Windows 10: Windows 11 Disaster with safe mode and PIN

12/23 pepebeto66 posted the same problem I have. The thread is locked so I cannot comment. My problem is that I wanted to use Safe Mode to investigate sudden blackouts on my Lenovo Ideapad 3. I suspect Excel is causing it. Like pepebeto66, I am now permanently stuck at the Windows screen that says "Something happened to your PIN..." The answer to his question works only up to hit RESTART. There are no options to start windows normally after that. I have tried 4 other options and they ALL lead to the "something happened" screen. Trying each option means starting/stopping the computer and eventu

:)

 

Windows 11 disaster. Can't enter PIN, locked in safe mode and BSOD prevents many solutions

Hi pepebeto66，

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

It sounds like you're dealing with a series of complex issues on your Lenovo Ideapad 3 running Windows 11. Let's break down the situation and explore some potential solutions:

1. PIN Issue in Safe Mode: It's a known issue that PIN login might not work in Safe Mode for Windows 11. This is why it's generally recommended to have a password backup. However, since you're already in this situation, we need to find a workaround.
   
2. Accessing Advanced Startup Options Leading to BSOD: The DRIVER_VERIFIER_DMA_VIOLATION Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error suggests there might be a driver issue, possibly exacerbated by the Driver Verifier tool.
   
3. Issues with Windows 11 Installation USB: If the Windows installation media isn't working, there could be several reasons, such as the USB drive not being properly formatted or the installation media not being correctly created.
   

Given these challenges, here are some steps you can try:

Escaping Safe Mode and Resolving PIN Issue

1. Force Windows to Exit Safe Mode:
   
   • Repeatedly interrupt the boot process (turn off the laptop as soon as you see the Windows logo) three times in a row. On the fourth boot, Windows should enter Automatic Repair mode.
     
   • Once in Automatic Repair, navigate to "Troubleshoot" → "Advanced options" → "Startup Settings" → "Restart".
     
   • After the restart, you'll see a list of options. Select the option to boot Windows normally.
     
2. Resetting Your PIN:
   
   • If you're able to boot into Windows normally, try resetting your PIN through the Accounts settings.
     

Addressing the BSOD

• Disable Driver Verifier:
  
  • Access Command Prompt from the Advanced Startup Options or Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
    
  • Type verifier /reset and press Enter. This will reset the Driver Verifier settings which might be causing the BSOD.
    

Resolving Issues with Windows Installation USB

• Recreate Installation Media:
  
  • Use another working computer to download the Windows 11 media creation tool from the official Microsoft website
    

Thank you for your patience and understanding! If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a message.

Sincerely

Manson | Microsoft Support Specialist

 

Windows 11 Safe Mode PIN Failure

I've a new Asus ProArt Studiobook and need to put the laptop into SafeMode to fix Windows Defender issue (thread here if of interest). I'm running the latest version of Windows 11 (23H2). I was attempting to boot into safe mode. At the login screen, I receive the following error "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again."

Troubleshooting steps so far

1. I've repeated this with the laptop LAN connected, WiFi connected, Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Network. still unable to login to my laptop via safe mode.
   
2. I've also reinstalled Windows 11 using this guide, following the Reinstall Windows 11 using installation media Keep Everything steps... I didn't fancy reinstalling all my apps. still unable to login to my laptop via safe mode.
   

Other than sending my laptop back under RMA or do a fresh rebuild, I'm out of options. Any ideas?

 

PIN not working in Safe mode

Hello,

Windows 10 may have encountered a corruption that caused your machine not to recognize your pin. For us to better assist you, kindly answer the following questions:

• Have you made any recent changes to your computer prior to this issue?
• Is this also happening even if you're not on Safe mode?
• Are you getting an error message whenever you enter your pin?

Meanwhile, if you're able to log into your computer if you're not in Safe mode, we recommend that you visit this

link. From there, you'll see a thread with a similar issue, kindly see the reply of
Kapil Arya MVP and follow the steps on his reply.

We'll be waiting for your response.