Microsoft Windows 10 bitlocker for dummies flowchart?

Me | 20231122 | Me

[dayglored]

Windows 10/11 BitLocker... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to kiryandil for the ping!

[cymbeline]

I’m running Windows 7 on a pretty old PC with 8GB memory and old version of Office. Get some “no longer supported” messages but do what I need to do.

If I go from there to the latest version of Windows and Office, is that an upgrade or update?

I read the little horror stores like that one that started this series of posts.

Any suggestions on what to go to? I have a desktop (not a laptop) although my employer has switched all of us to laptops with separate screens so we can work at home.

[ansel12]

I think of moving from one OS to the next one as an upgrade and updates with your OS as just updates.

Personally, I go with the newest windows I can get and do automatic updates, with great free security, and I ignore all the ragings and ravings and conspiracy theories about computers and operating systems and updates and search engines, etc, and that might be why I have smooth running computers and am known as the fix-it guy for friends and neighbors computers.

Sometimes I just can’t help people because they insist on complicating the computer issues and fighting everything, I’ll clean up their computer and get it tuned but they go back to their ‘me against the computer world’ ways and get it messed up again.

Why not just buy a modern W11 computer and let everything stay updated and current?

[cymbeline]

“Why not just buy a modern W11 computer and let everything stay updated and current?”

I think you’ve convinced me. Thanks! How much does the automatic updating cost? More generally, what are the recurring costs for Windows and Office (home version)?

[ansel12]

I don’t know about Office but the W11 updates are free as will the upgrade to W12 when it comes out.

When you fire up your new W11 computer you will see some differences from what you are used to, just google your questions until you get things looking the way you want them to and then you will have many years of a computer you like, just as you did with Windows 7,

People rave about the OS they are used to without remembering that they had to get used to it at the beginning, whether it was W95 or W7, or W10, or whatever.

[cymbeline]

[choosing a new computer]

What do you recommend as far as memory size, processor speed, disk? I don’t do games or esoteric things. Thanks!

I’ll be getting a desktop as opposed to laptop.

[ansel12]

My talent is in cleaning up old junkers, I’m not a guy who knows the cutting age world of new computer capabilities.

Like you, I also prefer desktops and you get more bang for your buck and can upgrade parts more easily, about how much would you be spending?

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Moltke]

his recommendation was that we all just go buy an Apple computer

♫...sold my soul to the company store. ♫♫

But hey, the boss will take care of you for the rest of your life. 😃

[cymbeline]

“My talent is in cleaning up old junker”

That’s scary for me. For instance, once upon a time my computer quit working. Took it to the shop. Bad motherboard. How would I have ever figured that out? At work my mouse quit working. I assumed it was a software problem. The IT guy came down with a new mouse. That was the problem.

So many moving parts, or shall we say so many parts through which electricity is flowing.

[ansel12]

I’m not convinced that the shops know everything, they seem to know some things and fix what they can and not fix what they can’t, and they don’t always go directly to the problem but instead just find something that works like reinstalling the OS and inconveniencing the customer but never telling them that they just did what was expedient for the limited knowledge of the repairman.

Learn to google your computer problems and questions and you will become your own repairman.

[itsahoot]

But hey, the boss will take care of you for the rest of your life.

The thing that always irritates M$ techs it the Boss doesn't need to take care of Apple users because the machines rarely need any thing except electricity. Of course morons can tear up an anvil, but it ain't easy.

[daniel1212]

[choosing a new computer] What do you recommend as far as memory size, processor speed, disk? I don’t do games or esoteric things. Thanks! I’ll be getting a desktop as opposed to laptop.

You can build your own, which is not very hard.

[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vPjDJyPCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$137.97 @ Amazon
Thermal Compound	ARCTIC MX-4 2019 Edition 4 g Thermal Paste	$6.98 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI B550 GAMING GEN3 ATX AM4 Motherboard	$99.99 @ Amazon
Memory	TEAMGROUP Elite 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 CL22 Memory	$100.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Silicon Power A55 512 GB M.2-2280 SATA Solid State Drive	$29.99 @ Amazon
Case	Thermaltake Versa H21 ATX Mid Tower Case	$53.98 @ Newegg
Power Supply	Thermaltake Smart 500 W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply	$39.95 @ Amazon
Keyboard	Verbatim 99201 Wired Standard Keyboard	$10.00 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$479.85
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-11-22 23:56 EST-0500

No Video Card needed with Ryzen CPUs that end with "G".

Microsoft Windows 11 Home (64-bit) is $104.99

Otherwise, there are many "renewed PCs" that provide a lot for the money.

Pray and press, with the intent to use all for God and what is good in His sight (may we).

[daniel1212]

That’s scary for me. For instance, once upon a time my computer quit working. Took it to the shop. Bad motherboard. How would I have ever figured that out? At work my mouse quit working. I assumed it was a software problem. The IT guy came down with a new mouse. That was the problem. So many moving parts, or shall we say so many parts through which electricity is flowing.

Actually, there are hardly any moving parts, and most times a hardware problem can be fixed quite cheaply, at least if you prayerfully comparison shop. The vast majority of PC problems are due to software, usually from careless "driving" practices. Your mobo failure is very rare if it has been working, and CPU failure is even more rare.

An old PC can be must improved by replacing the old OS HD with a SSD, but the deficiency with is that of insufficient memory and CPU power.

[kiryandil]

You are the Keepers of the Keys on FR. :)

[minnesota_bound]

You can go to Microsoft site

With bitlocker your files are lost if Microsoft cannot unlock it. I used to do support when I was in Helpdesk and every so often bitlocker failed on the usb drives. We did not use it on the computers.

Go here: account.microsoft.com
Log in with your microsoft account.
You should see Devices - Find, repair and manage devices
Click on ‘View details’

You will see:
Bitlocker data protection
Device encryption helps protect your data
Manage recovery keys

Sign in
I do not use Bitlocker so I see this:

You don’t have any BitLocker recovery keys uploaded to your Microsoft account.
Note: If someone else helped you set up your PC, the BitLocker keys you’re looking for might be on their account. Not finding the key you need still? Learn more

---

In your Microsoft account: Sign in to your Microsoft account on another device to find your recovery key. This is the most likely place to find it.

Note: If the device was set up, or if BitLocker was turned on, by somebody else, the recovery key may be in that person’s Microsoft account.

On a printout you saved: Your recovery key may be on a printout that was saved when BitLocker was activated. Look where you keep important papers related to your computer.

On a USB flash drive: Plug the USB flash drive into your locked PC and follow the instructions. If you saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different computer to read the text file.

[ansel12]

That suggestion of building your own isn’t as weird as it sounds, you really aren’t building anything you are just taking the part out of its wrapper and plugging it into the designated slot.

Assembling, not building.

When you get your new computer take the side off your current desktop and remove something like the memory, or unplug a wire, and then push it back in, you will see how easy it is.
While the case is open you can also dust off or vacuum the inside.

[daniel1212]

That suggestion of building your own isn’t as weird as it sounds, you really aren’t building anything you are just taking the part out of its wrapper and plugging it into the designated slot. Assembling, not building. When you get your new computer take the side off your current desktop and remove something like the memory, or unplug a wire, and then push it back in, you will see how easy it is.

Yes, installing the CPU takes the most care, and getting the small PSU, RAM and component plugs in the right place means carefully reading the Mobo manual (and good light!), but it need not be consdered a daunting task, esp. with so many instruction vids. Using it as we should, in God's sight, it the most important daily issue. And as said, most problems are due to carelessness and or misuse.

While the case is open you can also dust off or vacuum the inside

I leave mine open, even with a hot plugged SSD hanging out (no more room). Single least expensive improvement to a old PC is SSD for the OS, better if NVME as you must know. Thank God.

[daniel1212]

Edit: “small PSU, RAM and component plugs” was sppsd to be PSU, RAM and small component plugs.” It can only be attributed to human error..

[SteveH]

> I found all your answers via Google and MS support.

Part of the issue (in my not so humble opinion, with my own non-trivial experience in the industry) is that resorting to google (or any other non-ms resource) for simple ms support answers to simple support questions should never be necessary. agreed? good. thanks.