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What to do when you get the following message on "the most stable", Windows 8, operating system?
"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."
I got that message after the following:
I wanted to open a PDF file from my customer on OUTLOOK - a regular, every-hour procedure - and my computer froze. Nothing worked; therefore, only manually disconnecting my computer from the power source, I was able to shut it down.
After I restarted, I could not get passed the login screen - my computer used to enter the "blue background color and nothing else" mode.
I decided to use USB Flash drive to repair Win8 but it failed. I wanted to refresh my Windows 8, but I got that message:
"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."
Just 4 days ago, I did a "clean install" of Windows 8 OS.
What should I do besides another "clean install" of Windows 8?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
2 SSD drives one SATA HDD
win 8.1 on SSD #1
this is what I did:
- shutdown
- unhooked HDD
- restarted
- yay !!
- reconnected HDD
- restarted
- yay !!
cheers
Thank you. Of all the proposed solutions this is the only one I tried and it worked perfectly. My computer is back up and running. Thank you so much!
I clean installed windows 8 on a second HD and then the original came up as an option. the key is to disconnect the first hd with the good install on it. and then go into the bios and adjust your boot sequence.
At least this worked for me. As soon as this works you must defeat any options for fast start as that is likely where the trouble is. This is outrageous as it is happening to customers across the world but yet the company is trying to pass it off as a virus. I was told I would have to buy a second license to get the install to stabilize. It is BS.
Good Luck
KC O'Dunn
Windows 10, operating system...
"The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."
I have found this problem to be the new security built into the motherboard being overly fussy. Boot the system into setup, and tell the system that the boot is "other secure boot". I am running an Asus M5A97-R2.0 which allows me to do that. Then power down, reboot, and your system will work. The problem seems to be that a bit gets twiddled on the security spot, and setting the system for "other secure boot" allows it to figure it out. The system works and has not given me any trouble after that fix.
Well, the issue came about because of the Windows 10 Upgrade.
My Desktop is an HP All in One Touchsmart (23-f213w).
When I upgraded from Windows 8.1 during the Free Windows 10 Upgrade, it wiped out my who Operating System.
Since Windows 8 computers no longer come with the Certificate of Authenticity, and I didn't burn the Restore Disks, I'm trying to reinstall Windows 8, but it can't install, because it says the Drive is Locked.Not sure how to get past this.
And, I was told by a Tech that this PC is incompatible with Windows 10 after it was already done.
