Windows 10: 8.1 Pro-x64 to 10 Pro-x64 locked out after upgrade cannot downgrade

I was running 8.1 Pro on a cheap Acer box (i3 + 8gb ddr3 + 512gb SSD) as Administrator. I had forgotten that once upon a time I had the machine hooked up to a TV --which means that I had created a user "TV User" probably with the password in the "hint" or "forgot password" box on 8.1 because it was being used as a public/open to the family/friends machine.

So when I upgraded from 8.1 to 10 it locked/disabled the Administrator account (which I know the password for) and it enabled this "TV User" account which I DO NOT know the password for.

I tried all the usuals... booted to install/ISO and tried to repair... error could not repair. Tried to revert back to 8.1... error with partition, could not revert. Tried to "reset" or wipe the box... error with partition. Booted with the install ISO and tried to activate the administrator account via command line (net user administrator /active:yes) but as soon as the machine reboots the administrator account is back hidden.

I don't really care about the machine. I can reinstall very easily. What I am concerned about is the licensing for 10. I have a legit 8.1 license but I think that means I'll miss out on my "free upgrade" if I put 8.1 back on it... and I do not have a 10 license nor do I want to pay for one.

What are my choices? Are there any ways to either create a new user or activate the Administrator account so I can get back in? OR... nuke the machine and reinstall but still keep my 10 licensing? This is my **ONLY** bare-metal Windows box and I'm in a bit of a hurry because I want it asap to do some admin tasks (upgrade firmware on SSD's and RAID cards, etc.)

Thanks. I did search/Google for this for a few hours before I posted.

:)

 

Hyper-V causing boot loop in Windows 10 Pro x64

After upgrading to Windows 10 x64 Pro from Windows 8.1 x64 Pro and activating Hyper-V in Windows 10 x64 Pro my computer reboots. After a couple of tries it goes in automatic repair and attempts to repair the startup. This cycle just repeats itself.
I tried many combinations of things in the bios, shutting down, reseting the defaults in bios and nothing has worked so far. I rolled back to Windows 8.1 Pro and Hyper-V works fine. I use Hyper-V with the emulators for phone and tablets in Visual Studio
2013 and 2015. Re installed the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and activated Hyper-V and same reboot loop occurs. The only way I can boot into Windows 10 x64 Pro is disable Virtualization in bios. Anyone else having similar problems with hyper-V on Windows
10 x64 Pro?

Thanks for your help?

 

Win 10 boot manager GUI menu, no mouse pointer

I don't understand your answer. Can you explain further please.

If you are suggesting that I have a hardware problem let me point out that I have a 5 year old home built desktop with an ASUS motherboard, a Dell display, a Logitech keyboard and mouse. They all worked happily on Win 7 Pro, Win 8 Pro, Win 8.1 Pro, and then
failed on Win 10 Pro. One failing partition has Win 10 x86 and the other x64. The non failing partition is Win 10 Pro x64. Those were all retail versions of Windows.

My other machine was a laptop which worked happily on OEM Win 8.1 x64, retail Win 8.1 Pro x64, and then failed on retail Win Pro x64.

My belief is that there is a Windows software problem which inhibits the mouse pointer when I do an upgrade install to Win 10.

Bob

 

Why would you miss out on the free upgrade? Reinstall Windows 8.1 make sure it is activated. Make sure you have an administrator account created and that you can log into other than the built in "Administrator" account. Then upgrade to Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool - no need to even run any updates for Windows 8.1 beforehand.

Media Creation Tool:
Windows 10

 

Thanks. I wasn't sure about the 10 upgrade program. I thought that you needed to have 8 or 8.1 running and licensed a few months ago and get an invite and then upgrade within a set window... or something like that. I'm reinstalling 8.1 right now. Thanks again.

 

Nope. You can do the Media Creation Tool upgrade at your convenience!