Bitlocker Encryption stalled, Hard drive says it’s at 100% but read and write is at 0

Troubleshooting a Stalled BitLocker Encryption on a Large Hard Drive: A Case Study

Introduction

Encrypting large storage devices with BitLocker can be a reliable method to safeguard sensitive data. However, issues may arise during the process, especially with substantial drives such as a 20TB hard disk. This article discusses a real-world scenario where BitLocker encryption appears to stall at 0.2%, and the drive shows 100% activity in Task Manager, yet read/write operations have halted. We will explore potential causes, diagnostic steps, and recommended actions to resolve or mitigate this problem.

Scenario Overview

The user is employing Windows 11 to encrypt a sizable 20TB drive with BitLocker. During the encryption process, the operation reached a mere 0.2% completion before it suddenly stopped. The usual progress pop-up, which indicates ongoing encryption, disappeared and was replaced with a “Close” button, suggesting the process has frozen.

Key Observations:

• The BitLocker encryption status indicates that the drive is still encrypting.
• In Task Manager, the drive reports 100% disk usage, but this is limited to “Active Time.”
• Disk response times, read, and write speeds remain at 0, indicating no ongoing data transfer.
• File access remains possible, but there is concern about possible drive corruption if further action is taken.

Potential Causes

Several factors could contribute to such an issue:

1. Hardware Limitations:
2. The sheer size of the drive (20TB) can introduce latency or incompatibility issues.

3. Disk health problems or failing hardware components.

4. Software Conflicts or Bugs:

5. Compatibility issues with Windows 11 or specific drivers.

6. Bugs within the BitLocker encryption process, especially on large disks.

7. Insufficient Resources or System Interruptions:

8. Insufficient RAM or CPU resources.

9. Background processes interfering with disk I/O.

10. Encryption Interruption:

11. Power failure or system crash.
12. Manual interruption or system shutdown during encryption.

Diagnostic Steps

To assess and possibly resolve the issue, consider the following steps:

1. Verify Disk Health:

2. Run a disk health check using tools like CrystalDiskInfo or Windows’ built-in CHKDSK utility to detect and address potential hardware issues.

3. Monitor System Resources:

4. Use Task Manager or Resource Monitor to confirm CPU, RAM, and disk activity.
5. Check for any resource bottlenecks or