How to Build a Partition for Dell BitLocker Manager

Summary: Learn how to create a preboot authentication (PBA) partition may be created for Dell BitLocker Manager by following these instructions.

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Instructions

This article provides steps to build a PBA partition for Dell BitLocker Manager (formerly Dell Data Protection BitLocker Manager).

Affected Products:

  • Dell BitLocker Manager
  • Dell Data Protection BitLocker Manager

Affected Operating Systems:

  • Windows

Dell BitLocker Manager requires a PBA partition to securely unlock the operating system. Select the appropriate section below for steps to Create or Validate that a PBA partition has been created.

Create

  1. Type CMD into the Windows search bar.
    Accessing Command Prompt
  2. Right-click Command Prompt and then click Run as administrator.
    Running Command Prompt as administrator
  3. Type BdeHdCfg -target default and then press Enter.
    BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool
  4. Type Y and then press Enter.
    Continue
  5. Type shutdown -r -t 0 and then press Enter to reboot the endpoint.
    Shutdown

Validate

  1. Right-click the Windows Start menu and then click Run.
    Run
  2. From Run, type diskmgmt.msc and then click OK.
    Run UI
  3. Confirm that a new partition has been created.
    Checking partitions

To contact support, reference Dell Data Security International Support Phone Numbers.
Go to TechDirect to generate a technical support request online.
For additional insights and resources, join the Dell Security Community Forum.

Affected Products

Dell Encryption
Article Properties
Article Number: 000131537
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 07 Jul 2025
Version:  11
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