What does HRESULT 0x803100B3 (FVE_E_NOT_ALLOWED_TO_UPGRADE_WHILE_CONVERTING) mean?

FVE_E_NOT_ALLOWED_TO_UPGRADE_WHILE_CONVERTING

Why this is not a generic disk error

The practical meaning of FVE_E_NOT_ALLOWED_TO_UPGRADE_WHILE_CONVERTING is that a BitLocker metadata upgrade was requested while encryption or decryption conversion is still active. The HRESULT is 0x803100B3.

Three decisions before remediation

Is the result target correct?

Use the volume or protector GUID and confirm its role; do not rely only on a drive letter or friendly name.

Is the result request allowed?

Resolve effective policy, Windows edition, caller token and management source for the volume state and geometry operation.

Is the result state stable?

Record conversion, protection, lock and reboot status before modifying anything.

The BitLocker provider tracks encryption conversion, protection, lock state, metadata version, filesystem geometry and outstanding volume use independently. Two volumes can both appear “encrypted” in a UI while being in very different states for a management API. Avoid “repair” commands until the filesystem, partition and BitLocker metadata layers have been distinguished. A change at the wrong layer can remove evidence or make recovery harder.

Why a common workaround is wrong

This should not be diagnosed as an old metadata version by itself; upgrade becomes eligible only after conversion reaches a stable state. That nearby condition needs a different corrective action and may produce a similar user-facing message.

Confirm the returning layer

• Record conversion state and percentage, paused/resumed status, volume metadata version and outstanding reboot or repair events.

manage-bde -status
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-BitLockerVolume | Format-List *"

State checks specific to FVE_E_NOT_ALLOWED_TO_UPGRADE_WHILE_CONVERTING

References

• Microsoft: GetConversionStatus method
• Microsoft: GetLockStatus method
• Microsoft: BitLocker operations guide
• Microsoft: manage-bde status