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ACE555175's avatar
ACE555175
Copper Contributor
Jan 08, 2026

Windows 11 Home - Update - Bitlocker

Lenovo laptop

Windows 11 Home

 

Around November 15 my Lenovo laptop installed a update.  When the laptop rebooted it asked for a Bitlocker key.  

Logging onto the Windows recovery website it wanted to send a validation code to a phone I no longer have.

I did the 30 day wait for a Bitlocker recovery key to be emailed.  When it arrived I entered the Bitlocker key.   

On restart it now states 'The application or operating system couldn't be loaded...      File: \windows\system32\winload.efi.      Error code:  0xc0000225'.

 

  1. Have I lost all the data on the hard drive?  
  2. Should I disable anything in BIOS - Secure Boot?   Windows Boot Manager?   Intel Platform Trust Technology?  Clear Intel PTT Key?

 

Thanks for the help.

 

DH

configuration
security

2 Replies

  • ACE555175's avatar
    ACE555175
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 10, 2026

    thank you.

    Note that the original bit locker recovery key is not known.  Microsoft sent me another recovery key after a 30 day wait.  That is the key I typed in when it gave me the error message.  (see attached pic)

    I will use a USB to boot and try the elevated CMD prompt.  Thanks.

    DH

  • VersatileOffulars's avatar
    VersatileOffulars
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 08, 2026
    1. Probably not — your data is very likely still there, just locked by BitLocker. As long as the drive wasn’t wiped and you have the correct recovery key, the files themselves should be safe.
      Boot from a Windows 11 USB, try Startup Repair, and if needed use the Command Prompt to unlock the drive and check the disk before doing anything drastic.
    2. I wouldn’t disable anything in the BIOS right now — especially Secure Boot or Windows Boot Manager. And definitely don’t clear the Intel PTT/TPM key, because that can permanently lock you out of your BitLocker-encrypted data.

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