PC created a mysterious outlook.com account and password on 1803 OS

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  1. Posts : 12
    Win10 Creator
       #1

    PC created a mysterious outlook.com account and password on 1803 OS


    My old HP laptop had Windows 1709 on it and it auto updated to OS 1803.
    I haven't used it lately and when booting it up I noticed an outlook account with a password requried
    to open the pc. I didn't create this account nor a password, however I did have a username on the pc before it updated to Win 1803. I can not get into the pc now as I don't know or create a password. The account was mysteriously created when updating to 1803. I tried resetting the password, but MS states that I must use a gmail account which I also do not own or know of. I didn't create a gmail account starting with "en". So they keep telling me I don't have enough info to reset the mysterious password.

    It sounds crazy and it is. I have a pc with an unknown password and outlook account that I did not create.
    I am locked out of my pc. I can not get into safe mode without the unknow outlook password.

    Is there anyway I can delete this false account to get into my pc other than taking it to a pc shop?

    Thanks for any help,

    lray
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    HI Iray

    The outlook.com account is a Microsoft account. Your account either signs in locally or through a Microsoft account. Microsoft Accounts can be the account you use for MS mail or it can be a standalone account you use for signing in.

    Microsoft accounts can be any other account names and some use their gmail account. Basically you can think of it as a name, what will call you. It's credentials are separate from gmail. So if you had a gmail account johnny@gmail with password redsun your MS account could be johnny@gmail but the password is the password you gave MS.

    Interesting that you don't recognize account. You can navigate to account.microsoft.com and go through log in process there to try to reset password, with this strange address starting with "en". You would have to use "I forgot password" but hopefully you will recognize the email names in the recovery process.

    Failing that you can use this tutorial to activate the built in Administrator account, option 5

    Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

    Once you get in you can see if your local account is still present or if it has been migrated to an MS account. Go settings and then Accounts.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12
    Win10 Creator
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Caledon Ken, Thank you so much for your prompt and technical reply with an explanation most people people on the forum would grasp. I went to the link and read it about 3 times, but being 74 years old and not familiar with cmd or editing the registry, I don't stand a chance of going through all of those steps. Still I don't know what kind of decision to make. I don't know elevated from standard definitions. I only know that before the 1803 update I didn't need a password to get into my pc. Now from out of the blue there is one required and MS thinks I am supposed to know what it is and also they think I have a gmail account beginning with "en" which I do not have or know either. I tried the resetting password three times and all I would get from MS is you are not providing enough info to verify who you are. I have never used any of those email accounts to send, receive, or open my pc before. Thanks again, but I think my only option is to save up from my SS check and take it to a pc shop. MS should pay for the bill. The pc was running fine on Version before 1803. Thanks again. Growing old ain't for Sissies.
    Lray
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #4

    If you take to shop please ensure they copy out your personal data if they feel they have to reload. If they can't then they are the wrong shop.

    When you boot and you get to this login in screen where it asks for passwords are there other users list in lower left hand corner, one that you recognize? Click on it if so.

    Sorry you couldn't get through account.microsoft.com

    Was really hoping it would give you either a phone number to send code too or an address to send code too.

    One other thing we could try. You could fall back to V1709. You get that login screen up, you click on the power icon in lower right corner. Then you hold shift key down and click restart. This will initiate a reboot, let go of shift, and Advance Startup Options should appear.

    You follow this tutorial

    Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10

    Basically once it restarts you click Trouble Shoot, Advance Options, See more recovery options, Go back to previous build.

    This is a little bit of a long shot as the system thinks you are using an MS id to sign in but worth a shot.

    Ken
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12
    Win10 Creator
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks, Ken. Got into Troubleshooting, and there was "Go Back to Previous Build." Clicked it and it finally countered with
    "We ran into problems, try resetting your pc." Would resetting the pc remove the log-in issue?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #6

    I don't think so. Resetting reloads current version. Stranger things have happened. If you reset you want to "Keep files"

    Do you have personal data files on computer, letters, spread sheets, pictures?

    and do you have access to another machine or a friends machine?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12
    Win10 Creator
    Thread Starter
       #7

    No Docs or Pics on PC to keep


    Ken,

    No, on the laptop with the unknown log-in password, I have not docs, pics, or files that I want to keep.

    Yes, I have two other laptops and two desktops all on my network. Believe it or not I reworked older pc's that other seniors gave me. They are all on various versions of Windows 10.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #8

    Well you could do a clean install of Windows 10.

    Basically you download the tool, execute the tool and create the USB, need 8GB. (Your Windows is likely 64 bit, Home)

    You boot from key and follow this tutorial.

    Clean Install Windows 10

    The tutorial talks to making some changes in BIOS. I don't think you said what type of device this is (HP, Dell, Asus)

    This link gives you keys to setup (BIOS) and boot managers.

    http://www.disk-image.com/faq-bootmenu.htm

    Assuming you do this it will want to setup with a Microsoft ID. You can use an existing outlook, hotmail, MSN, live account as your MS account. You can also use a lot of other id, like gmail. You can also set up with local account. Step 23 in tutorial.

    I know it looks long and complicated, it isn't and Brink writes one H3ll of a tutorial.


    Ken
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12
    Win10 Creator
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks but the Tutorial Overwhelms Me...It is like an IT Manual


    I have only installed Win 10 using the on-line windows tool and burning it to an ISO image. Don't think I ever did one that I didn't have trouble with the install either. And to the best of my ability I will never ever have another MS outlook.com account. At least create it myself. Never manipulated the BIOS other than change the boot order to boot from a CD. This tutorial too is far, far, too complex for me also. You guys are really pc geeks with phDs. You really worked hard trying to help me, but I just don't have the super skills and brain molecules left now to do it your way. I would try to call MS tech help and plea for the password, but my hearing is so bad that I can't hear even with speaker phone turned to high. And it seems you sure can't email them either. That is the way with the beast I have heard.
    I think my last option of recovering the pc is to save up my SS $ and carry the pc to our only pc shop within 75 miles of here.
    Many thanks for taking the time and effort to try and teach this old brain real pc stuff. How do I give you kudos and awards for you help?
    Lray
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #10

    Lray if you did the first sentence above then you can do this and the worst that is going to happen is that you will take a crippled machine to the shop.

    Basically you download tool here.

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10

    Then execute tool and follow prompts to make USB thumb drive. Really the prompts are very easy and if you hit a snag ask.

    The go over to PC, plug usb thumbdrive in, enter BIOS like you did before, change boot order and boot. Installing from USB is the same as DVD. Forget changing BIOS in any other way. Follow the prompts and when it asks if you want to upgrade or custom pick custom. The next couple of pages are complex but they boil down to delete the partitions you see and let windows reassign, really it is that simple.

    Follow the prompts and when it asks for MS id check out Step 23.

    You will have your PC back in an hour.


    Ken
      My Computer


 

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