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December 17th, 2023 15:08
Inspiron 7573 with BitLocker
So - - -apologies if this is not the right place to post a software question related to hardware
I am doing a M.2 SSD replacement (compatibility question in a separate thread).
I have BitLocker running on my 15" 7573.
I don't think these machines (Gen 8 i7) have a TPM chip? (Neither 1.2 nor 2.0). I am a bit confused; because Microsoft is pushing Win11 on this machine; but Dell states the machine is incompatible.
Question: Should I remove BitLocker?
- Note: I do not have ANY sensitive data on the machine. I use encrypted files on external drives for critical stuff.
- I believe BitLocker got installed when I used to (occasionally) used it to log into my employer's systems - - no longer do that with personal machines.
- Is this encryption doing anything for me, beyond complicating Hardware changes?
- Does it BitLocker even mean anything without a TPM chip?
- Do I need to disable BitLocker (or Remove?) before SSD cloning and replacement? (I will use either Clonezilla or Minipart)
Thanks for any and all help.
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Kflash08
3 Apprentice
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December 17th, 2023 19:33
Intel 8th gen Core processors and newer have TPM 2.0. While Bitlocker is not available in the home edition, the presence of TPM 2.0 will automatically enable encryption during the initial setup of Windows.
Yes, it would be a good idea to disable encryption before cloning, though the cloned drive with encryption still enabled should work in the same system, assuming that secure boot is enabled in your BIOS. To disable encryption, open the Settings app, select Update & Security, and select Device Encryption on the left hand side. Turing off encryption will take some time as Windows updates the file system. After the clone, you can re-enable encryption on the new drive if you decide to do so.
ejn63
10 Elder
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28.7K Posts
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December 17th, 2023 15:40
You don't "remove" bitlocker, but you should indeed unencrypt (turn OFF bitlocker) before cloning the drive.
Bitlocker can be used without a TPM. Though your system may not have a TPM, the CPU will have Intel PTT, which is effectively the same thing, just built into the CPU. It likely isn't enabled unless you turned that on at some point. Windows 11 does require TPM to be enabled (or PTT) in order to install, and it also requires a GPT drive layout (if your drive is currently in MBR mode, that could block the installation of Windows 11).
(edited)
onesnark
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December 17th, 2023 22:24
OK - - will disable bitlocker.
If I need to do it or not. . . I recently got burned (lightly singed) when I swapped out memory. A 48 digit encryption key? Seriously? I was only able to make bit-locker happy (i.e. not ask for key every reboot) by updating Dell Bios firmware. Prefer not to get into that loop again. Especially since the firmware is now "current".
Hmmm. . . I have Windows home. . . .I checked TPM status using device manager and the "get-tpm" command from powershell; and didn't see it. Not sure I care that much - - -> really don't plan to install Win11 until I *absolutely* must. (I have an older desktop that can't upgrade. . .don't really want different O/S's on the various machines)
EDIT: OK - - - did some digging.
Turns out TPM was disabled in the Bios. I fixed it.
I verified TPM functionality post restart.
I then found a "magic button" to turn off encryption. . .and I *think* decryption is in progress. (Task manager shows "System" is working over the disk. And mysteriously; about 20gb of free space (out of 256) has suddenly appeared on the machine.)
{/rant}. All the descriptions for the Bios menus and even the bitlocker menus in the Settings menu were *different* than all the web resources were telling me I would find. Lucky I didn't blow up a small country inadvertently. Although the night is young.{/rant}
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onesnark
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December 21st, 2023 01:57
Bitlocker is now gone from my system.
I don't think I will miss it.