Windows – The WiredShopper

How to Remove Write Protection From USB Drive in Windows 10

Milan Shah — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:58:20 +0000

Disk errors are common in today’s technology-invested world. Seemingly, fixes to such errors are simple. Write-protected is among the errors with a quick fix, so don’t panic if you see such while trying to access your USB drive.

Depending on the scenario, there are different ways to remove Write-protection from the USB drive. The methods include;

Fix 1: Check the Write-protection lock switch.
Fix 2: Use the Diskpart utility to clear read-only settings
Fix 3: Edit the registry and disable the Write protection command
Fix 4: Disable Encrypted BitLocker
Fix 5: Format the USB drive

Before we delve deeper into the above methods, let’s understand the problem.

What is write-protected on the USB drive?

Write protection, commonly referred to as read-only, is a USB drive or SD card setting that allows users only to view or copy files. This mode prohibits modification like accidental overwriting, deleting, or formatting of new or old documents.

The setting can result from accidentally setting the USB on Read-only mode, turning the physical switch on Lockside, third-party encryption software, or malware. The only solution is to remove the write protection setting, as illustrated below.

Related:

How do I remove write protection on a USB drive?

You don’t have to be a computer guru to remove write protection from your USB drive. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll manage to effectively restore the USB drive settings and format files as desired.

Fix 1: Check the Write-protection lock switch.

Most USB devices have a physical Lock switch at the side or bottom, enabling you to lock or unlock write protection. Slide the lock up to unlock if it’s locked and ensure the switch is set to write instead of read-only mode.

You can do this in two simple steps:

Step 1: Locate the physical switch on your USB and turn it ON.
Step 2: Connect the unlocked USB drive to the PC to see if the write mode is activated.

If your USB lacks the physical Lock switch or the error persists after switching it OFF, try the second fix.

Fix 2: Use the Diskpart utility to clear read-only settings

Diskpart command-line is easy to clear the read-only mode from your USB to a writable format. The steps are as follows;

Step 1: Press Windows + R. Type cmd in the Runbox and hit Enter to launch the Diskpart command prompt.
Step 2: Type list disk and enter to view all disks connected to the PC, including internal hard drives.

Step 3: Use the select command to choose your USB drive. The size column will help you identify the exact USB you’re working on.
Step 4: Select the disk number and press OK. For instance, select disk 0 if your drive number is 0.
Step 5: Type command attributes disk to view a list of attributes of the USB disk.
Step 6: Enter the command attributes disk clear readonly and hit Enter.
Step 7: When the USB’s write protection is changed to removal, type Exit to close Diskpart.

The error should be cleared; if not, move to the following method.

FIX 3: Edit the registry to change the Write protection command

Registry Editor is an advanced method to fix USB, internal and external card write-protected errors. It’s a tricky procedure, and a wrong entry can cause more harm than good to your PC. Cautiously follow these steps;

Step 1: Press Windows + R, type Regedit in the Run box, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/ Control and expand the system.
Step 3: Right-click Current Control Set, then click Control.
Step 4: Check Storage Device Policies and rename the new key.
Step 5: Select the new key, and right-click on DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename it DWORD WriteProtect.
Step 6: Double-click the new DWORD folder and change its value from 1 to 0. Click OK to apply the changes.
Step 7: Exit Registry Editor, unplug, plug the USB and restart your PC.

Fix 4: Disable Encrypted BitLocker

When BitLocker is turned ON, it encrypts your files for maximum protection to prevent overwriting or deleting. To make changes on the BitLocker partition, you need to have a recovery key or password; if not, the other option is to format the entire USB drive.

Follow these steps to fix the write protection issue on your PC:

Step 1: Launch File Explorer and right-click on the BitLocker partition or storage device. If the icon is shown with a padlock, then BitLocker is enabled.
Step 2: Select manage BitLocker and view the list of storage devices and their encryption status.
Step 3: Select the locked device and click Turn off BitLocker. Enter the recovery key or password.
Step 4: The status will show the decryption process, and wait till it ends.

These four easy steps will solve the problem and allow you to make any edits to the USB drive files. If it didn’t work, which is unlikely, or you don’t have a password, move to the final method.

Fix 5: Format the USB drive

Formatting the USB drive is an option only when the above methods fail. You’ll lose all your data, but it will fix all the errors and malware in the USB drive. The safest way is to back up all the data to your PC and restore it afterward. But how do you format a USB drive?

Step 1: Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. Right, click to select the Formatting option.
Step 2: Edit the Partition Label to rename the USB in the pop-up window and change the file system. A USB drive is formatted as FAT32 for a single file size of up to 4GB. For larger files format as NTFS, then click OK to proceed.
Step 3: Click Apply to save the changes and end the formatting process.

How can I remove write protection from USB Windows 11?

If you want to transfer files, music, or other data from your computer to a USB drive, you must remove the write protection on the USB drive. This is done by setting the USB drive to read-only mode.

To remove write protection from a USB drive in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Disk Management Console.
Step 2: Right-click the USB drive and select “Update Disk Permissions” from the menu that appears.
Step 3: Click yes when prompted to confirm your choice of how to proceed with removing write protection.
Step 4: When prompted whether you want to repair or replace bad sectors, click Yes to proceed with this action next time you insert the drive into a computer with Windows installed on it, or click No if you wish to maintain your original drive layout.
Step 5: When prompted to save data on any hidden partitions, click Yes if you wish to save any files on those partitions; otherwise, click No if you do not want any files saved there.
Step 6: Click OK when finished making changes or Save Changes when done using this wizard’s options and close it by clicking Finish.

How to use the write protection removal tool

Can’t remove write protection on your USB drive on Windows? Don’t be discouraged. We have the solution for you!

The fix is simple, and it’s called “Remove Write Protection Tool,” which helps you remove write protection from your USB drive on Windows. The tool is easy to use, and it only takes a few minutes to complete the process. You don’t need any special skills or technical knowledge to use this tool.

All you have to do is download and install the Remove Write Protection Tool. Then restart your computer and plug in your USB drive with the write protection on it, which should be in A: (or if you have more than one drive letter assigned to your device, pick whichever one you want).

After that, open the Remove Write Protection Too] and follow the steps that appear onscreen until the process has been completed successfully. Once done, disconnect your device from your computer and re-plug and write on it as desired.

How to remove write protection from Sandisk pen drive

If you want to write on the pen drive, follow these steps:

Step 1: Insert the pen drive into your computer. If it does not show up in Explorer, ensure that you have installed the driver for it correctly. If this is the case, restart your computer and check again.
Step 2: Right-click on “My Computer” from the taskbar and select “Properties .” Select the ”Hardware” tab and check if any other devices are attached to your system. Remove all unnecessary devices before proceeding further.
Step 3: Click “Device Manager” under “System Tools.” You will see a list of all installed devices on your system. Check whether there is any yellow exclamation mark next to a device name or not – if so, right-click on it and select the “Update Driver Software.” option. This will automatically install the required drivers without any user intervention!

The post How to Remove Write Protection From USB Drive in Windows 10 appeared first on The WiredShopper.

How to Fix Taskbar Problems in Windows 10 (Simple Steps!)

Lisa Hayden — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:54:58 +0000

Windows 10 has numerous features and components designed to enhance productivity and overall user experience. However, this high performance is not a 100% guarantee, particularly if one of the components or features stops working correctly.

Fortunately, most of the common Windows 10 issues have simple solutions and learning how to fix them can save you both time and money. This guide discusses the common Taskbar related issues and how you can resolve such issues on your own.

Table of Contents:

4 Common Taskbar Problems in Windows 10

Causes and Solutions to Taskbar Issues

Solution 1: Restart Your PC to Fix System Issues

Solution 2: Restart the Windows 10 Explorer

Solution 3: Resolve Windows 10 Updates Related Issues

Solution 4: How to Fix Taskbar Auto-hide Problem

Conclusion

4 Common Taskbar Problems in Windows 10

The taskbar allows you to access and launch applications through the start menu or search box, minimize active programs and pin programs for quick access. It also hosts the notification area from where you can manage notifications, modify system date and time as well as view the network and battery status. The common taskbar related issues that you may experience include:

Taskbar Completely Missing - Cannot see the taskbar at all
Missing Icons in Taskbar - Taskbar only shows the Start button and other icons missing
Taskbar Frozen - does not respond when you click
Auto-hiding Not Working - taskbar remains even when you hide it in settings

Causes and Solutions to Taskbar Issues

There are many possible causes of taskbar issues in Windows 10 including minor system file issues, running applications, Windows updates errors and so on. This makes it hard to pinpoint a single cause as the culprit. If you have issues with your machine taskbar, you may try out the following solutions, one at a time, until the problem is resolved.

Solution 1: Restart Your PC to Fix System Issues

Restarting your PC fixes any minor system issues and can work magic in resolving common issues including taskbar problems.

Close all active programs and save all your unsaved files.

Go to the Windows Start menu, click the power button and select “Restart”

Once the computer reboots, confirm whether the taskbar is now working correctly.

Solution 2: Restart the Windows 10 Explorer

The Windows explorer is a navigation app that controls the Windows shell containing the Taskbar, File Explorer and the Start Menu. Restarting the explorer.exe app resets these navigation features and could fix your taskbar.

If the taskbar is clickable, right-click it and select “Task Manager” from the resulting context menu.

If the taskbar is unresponsive, you can launch the Task Manager in two other ways:

Use the ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ keyboard shortcut or
Press the ‘Win + X’ keys to open the Start context menu and click “Task Manager”

Under the “Processes” tab, look for and select “Windows Explorer”.

At the bottom-right of the task manager window, click the restart button.

Alternatively, you can right-click “Windows Explorer” and click “Restart'' at the top of the menu that appears.

The Windows Explorer will close and disappear from the processes list and then reappear in a few seconds, fixing your taskbar.

If the taskbar is still not working, proceed to the solutions below.

Solution 3: Resolve Windows 10 Updates Related Issues

Windows components may fail to function correctly due to update issues including missing updates or installed updates errors.

Step 1: Check and Install Windows 10 Updates

Navigate to “Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update” and click the “Check for updates” button to check for available updates

Let Windows look for updates and if available, download and install them. You may have to restart your PC to install the updates.

Once the updates have been installed successfully, test the taskbar to see whether it is now working.

Step 2: Uninstall Recent Windows 10 Updates

If the taskbar issues started after installing updates, you should uninstall the recent updates to fix the issue.

Launch the “Control Panel” and under the “Program & Features” click the “View installed updates” link.

Click the “Installed On” tab to sort the updates based on their installed date.

Click the updates that you suspect could have caused the taskbar issue and then click the “Uninstall” button at the top of the listed updates.

Wait for the updates to uninstall and then restart your machine to undo the updates.

Solution 4: How to Fix Taskbar Auto-hide Problem

The auto-hide setting allows you to hide the taskbar to minimize distractions or enlarge your display area. If the taskbar is not auto-hiding, you can try the following fixes.

Step 1: Check and Enable the Auto-hide Setting

If the taskbar is not auto-hiding, you should first check whether the feature is enabled.

Visit the “Settings > Personalization > Taskbar” settings window or right-click the Taskbar and select “Taskbar setting”.

Ensure that the switch below “Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode” is switched on. If the switch is already on, try to switch it off and on again.

Now check if the taskbar can hide in desktop mode.

If you want to hide the taskbar while working in tablet mode, turn on the auto-hide switch for the tablet mode.

Step 2: Check and Resolve Application Interferences

The taskbar may fail to hide if there is an active program that requires your attention or action.

Inspect all open programs for error prompts or any other alert that may require your action.

Resolve the alerts or error messages which could prevent the taskbar from auto-hide and check whether the problem has been fixed.

You also need to check for interruptions coming from background apps. To do so, open the system tray, the up-facing arrow located at the right side of the taskbar, and check if there is any notification from the background programs or processes.

Step 4: Disable Persistent App Notifications

If the app alerts keep appearing, causing the auto-hide issue, you can disable the app’s notifications.

Go to “Settings > System > Notification & actions” and click the “Focus assist settings” link.

Here you can choose to receive prioritized notifications based on a custom list of apps or alarms only.

Under “Automatic Rules” you can switch on and off your preferred rules.

You may also scroll down the “Notification & actions” and turn off notification from the troubling app under the heading “Get notifications from these senders”

Conclusion

The Windows 10 taskbar is a convenient component that enables you to navigate the various sections of the computer with ease. If the Taskbar is not working correctly, it can cost you time and overall productivity.

We hope that the above guide will help you fix common taskbar issues and restore your machine to optimal performance. The best way to apply the suggested solution is to try each one at a time, checking whether the issues have been resolved before you try the next one.

The post How to Fix Taskbar Problems in Windows 10 (Simple Steps!) appeared first on The WiredShopper.

How to Share Internet Connection in Windows 10 Computer

Lisa Hayden — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 18:25:26 +0000

With many people having multiple smart gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, tv and other electronics, having a way to connect all these devices to the internet has become a necessity.

In most cases, users install a hotspot access point that allows devices to access the internet over a wireless or ethernet connection. But what happens if you can only connect your PC to the internet?

Fortunately, whether you are connected via cable, Wi-Fi or GSM modem, Windows 10 allows you to share the connection to your other devices.

This article explores the various methods of sharing internet connection from a connected Windows 10 PC.

Method 1: Using your Windows 10 PC as a Wi-Fi Hotspot

You can create a mobile hotspot in Windows 10 and connect up to 8 devices just the way you connect to normal Wi-Fi while a maximum of 7 devices can connect to a connection shared over Bluetooth.

Step 1: Turning on Mobile Hotspot in Windows 10

Open the Windows 10 settings app by pressing the 'Win + I' keys on your keyboard.

Go to the “Network & Internet” settings and select “Mobile hotspot” on the left sidebar.

Click the toggle button below the title, “Share my Internet connection with other devices” to enable the hotspot feature.

Step 2: Customize the Hotspot Settings

You can choose between sharing your connections over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Ensure that the Wi-Fi radio button is active to share as Wi-Fi.

Switch on the “Power saving” option at the bottom to turn off the hotspot automatically when no devices are connected.

If need be you can change the name and the password for the network. To do so, click the “Edit” button below the network name and password.

On the resulting popup, change the text fields to your preferred name and password then click the “Save” button.

Note: Other users will identify the shared network by the name you have set above so it is advisable to use a name that is easy to identify and set a strong password that is easy for you to remember but hard for others to crack.

Step 3: Connecting Your Secondary Devices

Turn on the wireless connection on the device that you want to share internet connections with. This could be another laptop, your phone, tablet, TV or any other wireless device.

Under the available wireless networks, select the one you created on your PC. Enter the correct password and click connect.

Now you can browse the internet using a secondary device. Navigate to "Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot" to view the connected devices.

Method 2: Sharing Using Internet Connection Sharing

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is a Windows feature that allows you to set your PC as the gateway through which other users or devices can access the internet.

With ICS, you can connect devices running Windows or any other OS using an ethernet cable. Each connected device is automatically assigned an IP address and configured for DNS through the host PC.

Step 1: Opening the Network Sharing Centre

Right-click the network icon located in the notification area, the bottom right corner of your PC screen, and select "Open Network & Internet settings". There are two other ways of doing so:

Right-click the Start button and select “Network connections”.

Open the Windows settings app and open the “Network & Internet” option.

Under “Advanced network settings” click “Change adaptor options”.

Step 2: Enable Internet Connection Sharing

Right-click the network adaptor for the ethernet or wireless connection you want to share and click “Properties” at the bottom of the context menu.

The network properties pop-up will appear. Go to the “Sharing” tab and then tick the option to allow other devices to connect through your PC.

Click the arrow to expand the “Home network connection” options and select either Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you want to share your internet connection.

You can tick the box at the bottom to allow other users to control the shared network and then click “Ok” to save the changes.

Step 3: Connecting other Devices to the Shared Internet Connection

Use an ethernet cable to connect your secondary device to your computer as the gateway or connect to a router with DHCP enabled.

If your PC does not have an ethernet cable, you can use a USB-Ethernet Convert to connect.

Method 3: Sharing Internet Connection using Hosted Network Feature

You can also share an internet connection using the Hosted Network feature which is a component of the Windows Network shell (Netsh).

Step 1: Check Whether Your PC Supports Hosted Network

Open the command prompt and type the following command 'NETSH WLAN show drivers’ and hit Enter.

Look for “Hosted Network Supported” if the status is ‘Yes’ you can now proceed to create a hosted network.

Step 2: Creating a Wireless Hosted Network

Continue in command prompt and type the following ‘NETSH WLAN set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid= “Name-of- Network” key= “Password”’ replacing the text in quotes with the name of the virtual network and a password to access the network.

To activate the network, type ‘NETSH WLAN start hostednetwork' and the hosted network will be set.

Step 3: Enabling Wireless Hosted Network in Windows 10

By default, the hosted virtual network is already enabled in Windows 10 but just in case it is disabled you can enable it in the device manager.

Press the ‘Win + X’ keys or right-click the Start button to open the context menu and select “Device manager”.

Go to the view menu and ensure that the “Show hidden devices” is ticked.

Expand the network adapters and look for “Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter”. Right-click the option and click “Enable device” in the resulting menu.

If you open the advanced network adapters window, you will find the virtual network listed.

To disable the network, right-click the adapter and click “Disable” on the menu that appears.

Summary

Whether you want to connect your multiple devices to the internet through your connected PC or you feel generous to share your internet connection with your friends or family, Windows 10 allows you to do so in just a few minutes.

It is worth noting that the above three options allow you to share the internet even to non-Windows gadgets including smartphones, Android TV or iOS devices. It is also a good practice to use a strong passphrase for the wireless connection to prevent unauthorized access.

The post How to Share Internet Connection in Windows 10 Computer appeared first on The WiredShopper.

What is Windows Sandbox and How to Use it?

Lisa Hayden — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 14:23:18 +0000

Most Windows 10 users avoid any potential risk like running software from unknown sources or visiting suspicious websites that would compromise PC security. While this is a good practice, it may deny you the chance to test some useful tools from unpopular but legit developers.

Fortunately, Windows Sandbox creates a safe environment that allows users to safely run potentially harmful applications without damaging their computers. Moreover, the tool enables developers and testers to run new apps to identify potential bugs that could affect the functionalities of existing features or apps.

In this article, we will explore Windows Sandbox features, how to activate and use this tool in Windows 10

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox is a lightweight, temporary and isolated desktop environment where users can install and test untrusted apps separately from the host machine. It is a safety feature that uses Microsoft’s hardware virtualization and hypervisor to run an independent kernel that isolates the session from the host machine.

The feature also uses smart memory management, integrated kernel scheduler and virtual graphics to create a clone of the original OS installation. Moreover, Windows Sandbox runs as a clean Windows 10 installation and deletes all ‘sandboxed’ installations and files upon closing.

Features and Benefits of Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox offers more than just creating a safe platform for testing untrusted or sketchy applications. Some of the useful features of the tool include:

Pre-installation - The tool is part of the Windows 10 OS which means that no new installation is required. However, your PC must be running an updated Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise edition.

Clean installation - Windows Sandbox runs as a new installation of the OS.

Temporary - After closing the Windows Sandbox, it kills all the active states and processes thus nothing remains in your machine.

Security - the main purpose of the tool is to enhance security. It uses hardware virtualization to create an isolated environment that allows users to test potentially harmful apps or visiting suspicious websites without the fear of infecting or damaging the host.

Efficiency - Windows Sandbox is a lightweight installation that is optimized to boot faster than conventional virtual machines.

How to Enable and Start Windows Sandbox

The following steps guide you on how to get started with Windows Sandbox.

Step 1: Checking the System Requirement

Before you start using Windows Sandbox, you need to first confirm that your computer meets the minimum specification:

Updated Windows 10 - Professional or Enterprise edition
4 GB of RAM and at least 1 GB free disk space
At least 2 CPU cores
Virtualization activated in BIOS
AMD64 processor architecture

Step 2: Check and Enable Virtualization Status

By default, the virtualization feature is enabled in firmware but there are two easy ways to confirm.

Press the ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ keys to open the Windows Task Manager.

Switch to the "Performance tab and select "CPU" on the left pane. On the CPU performance details, on the right side ensure that the virtualization status reads.

Alternatively, type ‘cmd’ in the search box and open “Command Prompt” from the result.

Type the following command ‘systeminfo.exe’ and press Enter.

Scroll down to the bottom of the generated system details and under the “Hyper-V Requirements” you will find “Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: Yes”

If the virtualization feature is disabled you need to enable it in the BIOS settings to be able to use Windows Sandbox.

Simply restart your PC and once the brand logo appears press the “F2” or the applicable key depending on your computer model to enter the BIOS settings. Look for “Virtualization” and follow the on-screen guide to activate it.

Once the machine restarts, repeat the above process to confirm that it is enabled.

Step 3: Enable Windows Sandbox

Search for "Windows features" in the search box and select the "Turn Windows features on or off" option.

Scroll down the Windows features window and click to tick the box for Windows Sandbox.

Click the "Ok" button to apply the changes and then restart the machine when prompted.

Step: Launch Windows Sandbox in Windows

Go to the Windows Start menu and scroll down the programs list to locate “Windows Sandbox”.

Click it to open and wait for Windows 10 to load the virtual OS.

The feature will load as a clean installation of the current host machine Windows 10 version allowing you to test any app or adventure potentially risky websites freely.

How to Use Windows Sandbox

You can navigate and operate the Sandbox environment the same way as any Windows 10 PC.

If you want to test an application, copy the installer from the computer storage and switch to Windows Sandbox and paste.

Double click the .exe file to start the installation and follow the normal installation.

You can also use the Microsoft Edge browser to download the software or visit any website.

To switch between the Windows Sandbox Full and Restore-down screen view, click the restore button located at the top of the screen or press the 'Ctrl + Shift + Pause/Break' keys on the keyboard.

Once you are done testing the software or exploring websites, click the “x” button to close the Sandbox window.

You will get a warning prompt to confirm the action. Click “Ok” to close .

Note that once you close the virtual OS, nothing remains in your machine. All the files and installed apps are deleted permanently and when you open Sandbox again it will create a new instance.

Conclusion

Windows Sandbox is an interesting Windows 10 feature that has been specifically designed to enable users to test suspicious software without interfering with your operating systems.

It is also a handy tool for software developers and testers as it helps to identify compatibility issues and other potential bugs to ensure that the final product will run seamlessly in Windows 10.

If you want to run software or visit a website that you don't trust, the above guide shows you how to create a safe environment for your experiments. Impressively, the feature runs smoothly on minimal hardware and loads apps faster just as in a newly installed OS.

The post What is Windows Sandbox and How to Use it? appeared first on The WiredShopper.

What is BitLocker and How to Use it in Windows 10

Lisa Hayden — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 04:37:22 +0000

What is BitLocker and How to Use it in Windows 10

The popularity of cloud storage solutions has been on the rise for obvious reasons including accessibility, affordability and scalability. In fear of cyber-attacks or out of preference, most people still opt to keep their sensitive data offline in a computer or an external storage disk.

The user can safeguard the device with the data to prevent unauthorized access or modifications. However, you may misplace your storage device, your laptop is stolen or you share your PC with a friend. This means that your stored data is not 100% and unauthorized users could still find their way to your information.

This is where BitLocker comes in. Follow this guide to learn more about how to enhance data security using the Windows 10 BitLocker. We have explored everything there is to know including what BitLocker is, how to use it in Windows 10 and much more.

What is BitLocker and Why is it Important?

BitLocker is system-level security feature available in Windows 10 Enterprise and Pro Editions. The tool utilizes special key management techniques and a hardware component called Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to encrypt the entire drive including external drives.

It uses a complex algorithm and strong 256-bit or 128-bit key to encrypt the contents of the whole disk. Thus, only has the correct encryption key to retrieve, read or write data in the encrypted disk. It is an offline data protection and can be helpful in several situations including:

Encrypting the system drive to prevent unwanted changes to system settings.
Keep your personal data safe from other users when sharing a computer.
Prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information in case of stolen or lost computer/ storage disk.
Can be used as a parental control tool to restrict access to certain sections of the PC storage.
It can prevent malware and viruses from damaging your files

Getting Started with Windows 10 BitLocker

Using BitLocker in Windows 10 is not hard and you don't need to download and install any extra app as the tool is bundled with the OS. However, you need to ensure that your OS version and hardware supports the feature. Below are a few quick check:

Ensure that your PC is running on the Enterprise or the Pro edition of Windows 10. If you bought the computer with the standard edition, you need to upgrade to use BitLocker.
Ensure that TPM is enabled in Bios.
Your hard drive should have at least two partitions – the OS and a Secondary drive.
Ensure uninterrupted power supply or at least a few hours of battery life, as the encryption may take long to complete.

Checking TPM in Your Windows 10 PC

TPM is a microchip integrated with the PC motherboard, which handles encryptions for advanced hardware security functionalities.

Open the Run utility by pressing "Win + R" keys. Type the following, 'tpm.msc' and click press Enter on your keyboard.

You may need to activate TPM in BIOS Settings.

This will open the TPM management window showing the details about the chip including status and version.

How to Encrypt a Storage Disk with BitLocker

You can use BitLocker to encrypt the System drive (disk with Windows installation), secondary disks on the PC or external disks attached to the computer.

Press the “Win + E” keys to open the File Explorer and select “This PC” on the navigation menu located on the left pane.

Here you will see all the computer disks and other disks connected to your PC.

Right-click the device you want to encrypt and click “Turn on BitLocker”

The BitLocker wizard will open. Tick the first option, use password under “Choose how you want to unlock the drive”.

Enter and confirm a strong password that meets the specified requirements in the spaces provided and click “Next”

On the next wizard page, select one of the options to specify how you want to back up your recovery key and click “Next”

Note: you can use the recovery key to access the protected disk in case you forget the password.

Choose whether to encrypt used disk space or the entire disk and then click “Next”. It is worth noting that even when you encrypt used space, new files will be encrypted as you add them to the disk.

Choose the encryption mode based on the recommendation for the type of drive you are protecting.

To begin the disk encryption, click the “Start encryption” button at the bottom of the wizard and now wait for the process to complete.

Depending on the size of the disk and the encryption mode chosen above, the process can take from minutes to a few hours. Once complete, you will notice a padlock icon attached to the locked drive.

How to Encrypt a Storage Disk with BitLocker

You can use BitLocker to encrypt the System drive (disk with Windows installation), secondary disks on the PC or external disks attached to the computer.

Press the “Win + E” keys to open the File Explorer and select “This PC” on the navigation menu located on the left pane.

Here you will see all the computer disks and other disks connected to your PC.

Right-click the device you want to encrypt and click “Turn on BitLocker”.

The BitLocker wizard will open. Tick the first option, use password under “Choose how you want to unlock the drive”.

Enter and confirm a strong password that meets the specified requirements in the spaces provided and click “Next” .

On the next wizard page, select one of the options to specify how you want to back up your recovery key and click “Next”.

Note: you can use the recovery key to access the protected disk in case you forget the password.

Choose the encryption mode based on the recommendation for the type of drive you are protecting.

To begin the disk encryption, click the “Start encryption” button at the bottom of the wizard and now wait for the process to complete.

Depending on the size of the disk and the encryption mode chosen above, the process can take from minutes to a few hours. Once complete, you will notice a padlock icon attached to the locked drive.

How to Manage BitLocker Disk Encryption in Windows 10

The BitLocker Management Window allows you to tweak the encryptions settings such as changing the password, switching off BitLocker and so on.

Opening the BitLocker Management Panel

Type ‘BitLocker’ in the search box and choose “Manage BitLocker” from the search results.

This will open the BitLocker settings in control panel. Here you will find all the drives on your PC showing the encryption status.

To view the encryption status, click the down-facing arrow next to the device.

To encrypt a drive, click the “Turn on BitLocker” link and follow the procedure described above to complete the process.

How to Open an Encrypted Disk

To open a BitLocker Encrypted drive, click the “Unlock drive” next to the locked volume.

You can also open an encrypted drive by opening “This PC” in File Explorer and double click the drive.

This will open a dialog prompting for the unlock password. Enter the password and click the “Unlock” button.

If you don’t have the password, click “More Options” on the password prompt and change the option to recovery key and enter the key you saved during encryption.

Change/ Reset BitLocker Encryption Password

Once unlocked, you will be to see more encryption settings.

To change the BitLocker encryption password, click the “Change password” link.

On the resulting popup, enter the old password, type in and confirm the new password then click the “Change password” button to apply the changes.

If you have forgotten your password, click the link to reset a forgotten password and on the resulting window, type and confirm your new password. Click the “Finish” button.

Conclusion

Most people trust keeping their sensitive data remotely either in a computer local disk or an external storage disk. While this keeps the data free from online attacks, it is not fully safe since the computer or the external disk can be stolen or get lost. Therefore, extra security is required to protect the offline data.

Fortunately, Windows 10 users can use BitLocker, an in-built security feature, to encrypt local and external disks preventing unauthorized access to your data. If your PC hardware and OS version supports the tool, you can follow the above guide to enhance your offline data protection.

The post What is BitLocker and How to Use it in Windows 10 appeared first on The WiredShopper.