Windows 10: Windows 10, unable to log in with any method.

I took some apparently awful and stupid advice in trying to fix windows eating my RAM. Users said:

• 
  Open up "regedit" and go this key. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Ndu
  
  
• 
  Change the "Start" value to 4 to disable it.
  

No one said anything negative happened, so I did that. I shut down yesterday, turned on today. I logged in fine, but the RAM issue remained. It always goes away when I restart, so I restarted. Now windows, besides being unable to connect online, helpfully tells me "something" happened and my pin is unavailable. I cannot reset or create a new pin, trying to do so just puts me back on the "something happened" screen.


I also can't use a password the one I used just now to log in here because windows refuses to recognize it as correct. I have tried shift+restart options but all of them require a password that doesn't work on the computer itself. I have no way of logging in and no way of changing anything from the log in screen.


I certainly question my own wisdom in trying random online advice, but I have to whine more about how a single number change can apparently brick the entire device.


Might anyone, anywhere, have any ideas to get back into the regedit and undo this?

:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

As you may already know, Windows 10 (as well as Windows 8) allow you to log in with a valid Microsoft account, instead of creating a local account that only works on your machine. However, you may prefer to keep a local account for privacy reasons. If you do, though, some Windows 10 features—like Cortana—may not work. Despite the default behavior, the Windows 10 Store is not one of them. You can still log in to your Microsoft account for just the Store without switching to a full Microsoft account. The process, however, is not terribly obvious. To do so, follow these steps:

• Launch the Store from your Start menu.
• Click the user icon next to the search box.
• Click “Sign-in” from the menu that appears.
• Choose “Microsoft account” and log in like normal.
• When the “Make it yours” box appears do not enter your password. Instead, click “Sign in to just this app instead.”

from Lifehacker

 

Installing Windows Vista/7 Via flash drive (Mussels Method)

Thread updated with a newer method that allows multiple windows OS's on the one USB. nice little windows GUI, but a few more steps than the old method.


This method supports XP.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.