Windows 10: Older Dell Laptop Suddenly Stuck at "Just a Moment" after Microsoft Login

I can't recall when my laptop started requiring that I login with my Microsoft account, but that is what I have been doing for some period of time with no issues.Starting 2 days ago my laptop powered up with the usual avatar and my name on the password screen. I entered my PW and got the "Just a Moment" message. After 15+ minutes it obviously wasn't loading so I powered off the laptop and just used for my phone to do my online browsing.Yesterday I had more time so started researching hat the problem might be. I have read dozens of forum posts, and tried multiples fixes: powering on and of

:)

 

New laptop and older external hard drive

The laptop doesn't easily "see" the drive.. when I am in Devices and Printers... the icon for the ext HD will appear for just a few seconds.. if I rightclick on it quickly, it'll show the popup for hardware but doesn't have the info for it... does correctly
refer to it as "USB 2.0 CD + HDD".

I tried your list of steps, but , the HD does NOT ever show in the Disk Management list.

I do have an older Dell that I need to see if it will recognize the HD. I'll try that next.

THANKS for taking the time to list those steps...

 

Microsoft Login Credentials on Refurbished Dell Laptop

I recently bought a certified refurbished Dell Laptop with Windows Pro. I turned the Dell on for the first time and went through the Set-Up process with Cortana. I did not add my Microsoft Login credentials during set-up and skipped that step completely
because I don't have a Microsoft account.

Then once set up was complete, the Dell did an update and booted up.

Then the computer goes straight to the login screen, like it normally would once I make an account on the computer, and now will not allow me to log in to the computer at all.

It has Other User (not my name), then a space to type your user name and another space to type the password. There is another sign in option that offers a phone # or email address with a password.

Since I didn't add my Microsoft login credentials during set-up, I'm not sure why it's asking me for these now if I didn't set one up in the first place.

I talked to a Dell Tech Support person and since it's not a hardware issue, they told me to talk to Microsoft. I talked to Microsoft and the Tech Support told me I had to Clean Install Windows again...Windows was already installed (that's how I was setting
up the computer when I first turned it on).

Anyways, should I return this refurbished Dell or is there something I can do?

 

The battery of my laptop Dell Inspiron 5577 suddenly discharges from 71% to 7%

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

From the symptoms you’ve described, it sounds like your Dell Inspiron 5577 is experiencing issues with battery calibration, power management, or potentially a hardware problem with the battery or related components. Here are some steps you can take to diagnose and address the issue:

1. Check Battery Health in BIOS/UEFI

• Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2 or Del during startup).
  
• Locate the battery health section. This can provide a more accurate assessment of your battery's condition.
  

2. Update BIOS and Drivers

• Outdated BIOS or drivers can cause power management issues. Visit the Dell Support website, enter your laptop's model, and download the latest BIOS and drivers (especially the battery and chipset drivers).
  
• Install the updates as instructed on the website.
  

3. Battery Calibration

• Fully charge your laptop to 100%.
  
• Disconnect the charger and let the battery drain completely to 0% until the laptop turns off.
  
• Recharge the battery to 100% without interruption.
  
• This process can help recalibrate the battery sensor to provide more accurate readings.
  

4. Check for Software Issues

• Sometimes, software or background processes can cause sudden battery drains. Run a clean boot to see if the issue persists and restart your laptop and observe the battery behavior.
  
• Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.
  
  These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track.
  

5. Replace the Battery

• Even though the diagnostics tools indicate that the battery health is good, it’s possible that the battery is defective, especially if it’s a third-party replacement.
  
• If the laptop is still under warranty or the battery is relatively new, consider contacting Dell support for a replacement.
  

6. Advanced Diagnostics

• Dell laptops come with built-in diagnostics tools that you can run to check the hardware. Restart the laptop and press F12 during the boot process to access the boot menu. Select "Diagnostics" and run a full test.
  

7. Driver Rollback

• If you suspect that a recent driver update caused the issue, you can roll back to a previous version:
  
  • Open Device Manager (press Windows + X and select Device Manager).
    
  • Expand the Batteries section, right-click on "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery," and select Properties.
    
  • Go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver if the option is available.
    

8. Contact Dell Support

• If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it might be best to contact Dell support for further assistance. They can provide more specific diagnostics and suggest potential hardware repairs or replacements.
  

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist