Bitlocker - It is possible to save the key in more ways than one?


  1. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 Pro x64-bit
       #1

    Bitlocker - Is it possible to save the key in more ways than one?


    Hi,

    I have a new PC with Windows 10 Pro installed and I'm contemplating using Bitlocker for greater safety on the two hard drives installed. One is a 128 GB SSD and the other a 1 TB SATA.

    I would like to know if it is possible to save the generated keys in more ways one one at the moment of creating them. I would like to have the key both on a USB and printed out in text as well. Is this possible or will I have to create two different keys for each hard drive with different choices of storing them?

    Thanks in advance.
    Last edited by thomcats; 26 Jul 2016 at 13:37.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 487
       #2

    I'm not sure whether you can create more than one recovery key during the actual creation as I haven't tried it, however in case you can't, you can always create further Bitlocker recovery keys later on, any time you want. See the following tutorial:

    Back up BitLocker Recovery Key Tutorial:
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

    Also, there are some general Bitlocker setup tutorials here in case you haven't seen them:
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #3

    I think the recovery key is created at the point of encryption; it doesn't change in my experience unless you fully decrypt the drive and encrypt it again. There may be something you can do at a command line to change it but you'd have to be doing it deliberately.

    But yes as stated you can save the key in a number of ways, and (as long as you still have access) print it or save it again any time later.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 Pro x64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    ARC1020 said:
    I'm not sure whether you can create more than one recovery key during the actual creation as I haven't tried it, however in case you can't, you can always create further Bitlocker recovery keys later on, any time you want. See the following tutorial:

    Back up BitLocker Recovery Key Tutorial:
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

    Also, there are some general Bitlocker setup tutorials here in case you haven't seen them:
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
    Thank you! I shall study them very carefully and choose wisely if there is only one option to save.

    And as you say, one can always decrypt and re-crypt but it's not something I would try for unless I have to. I have understood that it is a long and tedious process, which might involve days to be completed.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 Pro x64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    DavidY said:
    I think the recovery key is created at the point of encryption; it doesn't change in my experience unless you fully decrypt the drive and encrypt it again. There may be something you can do at a command line to change it but you'd have to be doing it deliberately.

    But yes as stated you can save the key in a number of ways, and (as long as you still have access) print it or save it again any time later.
    Thank you! I'll try to keep out of the more complicated ways of handling the key - I think I could do more harm than good possibly even if I'm an experienced user. A quick click in the wrong place at the wrong moment and I'm denied access to my hard drives.

    I might be able to print out the instructions while creating a USB or another external media. I would believe that the key is the same in those instructions and if I choose to print it out on paper in the end.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8
    Win 10 Pro x64 version 2004
       #6

    Just choose whatever option you want and when finished choose another option (or the same one). I only do one disc and save my password to a file. After the save I choose to save it again and pick a different location.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 Pro x64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    BZee said:
    Just choose whatever option you want and when finished choose another option (or the same one). I only do one disc and save my password to a file. After the save I choose to save it again and pick a different location.
    AAAAaaaah! That was the thing I wondered about. If I could save the same key in different places! THANKS! :)
      My Computer


 

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