How to Partition bitlocker encrypted System drive C: on my OEM PC?

NavyLCDR said:

I would doubt it. I've done hundreds of partition resides over the years with MiniTool Partition and it has never failed.

Hardly matters. ( whether you doubt it or had made hundreds or even thousands of resizing over the years)
Shrinking/Resizing non-system partitions with any of the Partitioning software is not a problem at all. I can do millions and report success.
After extensive google search I have in my post #8 stated "While many users had reported success with one or other of these programs ( like you ) at least one user each had reported problems with PW and AOMEI. One user reported that during boot mode shrink, PW froze and he had to do a forced shut down using the Power button. The other user reported that after shrinking with AOMEI PA, many utilities like Windows Disk Management and System restore failed to respond and he had to do a fresh install of Windows 10."
Here is one user trying to shrink his system partition with PW "Looks like the software actually froze on completion, after a while I took the chance and just turned it off, worked like a charm ! Would not recommend that as a solution to anyone else having that issue unless prepared for the worst in case anyone comes by this."
Issue with Partition Wizard and Windows 10 | Tom's Hardware Forum

After reading all these, I wouldn't take a chance even if it is one in million and would consider resizing the system partition with the native Windows Disk Management is the safe option. I did it and succeeded. For any OP asking for help on this matter I would recommend this only.

(On the topic of Data Recovery, I use Partition Wizard extensively. One of the first things I ask the OP is a screenshot of how his drive appears in Windows Disk Management and Partition Wizard. Recommend Partition Wizard v9.1 as in later versions many features like shrink and Partition Recovery requires a license to unlock those features)

Today, not happy with DELL Tech.Support, I decided to write a hotmail to them. Before that I wanted to be absolutely sure that I can turn Device Encryption On and Off without any problem. Around 1600 hrs I turned Device Encryption off. ( The C: drive has only about 50GB of data (OS + some installed programs). All other drives are empty).


After about 36 minutes Decryption was complete. Device encryption is off.



Windows Disk Management after decryption: Disk 0: All volumes C: to H: show as NTFS.



PC shut down and powered on after a few minutes. And then Device Encryption turned on . Message evice Encryption is on.Any new files are encrypted automatically and we will finish encrypting your older files when your device is not being used.



After about 2 hours Device Encryption completed.



Windows Disk Management after Device Encryption: Disk 0: All drives C: to F: show as "NTFS ( Bitlocker encrypted")



Found out that every drive in Disk 0 has a Downloadable Recovery Key !



So everything is fine. No more "Something went wrong. Try again later "message when turning on Device Encryption.

Off went my email to Dell Tech Support that I myself have resolved the problem..

What did they email to me when I wrote to them that while Turning on Device Encryption after partitoning the disk I am only getting an error message "Something went wrong. Try again later "

Their reply "We will like to inform you that bit locker is a part of windows 10 pro. It was being sent as an update to all the windows 10 operating system however the functionality was only being supported by windows 10 pro. This is the reason it is not getting activated."

I say"Bitlocker comes installed as Device encryption in Windows 10 Home. The necessary TPM Module is there in the bios. When I set up this AIO the encryption was on.. Whole C: drive of 916.5GB was bitlocker encrypted."

A second tech emails me "Thank you for your valuable time. We are sharing a link with you of Microsoft support site regarding the Bitlocker encryption. The Bitlocker is not available with Windows 10 home edition, as you mentioned that earlier it was there, so it was due to some windows update due to which the Bitlocker sometimes gets activated. Kindly follow the below given link to access the information, also you can check with Microsoft support team regarding the same.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ice-encryption " and then tells me how to check whether TPM is enabled in bios.

I write back "You must distinguish between two types of encryption - Device Encryption and Standard Bitlocker encryption. That should be evident from the link you sent itself.. While Standard Bitlocker comes with Windows 10 Pro, Device encryption is available with all editions of Windows 10 including Windows 10 Home provided the hardware supports it.
How To Turn On Device Encryption In Windows 10 Home Edition

https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/4502379/windows-10-device-encryption "

Your statement that " it was due to some windows update due to which the Bitlocker sometimes gets activated" is not true. Inspiron 3280 AIO supports Device encryption. Only when it is available you get the Device Encryption screen in Settings, where one can turn it on or off."
I also attach the screenshots






Now the first Tech returns and emails "We will request you to kindly be in contact with Microsoft for advance troubleshooting steps related to the concern or you can reset the operating system to factory defaults by PC RESET by following the steps below:
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Reset this PC, select Get started. As per the warranty there is a limited software support hence if you need advance software support related to the concern kindly be in contact with Microsoft who can guide you in resolving the concern."

I write "Resetting the PC to factory defaults is not the solution..I shall escalate the matter.toService_Escalations@dell.com "

The first tech writes "As requested earlier you can also contact Microsoft related to this concern. The warranty on your system is for limited software support in which we have tried to provide the resolution. You can also opt for the paid software support from Dell."

This mail is repeated next day today,

I wrote" I have resolved it myself. No reset to factory defaults. Very simple. Partition with Device encryption on . Now please go through what all you have stated in your emails and evaluate yourselves and the technical support rendered. "

And that is the story.

So, the bottom line is that Disk Management can resize encrypted partitions?

Partition Wizard can work outside of Windows, from a boot UFD. This is safer than working in the "boot" (or "pre-boot") mode. But to build the boot ISO is necessary to use the non-free version. The old Paragon HDM can of course do the same, and also AOMEI Partition Assistant, and in this case the boot ISO can be build from the free version.

I don´t know if these tools can resize encrypted partitions working from the boot UFD. I suppose they can´t, unless the partition is first unlocked.

I recently setup a new Lenovo laptop with Windows 10 Pro. It had Bitlocker "partially enabled", and, as I created a local account, the encryption could not be finished (requires a MS account). I disabled BitLocker and resized the OS partition from the Partition Wizard boot UFD, no problem.

jumanji, here in Brazil we have a proverb: "In the land of blind people who has an eye is the king" so they are useful to help people with the lowest level issues like "How do I turn on my computer?"
Those people on the support don't know much more than the trivial and never fixed anything for real. They have a computer and they search for key words and the computer returns with suggestions. If it doesn't find anything that matches, they probably suggest a factory reset as a solution.
You and most of the people on this Forum are much more able then them.