Windows 10: Microsoft password not working in advanced startup login / Can't restorePC to factory settings

I haven't ever restored my PC to factory settings since I first bought it around 4 years ago, and it's gotten slower the drives are all but filled up. For some reason, when I tried to factory reset the PC, after restarting it popped up an error message how the process was met with an issue and that no changes were made. I tried using the sfc scan feature in the command prompt but it didn't solve the issue. Next I tried the startup repair option, which requires the PC admin to login with his Microsoft account, and when I wrote down the password which I've been using for some years now it go

:)

 

Windows Startup password

Yes, I'm sure there wasn't a Microsoft account on the laptop. When I set it up, she didn't want one

So I had to do a factory restore on the laptop. All boot methods would crash. I found out the owner was duped into giving a scammer access to her computer. That's how the startup password got set.

See its not the same as the account login password prompt

Thanks for the link! I will most definitely save it and use it when needed

 

Microsoft Login

Hi Gourmage,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to perform Safe Mode with Networking and then try to change the password.

Method 1: Safe mode.

Please follow below steps:

• • 
    Click on power button at left bottom corner, press and hold
    Shift key and click on Restart.
    
  • 
    Click on Troubleshoot.
    
  • 
    Click on Advanced options.
    
  • 
    Click on Startup Settings.
    
  • 
    Click on Restart.
    
  • 
    Login to Microsoft Account and create a new administrator account.
    

If you’re not able to login using Microsoft account then refer to below steps and check if it helps.

Method 2:
Activate Inbuilt Administrator Account.

Follow the below steps:

• • 
    Click on power button at left bottom corner, press and hold
    Shift key and click on Restart.
    
  • 
    Click on Troubleshoot.
    
  • 
    Click on Advanced options.
    
  • 
    Click on Command Prompt and enter following command.
    
    net user Administrator /active:yes
    

Now reboot your system and login to inbuilt admin account and try to reset password for other account. Once you reset password login to other account and to deactivate inbuilt admin account enter following command in elevated command prompt.

net user Administrator /active:no

Hope these information helps, please get back to us for future support, we’ll be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Bypass Password Login at Startup

Also, I should have noted... the password I need to enter now at login is my Microsoft account password, not the password I gave for the laptop. - - - Updated - - - I fixed it. Sometime in the hours I spent on this I learned the term "local account." And I got to thinking that I didn't have the problem until I was logging into my Microsoft account at startup. So I Googled how to switch to a local account: Settings > Accounts > Your info. > Select Sign in with a local account instead. Then after doing that I went back to what I'd tried at first (see attachment, above) and it worked. Thanks for the suggestions.