Two computers and cant get into one!

This is my first post, so please be gentle with me!

I have a Dell all in one desktop with Windows 8.1 running on it, and downloaded last week 10 onto my HP laptop. To keep things simple, I used the same e/mail address and password to start both computers using my Microsoft account. All went well until this afternoon and no issues whatsoever :)

Today, I was out and about and wanted to log into my laptop and lo and behold, my laptop password wasn't accepted and I couldn't even get past the log-in screen. So I had to go into a computer shop, pay them £15 and they reset my Microsoft password...they told me that the new password will now be used for my laptop and my desktop.

Now back home, an hour later and tried opening my desktop using the new password. Nope, it only accepted my old Microsoft account password!

What on earth is going on? Is this a common fault?

Must I have 2 separate Microsoft accounts for two different machines? If so, not much point in having a cross-platform system and I'll revert back to 8.1 post haste.

Firstly, whichever way you look at it, the computer shop conned you out of £15 and I feel extreme anger on your behalf.

Secondly, you only need one MS account to login across multiple devices.

What I suspect happened is something like this:

Your laptop connected to WiFi hotspot but it hadn't granted you full internet access yet.

Windows login detected an internet connection but was unable to use it to verify your password.

PC shopped conned you.

Desktop PC was still offline when you logged in, thus, accepted old password.

Desktop PC will use new password at some point when its gone online and updated.


I suggest you create an additional local account on you laptop, in case this happens again, when you're out and about. So you can log in to Windows without hassle.

Also, seeing as the shop changed your password, I would change your MS account password again for security.

Thanks for your explanation Nus.

Your idea of additional 'local user' account sounds and excellent idea.

I'm writing this post on my Desktop and it opened up under the old MS password...some 5 hours after the Microsoft password was updated via my laptop!

My major concern is WHY my MS password changed in the first place and wouldn't let me gain access, albeit off-line. After all, a laptop is not a Chromebook and like many who live in rural areas, don't have access to an Internet signal or Wifi.

willington said:

My major concern is WHY my MS password changed in the first place and wouldn't let me gain access, albeit off-line.

I don't think it did change.

Your laptop connected to WiFi hotspot but it hadn't granted you full internet access yet.

Windows login detected an internet connection but was unable to use it to verify your password.

There's a stupid flaw in the login method that results in the scenario above, effectively leaving you locked out of the system.

just a quick update..... the new MS password finally migrated from my laptop to my Desktop 8 hours after it was changed!

I just went to log-on on my laptop and have the same issues as yesterday.....

1. It said that I had no Internet connection.
2. After direct wired into the router and disabled WIFI it let me type in my password.
3. After stage 2, it didn't recognise my password...old MS password or the new MS password which was set up yesterday.

^ which I paid £15 to have done by a PC specialist!

This is just totally unacceptable and I'll be removing windows 10 as soon as I can get into my laptop!

Further update.

I contacted MS tech support and explained the situation....talking to them in chat using my desktop (8.1) and wanted to rectify why my MS password isn't being recognised on my laptop (10). Their Advisor (Femme P) told me that they could see my laptop screen...which was a load of BS as the laptop wasn't even switched on!

That Advisor then went away to speak to her supervisor and then cut me off!

I then arranged a callback from MS and their advisor told me to 'wipe my hard drive and Windows 8.1 will still be on it.' When I challenged him over this, as my laptop has a recovery partition...he was insistant that I follow his instructions.

I did as he instructed...and low and behold...I now have a laptop with only the BIOS on it!

Needless to say, I am not amused.

You sure you actually talked to a Microsoft Rep? Just seems weird to me.
in any case, usually if I change my Microsoft password, it's gets recognized right away as long as I have internet connection. However, as nus points out, it won't be updated unless it can verify while it's on a network. Without being online, it'll still have your old password. Local account is definitely a great idea.

Nus, didn't Windows 8.1 operate the login the same way as Windows 10?

willington said:

This is my first post, so please be gentle with me!

I have a Dell all in one desktop with Windows 8.1 running on it, and downloaded last week 10 onto my HP laptop. To keep things simple, I used the same e/mail address and password to start both computers using my Microsoft account. All went well until this afternoon and no issues whatsoever :)

Today, I was out and about and wanted to log into my laptop and lo and behold, my laptop password wasn't accepted and I couldn't even get past the log-in screen. So I had to go into a computer shop, pay them £15 and they reset my Microsoft password...they told me that the new password will now be used for my laptop and my desktop.

Now back home, an hour later and tried opening my desktop using the new password. Nope, it only accepted my old Microsoft account password!

What on earth is going on? Is this a common fault?

Must I have 2 separate Microsoft accounts for two different machines? If so, not much point in having a cross-platform system and I'll revert back to 8.1 post haste.

I had this happen on my Dell PC I know I was using the correct password as I was able to login to my windows acct on another computer just fine, what I did was login to see if it worked on my Linux machine then I logged out of MS and had them send me a link to reset luckily it worked I was surprised it worked as I was under the impression the pc had stored the original password.
So as far as them telling you that it was a laptop issue nope I don't even own a laptop had it happen thank god I researched online how to fix it found my answer on this forum I believe I was thinking I would have to do a full wipe again! Glad I didn't geez

Once back in I went straight to account settings and there was a checkmark to not use password to logon forget exactly what it said but it did work no need for password then I changed it to local account no password I am not playing games to turn on and get into my computer I spent to much time already trying to figure out the correct way to install this as I witnessed friends installs not being activated because they installed it wrong!

I don't know I may be wrong but I think it may have something to do with 2 factor authorization as the login doesn't seem to require that. If that's the case that's a huge oversight.

^

I'm sorry to hear of your similar problems, but am at the same time relieved to hear that someone else has encountered log-in issues.

As for 2 factor Authorization, I kept checking with MS and my local computer specialist that I only needed the same registered e/mail account and one password for all my Microsoft machines. Each time they said YES. In fact, I am the perfect model for MS' vision of cross platform user...a MS Lumia phone, a laptop and a desktop.

With 10 looming and a huge pre-launch testing group, MS would have ironed out 99.9% of the bugs and trained their call centre staff to at least listen and take note of reported faults. Call me synical, but I believe that MS launched 10 launched this OS way too early due to pressure from their new CEO in direct response to Investor concerns about MS's future.