[KB7146] Decrypt a Standalone system that is unable to start Windows

Issue

ESET Endpoint Encryption (EEE) Client and EEE Server are separate products from ESET Full Disk Encryption (EFDE)

The article below applies only to the EEE Client or EEE Server and not EFDE.

Visit What's new in ESET Full Disk Encryption to view EFDE content.

 

Solution

Prerequisites 

  • Before decrypting, make sure you are following the appropriate instructions for your system. Visit our Full Disk Encryption Recovery Overview article for more information.
  • Make sure a full sector-by-sector backup of the existing hard drive has been created before attempting recovery.

Use the ESET Encryption Recovery Media Creator

  1. Insert an empty USB drive into your computer.
USB Media

Ensure that the USB device has a FAT32 formatted partition. The partition is required to set up the ESET Recovery Media Creator.

  1. Download the ESET Encryption Recovery Utility.

  2. Run the utility and click Next to continue.
Figure 1-1
  1. Click Win RE USB 32/64 bit.
Architecture of system

When creating a Win RE USB, the architecture (x86 / x64) of the host system running the utility must match the target system in need of recovery.

Figure 1-2
  1. Select the Destination disk for the recovery media and click Next.
Figure 1-3
  1. Click EEES Standalone.
Figure 1-4
  1. Optional: only select additional support files if you have been instructed to by ESET support.

  2. Click Next.
Figure 1-5
  1. Click Start to create the recovery media.
Figure 1-6
  1. A format dialog will appear, click Yes to format the USB drive and create the recovery media.
Figure 1-7
  1. Allow the utility to complete the creation process.
Figure 1-8
  1. Click Finish.
Figure 1-9
  1. Safely eject the USB drive.

Decrypt the Workstation

  1. Insert the ESET Encryption Recovery USB drive and boot the Workstation from the USB.

  2. If the device has booted correctly, you will see the image below.
Figure 2-1
 
  1. Select the desired language to continue.

  2. Select the option to Decrypt all encrypted disks (using credentials).
Figure 2-2
  1. The following warning will be displayed. Select Yes to proceed.
Figure 2-3
  1. Select the FDE User you would like to use for decryption and press the Enter key.
Figure 2-4
  1. Type the password for the FDE User you selected and press the Enter key.
Figure2-5
  1. Choose from Secure or Performance mode to initiate the decryption process.
Figure 2-6
Figure 2-7
 

 

DO NOT shut down

Make sure that you let the process complete and DO NOT shut down or power the machine off.

  1. After the computer has been successfully decrypted, press Ok and then Shutdown.
Figure 2-8
Figure 2-9