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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
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You detailed reinstalling Windows 8. What is noticeably missing from everyone is step by step info on fixing the initial problem you mentioned.
When my computer is left idle, it goes to a reset screen. To reset it, I select the language, and then I try to troubleshoot it. It is never able to make any repairs. When I refresh it, I get your quoted message. I'm able to shut it down and it starts normally.
MS can't tell me it has a virus unless they put it there because I had issues with this computer since I first used it. I'm not counting the day I took it out of the box and installed the software. What it did then, and time and time again, was go to a blue screen saying it couldn't boot or no boot manager found. Say what??? A tech supposedly fixed it. This is when I started getting the message you addressed here. I continue to get it even when I'm in the middle of using the computer. The computer is less than 5 months old. What should I do step-by-step? Thanks!
Is there a way to get my Window 8 Serial number? I no longer have the email, and while I saved a copy of it, that copy is on my computer which I cannot get into. In hindsight not too smart.
