Handy Bitlocker tip (If you are 'Waiting for activation')

[googlemad]

We got some new HP laptops in and were trying to encrypt with McAfee Drive Encryption, but they wouldn't activate and kick off the encryption process. So we looked at the log file and it stated 'INCOMPATIBLE PRODUCT FOUND : BITLOCKER ACTIVATION FAILED'

 

Hmm, that's strange we haven't enabled Bitlocker, in fact I have just totally blitzed the drive partitions with a Windows 10 1709 install from USB

 

Turns out despite doing that Bitlocker status on C: was 'waiting for activation' so something HP have been playing with at the factory by the looks

 

All you need to do to disable the damn thing is open a command prompt as admin, and type in the following simple command :-

 

manage-bde c: -off

 

It will confirm 'Decryption in progress' but give no time indication, eventually go back to Bitlocker in Windows settings and it will show 'C:BitLocker off'

 

Hurrah!