Question Surface laptop 1769 screen and Bitlocker problems

[darrellw]

I have been given a faulty Surface laptop with a number of issues. The screen is very dim but working so I assume I need to replace the complete screen. The device is also showing a bitlocker screen. I do not know if there are any other issues with the device so was hoping to hook it up to an external monitor to solve the bitlocker issue and test that there are no other issues before ordering a replacement screen. I have tried a number of mini display adapter cables to connect to a couple of external screens but cannot get any external display to work. These include this item: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394390239903 and this item: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145407057344.
Many thanks

Darrell

 

[USAFRet]

You can only solve the "bitlocker issue" if you know the BL decryption key.

Do you have this?

 

[darrellw]

Thanks for the reply.
No I do not have the bitlocker key. Can I not restore using the software from the microsoft surface site?

cheers
darrell

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the reply.
No I do not have the bitlocker key. Can I not restore using the software from the microsoft surface site?

cheers
darrell

You can maybe do a full wipe and reinstall.

You cannot recover the data.

 

[baboma]

>I have tried a number of mini display adapter cables to connect to a couple of external screens but cannot get any external display to work.

The mini-DP connectors you list are no-name cheapos, so it could be either a bad port, or the crappy adapters. Buy a decent adapter, and buy locally for fast return if you need to.

>The device is also showing a bitlocker screen.

I assume you have a bootable Windows USB key. Boot up with it, select Repair > Command Prompt, and run DiskPart. "List Disk" to show drive; it should be drive 0. "Select disk 0" to select disk, and "clean" to wipe disk. Then enter "convert gpt" to prep drive for GPT. Reboot.

If it's an older model that doesn't qualify for Win11, use Rufus to image the Win11 USB key. That'll bypass Win11's HW requirements.

No need to download drivers. Windows should auto install all needed drvs when you run Win Update.

 

[darrellw]

Thanks for the replies. I do not need to recover any data so a clean install is fine but I cannot do anything until I either replace the screen or manage to get an external display to work. I do not have access to a local pc sparts supplier due to lack of transport/long term illness. I also cannot afford to replace both the screen and buy an expensive adapter.
Thanks again
darrell