Critical System Issues Following Windows 11 24H2 Update: Boot Errors, System Freeze, and Bitlocker Access Denied

The exactly same issue happened to me. I had a fresh Windows 24H2 USB installation iso installed on my laptop. To test this out, I did sysprep once and pressed Shift+F10 and typed in the Bitlocker encryption command "manage-bde -on C: -rp -s" right after the first boot into oobe. Then I rebooted the system right after the Bitlocker is enabled.

My laptop started to enter into Windows Recovery Environment at this time and is unable to boot in to normal Windows environment anymore.

To temporarily solve this, I have to obtain the backup Bitlocker recovery key when Bitlocker in enabled before the issue happens. Then use the command prompt in windows recovery environment and type in "manage-bde -status" to obtain the boot drive name start with "\" and copy it. Then type in "manage-bde -unlock \BootDriveName -rp 48DigitBitLockerRecoveryKey" to unlock the boot drive. Last, type in "manage-bde -off \BootDriveName" to turn off Bitlocker (decrypt) on the boot drive. And I will be able to boot into Windows normally after a reboot.

It's shocked that Windows 24H2 can just be easily destroyed with a Bitlocker encryption.

This NEVER happens in previous Windows version (23H2, 22H2, 21H2...etc)

Hey guys,

I have an update with my final findings and solution regarding Windows 11 24H2 conflicts with Sysprep and Bitlocker!

If you are looking for solution, you can just skip this part.

All findings were investigated using "bcdedit" command line.

I found that when sysprep is done under 24H2, "device" and "osdevice" attribute in default boot entry will be changed from "partition=C:" to "locate=custom:xxxxxxxx"

I'm then curious about the content of "locate=custom:xxxxxxxx". It is showing as the value below in Windows recovery environment:

device > locate=\Windows\system32\winload.efi

osdevice > locate=\Windows

After the above attributes are changed from "partition" to "locate" and as Bitlocker is turned-on on C: drive, windows boot manager cannot recognize the C: drive as the OS boot drive because sysprep changes the way Windows boot manager identifies boot entry. Since the OS drive was encryped by Bitlocker, Windows boot manager cannot locate the boot files. So that cause the windows boot manager fails to boot into Windows and goes to Windows recovery environment instead. No matter how many types of fixes suggested in Windows recovery environment won't help with this issue.

Solution

If you are able to boot into Windows recovery environment, you can access the command prompt by clicking the "Advanced Options" at Automatic Repair screen > Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

In command prompt, type and run the below 2 commands

bcdedit /set {default} device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3

bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3

Usually the OS disk is on the partition "HarddiskVolume3". If you'd like to confirm which partition the OS is in, you can use the following commands to check:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 (normally select the largest one)
list part

You can check if the 3rd partition is marking as the main disk (Normally the largest one)

If you know which partition is your OS located, the \Device\HarddiskVolume? (? is the partition number of OS located in) command mentioned above **** should also be changed as well.

If you are unable to enter the screen above, you may need to use a Windows installation/repair USB to boot up. Once your PC is boot up from USB, press Shift+F10 to run command prompt. Then perform the action mentioned above.

After bcdedit /set command is done running, you should be able to close the command prompt and reboot normally in to the OS without losing your data.

Not exactly but similar. It is not a typical BSOD, the boot options vary from model to model. It does have an F1 option. A straight windows install does not exhibit the issue. The steps taken must be as follows.

1. Install Windows
2. Fully patch Windows
3. Sysprep
4. Create Drive Image (Tried 3 different imaging tools) Macron is my primary
5. Deploy Image (Boots fine after imaging)
6. Enable Bitlocker on local OS drive
7. Unbootable at this [point

It doesnt happen with prior versions of windows on any of the models I have tested them. The key factor to this issue is a fully patched 24H2/Sysprep and Bitlocker.

My computer is locked to the bluescreen I have NOT activated the Bitlocker and it is still locking me out of my computer. It is impossible to any of the above suggestions when you can't download, access internet or anything with the blue screen. I have tried to unlock with the key found in my microsoft files but once it accepts it, it goes directly to 'automatically repairing" and then it flips back to the blue screen to start all over. My computer is just a year old and was working fine until this morning when I opened it up to work. This has files on it I CANNOT lose, and this update is scaring me by not letting me access them. What now? I have spent the entire afternoon trying to fix this mess. I have a Lenovo computer.

Definitely NOT happy with microsoft right now!!!!!!

The problem I see is that you can upgrade to 24H2. After the upgrade if you enable Bitlocker, that is when the the inability to get in happens. Its only after a sysprep.

Hello,

When you see two Windows 11 entries, that means Windows accidentally added the boot entry from the folder $Windows.~BT as well as the original Windows installation.

What does repeatedly pushing Enter or the other keys do?

Since you are getting into the Automatic Repair loop, once Windows says that it couldn't fix the problems, please push "See advanced options" then "Troubleshoot" then "Advanced options" then "Command Prompt". If you are prompted for your BitLocker recovery key, push skip drive.

At the Command Prompt, type manage-bde -unlock -rp recoverykey C: and push enter. Replace recoverykey with the 48 digit recovery key in your Microsoft account. If you have multiple recovery keys, make sure to check all of the recovery keys and see if that works.

Then, once you get your drive unlocked, you can type manage-bde off C: and push enter, which will turn off BitLocker.

Then, type bcdedit and then attach a screenshot of what you see and then please attach it here.

Hope to hear back from you.