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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
- Microsoft: BitLocker recovery process
- Microsoft: repair-bde and key packages
- NIST: key-management guidance
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