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What to check before you change anything
- Back up important files. Save a separate copy somewhere other than the encrypted Windows drive before resizing partitions, installing Linux, or changing disk structure. Ubuntu warns that installation can cause data loss and recommends backing up an existing computer: Ubuntu installation tutorial.
- Confirm encryption and protection status. In Windows, check BitLocker or Device Encryption and whether protection is active. For command-line details, Microsoft documents
manage-bde.exe -statusas a way to inspect BitLocker configuration and protection mode: Microsoft BitLocker FAQ. - Locate the recovery key. Make sure the key for the Windows installation is available somewhere you can reach if Windows will not boot. Do not assume it is accessible simply because encryption is enabled, and keep it private. Microsoft describes recovery-key scenarios and recovery options here: BitLocker recovery overview.
- Record the current boot setup. Note the existing boot order and relevant firmware, Secure Boot, and bootloader settings so you can restore a known configuration if needed.
- Choose the intended installation route. Decide whether to install Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same disk, use a separate unencrypted disk, or erase the Windows disk. Erasing the disk is destructive.
Ubuntu recommends a USB flash drive of 12 GB or above for installation media; its installation guidance also covers preparing the media and starting the installer: Ubuntu installation tutorial.
Choose an installation path
| Path | What happens to Windows and BitLocker | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same disk | Ubuntu says its installer cannot safely install alongside a BitLocker-protected Windows installation because it cannot access and map the encrypted Windows data. Its documented route is to turn BitLocker off and allow decryption to complete first. Ubuntu: BitLocker during Ubuntu installation | Check whether your Windows release and device policy permit BitLocker to be enabled again before you choose this route. |
| Ubuntu on a separate, unencrypted disk | Ubuntu lists a separate disk as an alternative that does not require disabling BitLocker on the Windows disk. Ubuntu: BitLocker during Ubuntu installation | Identify the target disk carefully in the installer; do not assume that a separate disk makes every boot or firmware change risk-free. |
| Erase Windows and install Ubuntu | The existing contents and partition layout are replaced. Ubuntu: BitLocker during Ubuntu installation | Use this only if you intend to discard the Windows installation and its data, after making any needed backup. |
Ubuntu’s installer documentation is specific to Ubuntu and may vary by release. Check the instructions for the Ubuntu version you plan to install rather than assuming another distribution’s installer behaves the same way.
Suspend BitLocker or turn it off?
These are different operations. Microsoft says suspension leaves the data encrypted but temporarily protects the volume master key with a clear key; resuming protection reseals it to the current measured components. Turning BitLocker off removes protection and fully decrypts the volume. See Microsoft’s BitLocker FAQ and BitLocker management guidance.
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| Action | Effect | When it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Suspend protection | Data remains encrypted, but protection is temporarily suspended; resuming reseals the key to the current measured components. | A temporary step for applicable firmware or boot changes. It does not make encrypted Windows data accessible to Ubuntu’s same-disk alongside installer. |
| Turn BitLocker off | Protection is removed and the volume is decrypted. | Ubuntu documents this as the route for its same-disk alongside-Windows installer. |
Ubuntu cautions that some Windows versions may not allow BitLocker to be enabled again after it has been turned off. The documentation does not establish a universal edition or configuration rule, so check your own Windows release and device policy before decrypting.
If installing Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same disk
Ubuntu’s documented sequence is to turn BitLocker off, wait for decryption to finish, reboot, sign in to Windows, and verify that Windows and your files still work before returning to the installer. The installer cannot map the protected Windows data; Ubuntu describes the encrypted contents as inaccessible to it. Follow the instructions for your Ubuntu release: BitLocker during Ubuntu installation.
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- Back up important files and confirm you can access the Windows recovery key independently of the encrypted drive.
- In Windows, turn BitLocker off for the relevant volume and let decryption complete. Do not treat a suspended state as completed decryption.
- Restart into Windows, sign in, and verify that Windows and your files are accessible.
- Return to the Ubuntu installer and carefully confirm which disk and partitions it will use before proceeding.
Why boot and firmware changes can trigger recovery
BitLocker can use TPM measurements of selected parts of the boot process. Microsoft says unexpected changes to a boot application or Boot Configuration Data (BCD), boot order, firmware, or Secure Boot state or configuration can result in a recovery prompt. Whether a particular change triggers recovery depends on the device and TPM validation profile; it is not guaranteed that every change will do so. See Microsoft’s BitLocker countermeasures and recovery overview.
A recovery prompt is a security check, not proof by itself that the drive is damaged. If a change is legitimate, use the recovery key when prompted and investigate the trigger rather than repeatedly changing firmware settings. Microsoft says status information and event logs can help with diagnosis. The command manage-bde.exe -status can show current status and protection mode; manage-bde.exe -protectors -get C: can show whether Secure Boot integrity validation is in use for the C: volume. Follow Microsoft’s guidance for your device and the specific change: BitLocker recovery troubleshooting and BitLocker FAQ.
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Before changing boot order, Secure Boot, or firmware
Microsoft says some firmware, UEFI, or Secure Boot changes require suspending BitLocker protection first. The right procedure depends on the change and device, so follow the applicable Microsoft instructions rather than suspending automatically for every boot adjustment. After the change, resume protection so the key is resealed to the new measured state. See BitLocker countermeasures and BitLocker management guidance.
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- Keep a consistent Windows boot path after installation where possible.
- If recovery appears, use the recovery key and diagnose the cause before making further boot or firmware changes.
- Do not leave protection suspended after the intended change; resume it according to the guidance for your device.
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