Symptoms
The TPM cannot be configured because it is already in an owned status.
Cause
Every time that a Windows 10 system with TPM is restarted, Windows 10 will take ownership of the TPM automatically, unless Windows 10 is specifically instructed not to take ownership.
The process of upgrading to TPM 2.0 or downgrading to TPM 1.2 requires that ownership be released prior to the change.
Resolution
These instructions will prevent Windows 10 from automatically re-taking ownership of TPM:
Run PowerShell as an Administrator: (Type PowerShell in the Search box, right-click PowerShell on the menu, click Run as Administrator.(See Figure 1.) Figure 1. Opening PowerShellIn Powershell run the following command: Disable-TpmAutoProvisioning then press the Enter key. (See Figure 2.) Figure 2. Disabling TPM Auto-provisioning in PowerShell.If Dell Data Protection (DDP) is installed, you will need to complete these additional steps:
Open the Services Desktop App (Type services.msc in the search box, then press the Enter key)Set the DellMgmtAgent Windows service to DisabledStop the DellMgmtAgent Windows serviceSet the DellMgmtLoader Windows service to DisabledStop the DellMgmtLoader Windows serviceProceed with clearing the TPM
In the search box, type the command: tpm.msc then press the Enter key to open the TPM management console. (See figure 3.) Figure 3. TPM Management ConsoleChoose the Clear TPM option.The system will restart and then power off, then power on again.Do not enter the BIOS, let the boot back to Windows.Run the Dell TPM 1.2 firmware utility or Dell TPM 2.0 firmware utility with the AC adapter connected to the system.If Dell Data Protection (DDP) is installed, you will need to complete these additional steps:
Set the DellMgmtLoader Windows service to AutomaticStart the DellMgmtLoader Windows serviceSet the DellMgmtAgent Windows service to AutomaticStart the DellMgmtAgent Windows service
Optional
You can run the following command using the command line to determine if the TPM is owned. (Press CTRL+R, type cmd, then right click cmd.exe and run as administrator)
Type: Wmic /namespace:\\root\CIMV2\Security\MicrosoftTpm path Win32_Tpm get /value then press the Enter key. (See Figure 4.)
Figure 4 - TPM ownership status
