Microsoft KB Archive/926186

Knowledge Base

The BitLocker Drive Encryption feature in Windows Vista generates heavy disk activity after you restart the computer in Windows PE or in Windows RE

Article ID: 926186

Article Last Modified on 3/15/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Ultimate

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. On a Windows Vista-based computer, you configure the BitLocker Drive Encryption feature to encrypt a volume or to decrypt a volume. Then, you restart the computer in Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) or in Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). In this scenario, you unexpectedly experience heavy disk activity.

CAUSE

This problem may occur in rare instances in which a volume has not been converted to a fully encrypted or fully decrypted state by BitLocker Drive Encryption. In this situation, BitLocker Drive Encryption may resume encryption of a volume or decryption of a volume when you restart the computer in either Windows PE or Windows RE.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type cmd in the Start Search box, and then click cmd in the Programs list.
2. At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   cscript %systemroot%\system32\manage-bde.wsf -pause volume_letter:

   For example, if you want to pause encryption or decryption on drive X, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:

   cscript %systemroot%\system32\manage-bde.wsf -pause X:

Keywords: kbbug kbtshoot kbprb kbexpertiseinter KB926186

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