BitLocker recovery key prompt appears unexpectedly during Windows upgrade

The problem: In-place upgrade triggers BitLocker recovery key prompt on reboot and fails/rolls back.

Symptoms: During upgrade reboot, BitLocker recovery screen appears; user can't proceed without key; upgrade stalls or rolls back.

Likely cause: TPM/secure boot state change triggers recovery, boot chain changes during upgrade, or BitLocker protectors not suspended.

Category: Windows Installation & Setup · Difficulty: Moderate · Windows: Both

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