Issue with shutdown?

Question

In all my time of using windows, I've never encountered something like this. Recently, I shut down my PC only for it to instantly restart and pull up the incorrect PIN screen. I put in he right pin, and apparently it was wrong? Note, I have a way to reset the password, but am unsure how this happened. I'm pretty certain it's not a virus, since I barely used the computer that day, but otherwise can't explain it. It seems that something kept trying to enter a password that was incorrect, but it wasn't me... I know for a fact I didn't change anything with the computer, so maybe it's a new issue with windows 11?
Any idea what could've happened? Thanks.

Note: Had I thought about it, I would've taken a photo and uploaded it.

Answer 1

It sounds like your computer may have entered BitLocker recovery mode due to an incorrect PIN entry or a related issue. There are several scenarios that can lead to this situation, such as entering the wrong PIN too many times, changes to the boot configuration, or even hardware changes.

When you shut down your PC, if it restarts and prompts for a PIN, it could indicate that the system is not recognizing the correct PIN due to a lockout condition or other underlying issues. If you have a way to reset the password, that might help you regain access.

To troubleshoot further, consider checking the following:

1. Ensure that no external devices are causing the boot sequence to change.
2. Verify if any recent hardware changes or BIOS updates have been made.
3. If you have access to the BitLocker recovery key, you can use it to unlock the drive.

If the problem persists, you may want to look into the BitLocker recovery process for further guidance.

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References:

• BitLocker recovery overview
• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"