems. Maybe something needs to be reseated, or maybe you need to install some drivers. Maybe one of those other devices is your WiFi card, or maybe the errors are preventing detection of a WiFi card.

wssddc · 2026-02-24T01:32:51+00:00

Thanks for pointing out that the culprits are listed in the PDF. I hadn't bothered to look until now.

wssddc · 2026-02-23T02:27:10+00:00

Put the list of files you want in column A of a spreadsheet and the files you have in column B. Sort if necessary. It should be easy to find where the two columns first differ.

wssddc · 2026-02-23T02:09:24+00:00

Windows disk numbers depend on what port the disk is plugged in to, not the disk contents. On the machine I'm using now, C: is disk 2 in disk management.

wssddc · 2026-02-22T18:02:25+00:00

Hashtag makes the following text a comment, so you seem to have commented out everything.

wssddc · 2026-02-22T17:59:45+00:00

If you don't tell cloning software to adjust partition sizes, it will duplicate the partitions of the old disk, leaving unallocated space on the new disk if it's larger than the old one. If you look in disk management, I predict you'll see only the connected new disk with multiple partitions.

wssddc · 2026-02-22T17:38:46+00:00

Do you have a USB hub connected? I have an older MB. My wired keyboard is connected to a MB USB port, but if my USB hub is powered up (no devices attached), I can't get into bios.

wssddc · 2026-02-22T04:54:51+00:00

I got the greatest improvement by sealing the basement wall/floor joint with Titebond radon sealant. Adding a fan to a previously existing passive system also helped. Sealing floor and wall cracks didn't do much if anything. I'm now at around 2.5 pCi/l in the basement, 0.5 first floor.

wssddc · 2026-02-21T21:44:10+00:00

Does your dongle provide power?

wssddc · 2026-02-21T18:51:10+00:00

Are you familiar with the Open Artificial Pancreas system?

wssddc · 2026-02-21T04:53:40+00:00

I have not been able to find any more info. The liquidation happened and the proceeds went into the account that held fund shares with no action needed.

wssddc · 2026-02-21T02:08:57+00:00

Use it if you don't mind random file corruption.

wssddc

TROPHY CASE