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Manage-bde: on

 

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8

Encrypts the drive and turns on BitLocker. For examples of how this command can be used, see Examples.

Syntax

manage-bde –on <Drive> {[-recoveryPassword <NumericalPassword>]|[-recoverykey <PathToExternalDirectory>]|[-startupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>]|[-certificate]|
[-tpmandpin]|[-tpmandpinandstartupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>]|[-tpmandstartupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>]|[-password]|[-ADAccountOrGroup <Domain\Account>]}
[-UsedSpaceOnly][-encryptionmethod {aes128_diffuser|aes256_diffuser|aes128|aes256}] [-skiphardwaretest] [-discoveryvolumetype <FileSystemType>] [-ForceEncryptionType <type>] [-RemoveVolumeShadowCopies][-computername <Name>] 
[{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]

Parameters

Parameter

Description

<Drive>

Represents a drive letter followed by a colon.

-recoverypassword

Adds a numerical password protector. You can also use -rp as an abbreviated version of this command.

<NumericalPassword>

Represents the recovery password.

-recoverykey

Adds an external key protector for recovery. You can also use -rk as an abbreviated version of this command.

<PathToExternalDirectory>

Represents the directory path to the recovery key.

-startupkey

Adds an external key protector for startup. You can also use -sk as an abbreviated version of this command.

<PathToExternalKeyDirectory>

Represents the directory path to the startup key.

-certificate

Adds a public key protector for a data drive. You can also use -cert as an abbreviated version of this command.

-tpmandpin

Adds a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and personal identification number (PIN) protector for the operating system drive. You can also use -tp as an abbreviated version of this command.

-tpmandstartupkey

Adds a TPM and startup key protector for the operating system drive. You can also use -tsk as an abbreviated version of this command.

-tpmandpinandstartupkey

Adds a TPM, PIN, and startup key protector for the operating system drive. You can also use -tpsk as an abbreviated version of this command.

-password

Adds a password key protector for the data drive. You can also use -pw as an abbreviated version of this command.

-ADAccountOrGroup

Adds a SID-based identity protector for the volume. The volume will automatically unlock if the user or computer has the proper credentials. When specifying a computer account, append a $ to the computer name and specify –service to indicate that the unlock should happen in the content of the BitLocker server instead of the user. You can also use -sid as an abbreviated version of this command.

-UsedSpaceOnly

Sets the encryption mode to Used Space Only encryption. The sections of the volume containing used space will be encrypted but the free space will not. If this option is not specified, all used space and free space on the volume will be encrypted.. You can also use -used as an abbreviated version of this command.

-encryptionMethod

Configures the encryption algorithm and key size. You can also use -em as an abbreviated version of this command.

-skiphardwaretest

Begins encryption without a hardware test. You can also use -s as an abbreviated version of this command.

-discoveryvolumetype

Specifies the file system to use for the discovery data drive. The discovery data drive is a hidden drive added to a FAT-formatted, BitLocker-protected removable data drive that contains the BitLocker To Go Reader so that Windows Vista or Windows XP operating systems can be used to view BitLocker-protected drives.

-ForceEncryptionType

Forces BitLocker to use either software or hardware encryption. You can specify either Hardware or Software as the encryption type. If the hardware parameter is selected, but the drive does not support hardware encryption, manage-bde returns an error. If Group Policy settings forbids the specified encryption type, manage-bde returns an error. You can also use -fet as an abbreviated version of this command.

-RemoveVolumeShadowCopies

Force deletikon of Volume Shadow Copies for the volume. You will not be able to restore this volume using previous system restore points after running this command. You can also use -rvsc as an abbreviated version of this command.

<FileSystemType>

Specifies which file systems can be used with discovery data drives: FAT32, default, or none.

-computername

Specifies that Manage-bde is being used to modify BitLocker protection on a different computer. You can also use -cn as an abbreviated version of this command.

<Name>

Represents the name of the computer on which to modify BitLocker protection. Accepted values include the computer's NetBIOS name and the computer's IP address.

-? or /?

Displays brief Help at the command prompt.

-help or -h

Displays complete Help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following example illustrates using the -on command to turn on BitLocker for drive C and add a recovery password to the drive.

manage-bde –on C: -recoverypassword

The following example illustrates using the -on command to turn on BitLocker for drive C, add a recovery password to the drive, and save a recovery key to drive E.

manage-bde –on C: -recoverykey E:\ -recoverypassword

The following example illustrates using the -on command to turn on BitLocker for drive C by using an external key protector (such as a USB key) to unlock the operating system drive. This method is required if you are using BitLocker with computers that do not have a TPM.

manage-bde -on C: -startupkey E:\

The following example illustrates using the -on command to turn on BitLocker for data drive E and add a password key protector. Manage-bde will prompt you to enter the password after this command has been entered.

manage-bde –on E: -pw

The following example illustrates using the -on command to turn on BitLocker for operating system drive C and use hardware-based encryption.

manage-bde –on C: -fet Hardware

Additional references