HRESULT 0x8031003E (FVE_E_KEYFILE_NO_VMK): meaning and diagnosis

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Description:

The supplied BitLocker key file could not release the volume master key for this particular protected volume.

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FVE_E_KEYFILE_INVALID	FVE_E_TPM_DISABLED

FVE_E_KEYFILE_NO_VMK

The file and the volume must be a matched pair

FVE_E_KEYFILE_NO_VMK means BitLocker could not obtain the volume master key through the supplied startup or recovery key file. A file can be structurally readable yet belong to another drive, another protector generation, or metadata that no longer matches the current volume.

This distinction matters during incident response. Repeatedly trying every available .bek file obscures which recovery artifact belongs to which drive. The protector GUID, volume identifier, recovery key ID, and backup inventory should be correlated before any destructive action.

What to preserve and compare

Record the drive identifier and the protector ID displayed by the recovery environment.
Match the file to the same drive using inventory or directory-service recovery records.
Keep a copy of the original encrypted media before metadata repair or repartitioning.
When metadata is damaged, obtain the corresponding key package as well as a valid recovery password or recovery key for repair-bde.

References

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