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FVE_E_DEVICELOCKOUT_COUNTER_MISMATCH
Why this is not a generic disk error
The practical meaning of FVE_E_DEVICELOCKOUT_COUNTER_MISMATCH is that the stored Device Lockout state and the hardware-backed counter no longer agree. The HRESULT is 0x803100CE.
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 automatic Device Encryption operation.
- Is the result state stable?
- Record conversion, protection, lock and reboot status before modifying anything.
Why a common workaround is wrong
This should not be diagnosed as ordinary user lockout from repeated failures; this is integrity validation of lockout state. That nearby condition needs a different corrective action and may produce a similar user-facing message.
Confirm the returning layer
msinfo32.exe
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-BitLockerVolume | Format-Table MountPoint,VolumeType,VolumeStatus,ProtectionStatus"Correct the configuration deliberately
- Preserve forensic state, use supported recovery, and investigate rollback or cloning before reinitializing device-lock data.
Counter integrity differs from an ordinary lockout
The hardware-backed counter is intended to make rollback of Device Lock state detectable. A mismatch can follow cloning, restoration of an older system image, firmware changes or corruption of the protected state record. The relevant comparison is between the current hardware counter and the sealed lockout metadata, not the number of failed passwords shown by a sign-in UI.
Preserve TPM and BitLocker event chronology before clearing state. Resetting counters without understanding the divergence can hide evidence of rollback and may not restore a consistent device-encryption posture.
State checks specific to FVE_E_DEVICELOCKOUT_COUNTER_MISMATCH
| Stage | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
| Before the call | Record the target identity and the pre-call automatic Device Encryption state. The stored Device Lockout state and the hardware-backed counter no longer agree. |
| At failure | Preserve hardware counter value, protected state record, firmware/TPM changes, restore or cloning history and first event showing divergence. |
References
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