Stuck in diagnostic mode, PIN # not accepted, please help

I had no issues with my computer prior. I simply was following some online suggestions for ways to reduce lag in an online game we like to play. The suggestion was to turn diagnostic mode on, which I did. I shut my computer off and when I turned it back on and entered my PIN # it said it was incorrect, yet, it is indeed correct. This started a week worth of nonstop research on how to undo this mess. I can hold the shift key down while restarting my computer and I get a blue screen where I have several options. I have tried restarting my computer to previous version, does not work. I have gone to troubleshooting, advance, options and I get to the point that I can see a list of options like safe mode and etc. but cannot click on any options in the list, instead it says restart computer to get me to those options which when I restart takes me right back to the Windows login screen. I tried to pull up command prompt and it asks for my PIN # which it will not accept. I click on forgot password and it restarts PC and takes me right back to the windows login screen where my PIN is still not accepted. I try to get to safe mode, it asks for the user account and then the PIN # that again, it will not accept. I have turned the PC on and off 3 times to start the auto repair and it just takes me to the same screen as holding down the shift key when restarting. I don't know what else to do, I cannot get to safe mode because it requires a PIN # that it does not accept, I cannot get into command prompt because it requires a PIN # that again says is incorrect, I cannot get anywhere with any of the online options or directions I see that works for many people. WHAT DO I DO? Any help or suggestions??

It sounds like "diagnostic mode" put you into Safe Mode which ONLY accepts password to get out of. Is this device tied to a MS account or a Local ?

mrgeek said:

It sounds like "diagnostic mode" put you into Safe Mode which ONLY accepts password to get out of. Is this device tied to a MS account or a Local ?

The blue screen with Advanced Options I get after pressing and holding the Shift key while restarting my PC matches what everyone describes as Safe Mode but, under Start Up Settings where Safe Mode is listed as several options, I had no option to actually select Safe Mode, I only had the option to restart my PC which when restarted opened up the Windows login screen where my PIN # is not accepted. Seems most everyone was able to restart and get a safe mode option(F4) they could click whereas I was unable to.

bro67 said:

What PIN number? Also can you please break down your post into paragraphs. Along with exactly what the game is that you are having issues with. Game Lag can be caused by a slow Internet connection, too many users on a particular server, someone hosing a server on their home connection, the end user trying to run something in the background that is eating up CPU cycles.

The game is Slither.io it seems to be most popular here with everyone yet it is the only game that lags so bad it can barely be played. Setting to diagnostic mode never did help with the game, but sure caused me a ton of stress, lesson learned!

I will try to break up my posts from here forward.
The PIN# is for the WIndows login screen when I start my PC. Always worked until this happened. I cannot get access to my computer without the PIN# for Windows.

Here are the things I tried:
*Opened Ease of Access icon in bottom right of Windows login screen, opened onboard keyboard, tried PIN#, still said incorrect.
*Held Shift key down while restarting PC and a blue screen appeared with Advanced Options(Possibly Safe Mode even though I was in diagnostic mode??)
*While on blue screen with all the menu options I tried:
-Troubleshoot, repair PC, no success as it would restart my PC and the Windows login to enter my PIN# would then open
-System Restore, same thing, would restart PC and Windows login screen appeared requiring my PIN#
-Opening Command Prompt but it requires a PIN# for the user account which is the same as the login screen PIN# and will not accept
-Go Back to Previous Version which was not successful as there are no previous versions
-Forgot Password which the only option is to reset my PC which again takes me right back to the Windows login screen requiring my PIN# that is no longer accepted
-Logging into my Windows account on my phone and changing my password but since this happened my PC now will not connect to the Internet, not wireless or via Ethernet so that did not work
-Turning my PC on and off 3 times each time turning off before the Windows login screen loaded and I got an automatic repair screen that my pc would be automatically be repaired yet when it restarts my pc I get the Windows login requiring my PIN # again

*From what I read the Safe Mode option sounds and looks like what I had when I pressed the Shift key down while restarting my PC only when I would get to the Start Up Settings, Safe Mode was listed as an option yet could not be selected, my only option was to click restart and my pc was supposed to restart and allow me to then select Safe Mode(F4) as an option but upon restarting I got the Windows login screen again.
*My PC is an HP and I ran the troubleshoot PC in the same Advanced Menu options on the blue screen and the same thing, PC restarts and I get the Windows login screen requiring my PIN#

It seems my only options that are left are to select to restore my PC to factory settings, meaning losing everything I have on my PC or, using System Image Recovery which would still mean installing a new Windows installation via USB because repair Windows does not work either, and again means I will lose everything on my PC.

Is there really no other way around this? I am at a lose what else to try.

Can you get to command prompt when booting from USB installation media? Wait until it asks you where you want to install and then press Shift + F10 (don't install windows).

If you can then try to turn on safe mode using bcdedit. See option 3 here Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

Then shut down pull out USB and restart. If you are in safe mode it will not ask for PIN - just password.

lx07 said:

Can you get to command prompt when booting from USB installation media? Wait until it asks you where you want to install and then press Shift + F10 (don't install windows).If you can then try to turn on safe mode using bcdedit. See option 3 here Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials Then shut down pull out USB and restart. If you are in safe mode it will not ask for PIN - just password.

No, it only asks if I want to install Windows from the USB or repair WIndows and repair windows does not work as it simply restarts my PC and then I have the same issue. I cannot get into command prompt.

alphanumeric said:

Log on PIN number I would think. I have my PC set to let me log in with a PIN number instead of password.

The login screen is for Windows 10. I was not given a choice to have a login screen with Windows 10, only the option to choose my PIN#. Had the exact same thing with my previous computer. It is not a chosen security measure. My PC is a HP and I can choose to create a sign in screen when turning on my computer which I choose not to create. This though, this is a Windows 10 login that pops up as soon as I turn on my PC that I did not choose, nor want. I have only had this with Windows 10.