Tag Archives: TPM 2.0

Advanced Summary — How to Fix BitLocker Access

⮞ Reading Note This advanced summary (≈ 6 minutes) details the technical steps to restore access after the faulty Crowdstrike update. It explains how to securely Fix BitLocker Access, use recovery keys, and apply sovereign hardware solutions.

Removing Problematic Files to Fix BitLocker Access

First, reboot in recovery mode. Then, navigate to %WINDIR%System32driversCrowdStrike. Finally, delete the corrupted file “C-00000291*.sys” to Fix BitLocker Access.

Using Recovery Keys to Fix BitLocker Access

To begin, boot from a USB recovery drive. Next, select “Unlock the drive”. As a result, enter your BitLocker recovery key to Fix BitLocker Access and restore encrypted data.

Sovereign Security Message

Cloud storage of recovery keys may expose them to third parties. Sovereign hardware ensures offline protection.

Microsoft KB5042429 Recovery Tool

Released in January 2026, KB5042429 automates repair steps.
Options:
– Recovery from Windows PE (bootable media).
– Recovery from Safe Mode.
It replaces manual procedures KB5042421 (clients) and KB5042426 (servers).

Windows PE & Safe Mode Recovery

The KB5042429 tool supports Windows PE Recovery via bootable media and Safe Mode Recovery for direct system repair.
These terms are widely searched by administrators and should be highlighted to improve discoverability and clarity.

Sovereign Hardware Solutions

– PassCypher NFC HSM: stores up to 100 TPM 2.0 and BitLocker keys offline.
– EviKeyboard BLE: injects keys securely without cloud dependency.
– DataShielder NFC HSM: neutralizes exfiltration risks on hostile terminals.

Behind the Blue Screen — Encrypted Drive Recovery

The Global Outage of July 2024 and CrowdStrike Faulty Update

July 2024 marked the largest IT outage in history what is now considered the largest IT outage in history. A faulty CrowdStrike update triggered blue screens across 8.5 million Windows systems, paralyzing hospitals, airports, banks, and government services. Overnight, encrypted drives protected by BitLocker became inaccessible, leaving administrators scrambling for solutions. Administrators struggled to Fix BitLocker Access across millions of devices.

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

The CrowdStrike update triggered the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) across Windows systems. This term, widely recognized by users and IT staff, emphasizes the scale of disruption and the immediate visibility of the failure.

CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor Update

The faulty update was part of the CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor agent, deployed globally across millions of endpoints.
This terminology is important because administrators searching for solutions often refer to the incident as the “Falcon Sensor Update crash.” Including this reference helps clarify the technical root of the outage.

Manual Recovery Steps and Their Limits

At first, Microsoft published manual procedures — KB5042421 for clients and KB5042426 for servers.
These guides described how to boot into recovery environments, remove corrupted files, and reapply updates.
But for many organizations, the scale of the incident made manual fixes impractical.
Entire fleets of machines had to be repaired one by one, often under pressure and without clear visibility.

Removing Problematic CrowdStrike Files for Drive Recovery

• Reboot in Recovery Mode Restart your computer and enter recovery mode by pressing F8 or F11 during startup.
• Navigate to CrowdStrike Directory Go to %WINDIR%System32driversCrowdStrike.
• Delete the Problematic File Identify and delete the file named “C-00000291*.sys”.
• Restart Your Computer Reboot your computer normally. For detailed instructions, visit the CrowdStrike blog.

Configuring Sovereign Hardware for BitLocker Recovery

Prepare the Hardware

• PassCypher NFC HSM: A security module using NFC technology for key storage.
• EviKeyboard BLE USB: A secure virtual keyboard for system interaction.

Initial Setup

• Connect EviKeyboard to your computer via USB and enable BLE for a secure connection.
• Insert the NFC card into the PassCypher HSM.

Authenticate and Unlock

• Follow PassCypher instructions to authenticate the user.
• Use EviKeyboard to access the BitLocker interface.
• Pass the NFC HSM device under the phone’s antenna to transmit the key securely.

How Sovereign Hardware Solutions Operate

From the Freemindtronic app installed on a Bluetooth-paired Android phone (encrypted with AES 128), decryption or recovery keys are transmitted to the computer via the virtual keyboard.

Steps:

1. Select the Key: Choose the key for the locked storage in the Freemindtronic app.
2. Use NFC HSM: Pass the NFC HSM device under the phone’s antenna.
3. Automatic Entry: The key is automatically entered into the command line or BitLocker window.

BitLocker and TPM 2.0 keys are stored encrypted in the NFC HSM, allowing for secure contactless unlocking from BIOS, before OS startup, or within Windows.

For a visual guide on using EviKeyboard BLE with the Freemindtronic app, you can watch this video.

Functioning of PassCypher NFC HSM + EviKeyboard BLE

Encrypted Storage of Keys
BitLocker and TPM 2.0 keys are stored encrypted in the NFC HSM module, not in the Microsoft cloud.

Secure Virtual Keyboard
The EviKeyboard BLE acts as a secure virtual keyboard: it injects the key directly into the BitLocker interface or command line, without passing through Windows Credential Manager or OneDrive.

Transmission Process
The transmission is performed via a Bluetooth-paired Android phone, with AES 128 encryption, which relays the key from the HSM to the computer.

Result
The key is never automatically saved by Microsoft, unlike the default BitLocker behavior where the recovery key is often stored in the Microsoft account or OneDrive.

Difference with the Microsoft Model

• BitLocker default: the recovery key is often saved in the Microsoft cloud → Microsoft can provide it to authorities under warrant.
• PassCypher NFC HSM: the key is outside the cloud, only in the physical HSM you control → Microsoft has no access to this key.

Even if the computer is seized, without the HSM and NFC authentication, the key remains inaccessible.

Conclusion

If you use PassCypher NFC HSM with the virtual keyboard emulator, Microsoft cannot access your BitLocker keys, because they are never stored or synchronized in its servers. You retain full sovereignty over your keys, unlike the cloud-based Microsoft model.

KB5042429 — Microsoft’s Automated Recovery Tool

Two years later, in January 2026, Microsoft released KB5042429, a signed recovery tool designed to automate these steps.
Administrators could now choose between two modes: Recovery from Windows PE, using bootable media to repair systems, or Recovery from Safe Mode, executing automated fixes without full reinstallation.
This marked a turning point: recovery became faster, more predictable, and less dependent on human intervention.

Privacy Risks of Cloud-Stored Recovery Keys

Yet, while the technical fix was welcome, another revelation shook confidence: Microsoft confirmed that it had provided BitLocker recovery keys to the FBI during a fraud investigation in Guam. By default, these keys are stored in the Microsoft cloud, making them accessible under legal warrant. With around 20 requests per year, the practice raised serious concerns about sovereignty and privacy.

Judicial Context — Guam Case

In January 2026, the FBI was investigating a fraud scheme related to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in Guam.
Three suspect laptops were protected with BitLocker encryption. Under a legal warrant, Microsoft provided the recovery keys stored in its cloud, allowing investigators to decrypt the drives. This marked the first known case where Microsoft handed over BitLocker keys to U.S. justice.
Microsoft later confirmed receiving about 20 similar requests per year. While this cooperation did not involve “breaking” BitLocker, it revealed the risks of default cloud storage of recovery keys: users benefit from easier recovery, but authorities — and potentially malicious actors if compromised — gain an indirect access path.
This precedent illustrates the tension between national security and individual privacy, and highlights why sovereign hardware solutions such as PassCypher NFC HSM, EviKeyboard BLE, and DataShielder NFC HSM are critical to keep keys offline and under exclusive user control.

Sovereign Solutions to Fix BitLocker Access Take the Stage

This is where sovereign solutions enter the stage.
Devices like PassCypher NFC HSM and EviKeyboard BLE keep keys offline, under exclusive user control.
They ensure that even in times of crisis, recovery does not depend on external authorities or cloud services.
In hostile environments, DataShielder NFC HSM further neutralizes exfiltration risks, protecting communications and credentials.

A Wake-Up Call for Digital Sovereignty and Fix BitLocker Access Security

The CrowdStrike incident was not just a technical failure — it was a wake-up call.
It revealed how fragile global infrastructures can be when trust is centralized.
It showed that recovery is not only about restoring access, but about redefining sovereignty in digital ecosystems.
And it highlighted the need for clarity: telling the story of how millions of systems failed, how administrators fought back, and how sovereign technologies now offer a path forward.

What We Did Not Cover in Fixing BitLocker Access

To keep this guide focused on how to Fix BitLocker Access after the faulty CrowdStrike update, several related areas were intentionally left aside.
We did not explore Linux and macOS environments, which follow different encryption and recovery models.
We also excluded virtualized servers and cloud-hosted BitLocker scenarios, where recovery processes depend on hypervisors or cloud service providers.
Finally, we did not provide a detailed forensic analysis of the CrowdStrike incident, such as memory dumps, kernel-level debugging, or advanced incident response techniques.
These topics deserve their own specialized research, beyond the scope of this practical recovery and sovereign security guide.

FAQ — Fix BitLocker Access

History of the CrowdStrike Incident and Recovery Efforts

• July 2024: Faulty CrowdStrike update crashes 8.5M Windows systems.
• 2024–2025: Preliminary Incident Report published, Root Cause Analysis promised.
• January 2026: Microsoft releases KB5042429 recovery tool.
• January 2026: Controversy over BitLocker keys provided to FBI.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

CrowdStrike promised a full Root Cause Analysis (RCA) following its Preliminary Incident Report. This RCA is expected to detail the exact sequence of events, the faulty Falcon Sensor update, and lessons learned for global endpoint management. Mentioning RCA aligns with industry terminology and strengthens SEO visibility.

Impact on Enterprises and Encrypted Data Recovery

Official Microsoft Documentation for BitLocker Recovery

For more details, consult Microsoft’s official resources:

• Finding your BitLocker recovery key
• BitLocker Overview
• TPM Overview

Official Microsoft KB resources:

• KB5042429 – Official recovery tool
• KB5042421 – Manual recovery steps (clients)
• KB5042426 – Manual recovery steps (servers)

Glossary — Fix BitLocker Access

Final Takeaways on Secure BitLocker Recovery

Fixing BitLocker access after the faulty Crowdstrike update requires both technical recovery steps and sovereign security measures. Using PassCypher NFC HSM and EviKeyboard BLE ensures that recovery keys remain offline and under user control. Thus, restoring access is not enough — long-term trust depends on sovereign stop points outside the OS and outside the cloud.

In January 2026, Microsoft’s official recovery tool simplified repair, but the controversy over BitLocker keys provided to the FBI highlights the importance of sovereign solutions. By combining official resources from Microsoft and CrowdStrike with sovereign hardware like PassCypher, you gain both practical recovery guidance and long-term protection against cloud dependency. To Fix BitLocker Access securely, sovereign hardware solutions are essential.

For more information, explore the PassCypher and DataShielder resources.