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FVE_E_KEYFILE_INVALID
Presence of a .bek file is not sufficient
FVE_E_KEYFILE_INVALID is returned after a candidate key file has been found but cannot be accepted as a BitLocker startup or recovery key. The file may be truncated, modified, copied through software that changed its bytes, or simply be a different file renamed with a .bek extension.
Do not attempt to repair the file by editing it. The key material and protector metadata must remain internally consistent. A recovery password or a separately backed-up recovery key is safer evidence than repeatedly modifying the only copy of the failed file.
Useful checks
- Compare file size, hash, and modification time with a known-good backup without publishing the key contents.
- Confirm that the file came from BitLocker tooling and was not confused with a text export of the 48-digit recovery password.
- Try the approved alternate protector and then regenerate removable recovery media from the unlocked volume.
- If volume metadata may also be damaged, preserve the disk and key package before using recovery tools.
References
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