Windows 10: Before a total Reinstall

Hi,

Mum cannot login to her laptop !!!

I upgraded the laptop to Win 10 Pro 64 bit as part of the free Win 10 rollout 2 years ago, creating an admin account for Mum.
There is also a standard account for her daughter.

Sure enough when I checked it, the known password is not recognised.

So, I cannot login via an admin account.

Is there any option other than a clean install, and will that mean paying for a licence ?

Thanks.

:)

 

How do I do a total reinstall of w10?

installed w10 over my vista home premium. Now the computer is totally in havoc.

My windows mail opens as a small 3 inch square box each time I open it. I have to lick on maximize to get it to open. Every time I access it. My hard drive fan makes constant noise, telling me that the system never slows down or stops.

I can't open the store, or any other app I have downloaded. I get the apps to open for a mere 2 seconds then they disappear. So does the store app. I can't access or do anything.

My dvd player won't play anything, It doesn't know how to read the disc inside. Can't play from controls.

What the F happened to my system?

*** Email address is removed for privacy ***



what my system is.



my error when trying to open any app, the store too.

 

How do I do a total reinstall of w10?

You will never be able to active win 10. Vista is not part of the free upgrade to win 10. If you want win 10 you will have to purchase it

 

You don't need a product key to clean install Windows 10. If it asks for a product key, click the little link on that page for "I don't have a product key". After installation, Windows will retrieve the digital license for that computer stored on Microsoft Activation Servers and activate Windows.

See here, option 4 to enable the built-in Administrator account:
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10 - Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

When logged into the built-in administrator account you have a few options, you can reset the password for Mum's account, you can change the daughter's account to administrator, you can create a new local account with administrator rights. When you get it fixed, make sure to disable the built-in administrator account.

 

Welcome to the forum. You can do a clean install to the latest version you don't need to buy it as the activation is stored on ms server. Was she using a local account or online account?

 

Many thanks for the responses, both.

Using a local account.

A couple of questions please:

I always thought a clean install removed all accounts, user data etc., and yet NavyLCDR you say
that I will be able to change passwords and account types for Mum and daughter after the install.

So the accounts will be restored/preserved during the clean install ?
And what of their data ?

BTW apologies for the original post in the wrong sub-section (doh).

Thanks.

 

You seem to have missed a few lines from my post you quoted:

See here, option 4 to enable the built-in Administrator account:
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10 - Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

When logged into the built-in administrator account you have a few options, you can reset the password for Mum's account, you can change the daughter's account to administrator, you can create a new local account with administrator rights. When you get it fixed, make sure to disable the built-in administrator account.

If you do a clean install, all previous accounts are indeed erased. Enabling the built-in Administrator account is not doing a clean install.

 

Understood.

Many thanks.