Manage-bde: protectors

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

Manages the protection methods used for the BitLocker encryption key. For examples of how this command can be used, see Examples.

Syntax

manage-bde -protectors [{-get|-add|-delete|-disable|-enable|-adbackup}] <Drive> [-computername <Name>] [{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]

Parameters

Parameter Description

-get

Displays all the key protection methods enabled on the drive and provides their type and identifier (ID).

-add

Adds key protection methods as specified by using additional -add syntax and parameters.

-delete

Deletes key protection methods used by BitLocker. All key protectors will be removed from a drive unless the optional -delete syntax and parameters are used to specify which protectors to delete. When the last protector on a drive is deleted, BitLocker protection of the drive is disabled to ensure that access to data is not lost inadvertently.

-disable

Disables protection, which will allow anyone to access encrypted data by making the encryption key available unsecured on drive. No key protectors are removed.

-enable

Enables protection by removing the unsecured encryption key from the drive. All configured key protectors on the drive will be enforced.

-adbackup

Backs up all recovery information for the drive specified to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). To back up only a single recovery key to AD DS, append the -id parameter and specify the ID of a specific recovery key to back up.

<Drive>

Represents a drive letter followed by a colon.

-computername

Specifies that Manage-bde.exe will be 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.

-add syntax and parameters

manage-bde –protectors –add [<Drive>] [-forceupgrade] [-recoverypassword <NumericalPassword>] [-recoverykey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>]
[-startupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>] [-certificate {-cf <PathToCertificateFile>|-ct <CertificateThumbprint>}] [-tpm] [-tpmandpin] 
[-tpmandstartupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>] [-tpmandpinandstartupkey <PathToExternalKeyDirectory>] [-password] [-computername <Name>] 
[{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]
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.

<PathToExternalKeyDirectory>

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.

-cf

Specifies that a certificate file will be used to provide the public key certificate.

<PathToCertificateFile>

Represents the directory path to the certificate file.

-ct

Specifies that a certificate thumbprint will be used to identify the public key certificate

<CertificateThumbprint>

Specifies the value of the thumbprint property of the certificate you want to use. For example, a certificate thumbprint value of "a9 09 50 2d d8 2a e4 14 33 e6 f8 38 86 b0 0d 42 77 a3 2a 7b" should be specified as "a909502dd82ae41433e6f83886b00d4277a32a7b."

-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.

-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.

-delete syntax and parameters

manage-bde –protectors –delete <Drive> [-type {recoverypassword|externalkey|certificate|tpm|tpmandstartupkey|tpmandpin|tpmandpinandstartupkey|Password}] 
[-id <KeyProtectorID>] [-computername <Name>] [{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]
Parameter Description

<Drive>

Represents a drive letter followed by a colon.

-type

Identifies the key protector to delete. You can also use -t as an abbreviated version of this command.

recoverypassword

Specifies that any recovery password key protectors should be deleted.

externalkey

Specifies that any external key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

certificate

Specifies that any certificate key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

tpm

Specifies that any TPM-only key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

tpmandstartupkey

Specifies that any TPM and startup key–based key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

tpmandpin

Specifies that any TPM and PIN–based key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

tpmandpinandstartupkey

Specifies that any TPM, PIN, and startup key–based key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

password

Specifies that any password key protectors associated with the drive should be deleted.

-id

Identifies the key protector to delete by using the key identifier. This parameter is an alternative option to the -type parameter.

<KeyProtectorID>

Identifies an individual key protector on the drive to delete. Key protector IDs can be displayed by using the manage-bde -protectors -get command.

-computername

Specifies that Manage-bde.exe will be 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 -protectors command to add a certificate key protector identified by a certificate file to drive E.

manage-bde –protectors –add E: -certificate –cf "c:\File Folder\Filename.cer"

The following example illustrates using the -protectors command to delete all TPM and startup key–based key protectors on drive C.

manage-bde –protectors –delete C: -type tpmandstartupkey

The following example illustrates using the -protectors command to back up all recovery information for drive C to AD DS.

manage-bde –protectors –adbackup C:

Additional references