How to remove BitLocker encryption on Windows 7
When you turn off BitLocker, you can choose to either disable BitLocker temporarily, or to decrypt the volume. Disabling BitLocker allows TPM changes and other minor changes to the system. Decrypting the volume means that the volume will be entirely decrypted, and that all the keys are discarded. You must decrypt a computer before upgrading the operating system. Once a volume is decrypted, you must generate new keys by going through the encryption process again, if you want to enable BitLocker.
Before you start
· You must be logged on as an administrator.
· The volume must be encrypted.
To turn off BitLocker Drive Encryption
a) Click Start, click Control Panel, click Security, and then click BitLocker Drive Encryption.
b) From the BitLocker Drive Encryption page, find the volume on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off, and click Turn Off BitLocker Drive Encryption.
c) From the What level of decryption do you want dialog box, click either Disable BitLocker Drive Encryption or Decrypt the volume as needed.
d) By completing this procedure, you have either disabled BitLocker or decrypted the operating system volume.
Additional Resources
The following resources provide additional information about BitLocker Drive Encryption:
For help with BitLocker Drive Encryption, as with any Microsoft Windows component, please choose one of the support options listed on the Microsoft Help and Support Web site
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=76619).
When you turn off BitLocker, you can choose to either disable BitLocker temporarily, or to decrypt the volume. Disabling BitLocker allows TPM changes and other minor changes to the system. Decrypting the volume means that the volume will be entirely decrypted, and that all the keys are discarded. You must decrypt a computer before upgrading the operating system. Once a volume is decrypted, you must generate new keys by going through the encryption process again, if you want to enable BitLocker.
Before you start
· You must be logged on as an administrator.
· The volume must be encrypted.
To turn off BitLocker Drive Encryption
a) Click Start, click Control Panel, click Security, and then click BitLocker Drive Encryption.
b) From the BitLocker Drive Encryption page, find the volume on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off, and click Turn Off BitLocker Drive Encryption.
c) From the What level of decryption do you want dialog box, click either Disable BitLocker Drive Encryption or Decrypt the volume as needed.
d) By completing this procedure, you have either disabled BitLocker or decrypted the operating system volume.
Additional Resources
The following resources provide additional information about BitLocker Drive Encryption:
For help with BitLocker Drive Encryption, as with any Microsoft Windows component, please choose one of the support options listed on the Microsoft Help and Support Web site
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=76619).
