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How to use the BitLocker without a TPM chip?

Josh Maynard

To find out what a BitLocker or a TPM is, you might want to visit our article regarding the subject in question.

Using BitLocker without a TPM chip

  • Click on the windows key and type in the string ‘gpedit.msc’
  • Press enter and a Group Policy Object Editor window should appear
  • On the left hand side, under the computer configuration tab, double click on ‘Administrative Templates’, which should result in the subfolder for Administrative Template to appear
  • Double click on Windows Components
  • Select ‘BitLocker Drive Encryption’, which should result in the ‘Bitlocker Drive Encryption’ settings to appear on the right hand side
  • Double-click on ‘Control Panel Setup: Enable Advanced Startup Options’, the’ Control Panel Setup: Enable Advanced Startup Options’ window should appear
  • Select the Enabled radio button
  • Click on ‘Apply’ and then on ‘OK’, which should close the ‘Control Panel Setup: Enable Advanced Startup Options’ window
  • Close the ‘Group Policy Object Editor’
  • Press the start button and type in ‘gpupdate.exe /force’ and press Enter

Any changes to the group policy would be applied, the process could take a little while

Using a USB Flash Drive to set up BitLocker

NOTE: You will require a USB Flash drive to undertake the following steps

  • Plugin a USB Drive in your device
  • Press or click the start button and type in ‘bitlocker’ and press enter
  • Turn on the BitLocker on the Operating System Volume
  • Select the ‘Require Startup USB Key at Every Start up’, on the Set BitLocker Startup Preferences page
  • Select the USB Drive location and save it. The ‘Save the Recovery Password ’ page should appear containing the option below:
    • Print the Password
    • Save the Password on a USB Flash Drive
    • Save the Password in a Folder

NOTE: The recovery password is needed if the encrypted drive is moved to another device or if the system startup information is changed. The Password is unique and cannot be used for another encryption session

  • Select ‘Save the Password on a USB Drive’ and click on Next. The ‘Encrypt the Select Disk Volume’ page should appear
  • Click ‘Continue’, once you are certain the ‘Run BitLocker System Check’ box is ticked
  • Click on the ‘Restart Now’ button, once the encryption is finished, your device will restart.