Can't Start PC

[JWR]

Apparent boot loop ? Tried everything imaginable (all self repair, click and try this, etc) and can't start it. BAD BAD is that a repair shop created a fresh MS Account for this machine which is UNDOCUMENTED. Not sure of ID, name, PW etc. None of my phone numbers nor those of the shop personnel work. Cannot get in to it. Because of that, cannot use the BitLocker to utilize a recovery key !! Sit here with a perfectly good PC no one can use. The same PC (serial number, name, etc.) shows in my long-term well known MS Account but the BitLocker key from that account will not open the machine. Says it is 'wrong' or not usable or ? Apparently because of the other undocumented MS Account. I can document ownership of the PC up the ying-yang with original purchase receipt, detailed data from the innards of the machine, etc. but that does not seem to count.

Other than strangle the repair shop what can be done? I feel with near certainty thousands of people have had similar problems.

I am PO'd if my only option is to bash the brains out, reload Win 11, and lose large numbers of files, emails, contacts and nearly worse yet... the LARGE number of mandays that went into loading this PC, finding files, reinstalling software, etc. This same PC could not be opened when it was attacked in August 2025 by MS Win 11 security updates that locked up the machine. The repair shop wiped the HD then just 6 mos ago and failed to document the needlessly created 'other' MS account.

How can this machine be opened up without losing everything in it?

 

[Bastet]

You can’t without the bitlocker key. Did the repair shop clean install Windows 11? If yes then this would’ve enabled Bitlocker by default. As the shop has done this then it’s up to them to fix it or pay for forensic recovery.

 

[Xploit Machine]

You can access your bitlocker key even from another computer and jot it down, reinstall the system using your previous valid key (but u stillcant recover it properly if you have "fresh installed"the OS)

 

[RasulGreen]

Apparent boot loop ? Tried everything imaginable (all self repair, click and try this, etc) and can't start it. BAD BAD is that a repair shop created a fresh MS Account for this machine which is UNDOCUMENTED. Not sure of ID, name, PW etc. None of my phone numbers nor those of the shop personnel work. Cannot get in to it. Because of that, cannot use the BitLocker to utilize a recovery key !! Sit here with a perfectly good PC no one can use. The same PC (serial number, name, etc.) shows in my long-term well known MS Account but the BitLocker key from that account will not open the machine. Says it is 'wrong' or not usable or ? Apparently because of the other undocumented MS Account. I can document ownership of the PC up the ying-yang with original purchase receipt, detailed data from the innards of the machine, etc. but that does not seem to count.

Other than strangle the repair shop what can be done? I feel with near certainty thousands of people have had similar problems.

I am PO'd if my only option is to bash the brains out, reload Win 11, and lose large numbers of files, emails, contacts and nearly worse yet... the LARGE number of mandays that went into loading this PC, finding files, reinstalling software, etc. This same PC could not be opened when it was attacked in August 2025 by MS Win 11 security updates that locked up the machine. The repair shop wiped the HD then just 6 mos ago and failed to document the needlessly created 'other' MS account.

How can this machine be opened up without losing everything in it?

Hi,

Yes, your 2018 WD Elements 1TB (WD10JMVW) is a CMR drive, that's why the writing performance is fast.

2TB WD Elements Portable WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN – very likely CMR too (2TB WD Elements uses WD20EARX

Speed Expectation:

Older 1TB drives: ~100-110

New 2TB: ~105-120 MB/s Write (same or slightly faster)

Quick CMR Test (After buying):

1. Copy 50GB of random files

2. If the speed remains at 100+ MB/s = CMR

3. If drops to 20-50 MB/s after 10min = SMR

WD Elements <6TB = safe CMR bet, SMR starts at 8TB+ externals

Your upgrade will match current speed requirements perfectly for active use. Buy with confidence - same fast performance