Windows 10: Windows 10 PIN stopped working?

tl;dr: Restarted PC b/c of lagg, would no longer accept my PIN. Tried my PW, didn't work either. Reset PW, still doesn't work. MS reps prove to be unable to help. I'm on Windows 10 Education version, 64 bit.


Basically, I restarted my PC because I was lagging in a videogame and thought it would help. When I went to login with my PIN, it wouldn't accept it.


At this point, I tried the PIN a few times, because I am dead certain that I know my PIN number. When this didn't work, I figured maybe it reverted to an old PIN, which would be weird. I tried a few different PINs that it could be (although I KNOW that the PIN I input originally was correct, as I use it daily for over a year now). None of these were correct.


Now I tried to use the password. I haven't entered my PW in probably a year or two, since I started using a PIN. I tried a few things that should have worked, and eventually got locked out. Windows is now telling me that my account is locked and I need to contact someone to have it unlocked. Who? My old school? I don't even have access to this email address anymore, as they drop you 6mo after graduation. I went ahead and emailed them and have yet to hear back. I then tried 'other user' and manually input my email address and password to see if that would work. No bones.


At this point, I went onto my school's website and reset my PW so that I could be certain that I was using the correct PW. I tried this PW, it didn't work. I then went onto my Office 365 account and changed my PW using a text to my cell phone as a confirmation that I was the accountholder.


At this point, I realized that I have an @cardmail.louisville.edu and @louisville.edu address, because they both work with my old school which I created my Windows 10 Education account with. Thinking maybe I had been mistaken about this, I now went back to the 'other user' thing and tried both the cardmail and the plain louisville addresses. Windows login didn't recognize the plain louisville address, so I figure that wasn't the problem. Further, when I try to enter my windows PW at the login, NOT using the 'other login' option, it has my "@louisville.edu" address shown as my username - weird.


I'm not sure when I started getting this error code, but when I input my wrong PIN at this point, I realize that it says wrong PIN, but when I enter my correct PIN it says "You can't login with this account. Try another account." This could have been the case all along, I am not sure.


At this point, I am very confused, so I try to contact a support person online. They basically tell me since I reset my 365 password, it could take a few hours to update, and ask me to verify that my PC is on the internet so that it can get the new PW signal. I reset my router, and verify that I am indeed on the WiFi on my cell phone, so the WiFi must be working. I also know that I was on the internet before initially resetting my PC, so I have no reason to believe it is a networking issue. Now this guy basically tells me there's nothing else to do but wait a few hours and try to login again once it's updated my PW. Whatever, thanks for the help.


Now this morning, after like 10 hours, I try to login with my newly-created PW from the night before. No luck. I again try my PIN, and get the "You can't login with this account. Try another account." message. I contact MS support again to no avail, and eventually the tech person drops the chat claiming that I am not there, although I was definitely responding and receiving their messages, and receiving no error codes for the messages that I was sending their way. Go figure.


I get on chat with another MS rep, and basically they tell me to go to some sort of account.live.acst or whatever address, where I can request my identity be verified so that they can send me a PW reset code so that I can reset my PW. I do this, and am instantly verified as myself using my phone and linked email address. I reset my PW, wait 30 minutes or so, reset my PC and the new PW as well as my PIN still don't work, and I still get the same "You can't login with this account. Try another account." error on my PIN input, strange. Whatever, I head to school at this point to type up this long post on a real keyboard.


Weird things that I have noticed: why would my PIN not work? I can't stress enough that I KNOW the PIN is correct, and when I put it in wrong I get a different error message than when I put it in as I know it to be correct. On the PW login screen, my account is showing as "@louisville.edu" yet when I try to reset my 365 account, it doesn't recognize this address, whereas it does recognize the same email ending in "@cardmail.louisville.edu". Am I perhaps not resetting my PW when I am resetting this @cardmail.louisville.edu 365 PW? Is my windows login maybe using some sort of local account or something?


I don't think I have any other information to add. I am becoming increasingly frustrated. My best guess is that some file became corrupt, which is why my PIN stopped working. I suppose I can get a Windows install put onto a flash drive, and reinstall the OS that way, but then I don't know how I will be able to authenticate. I authenticated through my school, which I have graduated from, and I don't even have access to that email account anymore. If I can't figure this out, I'm about to give up on Windows entirely and look into Linux or something. Send help. SOS.

:)

 

Can't create pin for login. Pin stopped working

Hi Kevin,

To resolve your concern about creating pin to your computer, we suggest that you follow these steps:

• Navigate to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC (click to get permission when prompted).
• Delete the contents of that folder (delete everything in that folder, but leave that folder and everything above it).
• Go back to settings, accounts, sign in options.
• Your non-working pin will now be gone, and you can just click 'add a pin' and set it again.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Windows 10 Pinned item not working HELP!

Delete the account/profile.

Or try this. You have a os update or a piece of software doing this.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pin...ms-tmobile-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Re-register Start Menu in Windows 10

Last resort reinstall windows.

 

Pin not working on Windows 10

Hi Edward,

Some changes on your computer may have caused your PIN to stop working. This can include a recent update or system files that got corrupted. For us to resolve your concern, kindly answer the questions below:

• Were there any recent changes made or updates installed prior to the issue occurring?
• What other troubleshooting steps have you attempted?
• Which version and build of Windows 10 is installed on your device?

We look forward to your response to our queries.