Login password not working

Two days ago I was going into safe mode.Something happened and the PC restarted. It got as far as the login screen. I entered my password and it didn't work.The PC is 7 months old and has had the same password the entire time. I have no idea how to fix this. Any advice. Dell wants to charge me $179 for a warranty that covers software. Apparently their new policy is the warranty that comes with the machine covers hardware only. Win 10 dell inspiron desktop up to date. Dual in line memory module 8GB, 2666, 1RX8, 8G, DDR4. One TB HDD.Intel UHD Graphics 630 for 8 and 9 Generation Intel Core processors.

Caledon Ken said:

Hi robert paul. Welcome to the TenForums @robert paul

Are you out of safe mode? no

Are you using a local account or a Microsoft Account? local account


When you see the log in box is your User name above the login box? yes my email address


After you key in your password and before you press enter if you click on the the little symbol in the log in box, right hand side, your password will be exposed. Is it being keyed as expected. (Right characters, not numbers, etc) yes it is.

If MS account you should be able to go to accounts.microsoft.com and log in there to resolve password issue. Once logged in come back to device and attempt.

microsoft account not linked to this pc.

robert paul said:

Two days ago I was going into safe mode.Something happened and the PC restarted. It got as far as the login screen. I entered my password and it didn't work.The PC is 7 months old and has had the same password the entire time. I have no idea how to fix this. Any advice. Dell wants to charge me $179 for a warranty that covers software. Apparently their new policy is the warranty that comes with the machine covers hardware only. Win 10 dell inspiron desktop up to date. Dual in line memory module 8GB, 2666, 1RX8, 8G, DDR4. One TB HDD.Intel UHD Graphics 630 for 8 and 9 Generation Intel Core processors.

"Apparently their new policy is the warranty that comes with the machine covers hardware only. Win 10 dell inspiron desktop up to date."
--- That is their standard 1 year free warranty on a new computer. It isn't a new policy that I know of.

What is the original reason for trying to go into Safe Mode?

In your system specs, you have windows 10: I imagine it's Home & not Pro?

When you enter your password, use the "eyelet" or whatever it's called to verify the characters you are entering are correct for the password.

MeAndMyComputer said:

"Apparently their new policy is the warranty that comes with the machine covers hardware only. Win 10 dell inspiron desktop up to date."
--- That is their standard 1 year free warranty on a new computer. It isn't a new policy that I know of. I bought my grand daughter a laptop last august and we have had both in home and at the depot repair service, part of which was win 10.

What is the original reason for trying to go into Safe Mode? I wanted to run windows defender

In your system specs, you have windows 10: I imagine it's Home & not Pro? Yes, it's home

When you enter your password, use the "eyelet" or whatever it's called to verify the characters you are entering are correct for the password.

Yes they are.

Do you have data to save?

MeAndMyComputer said:

Do you have data to save?

yes

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Caledon Ken said:

Okay you have to get out of safe mode.

Option 3, step 5 of this tutorial. You need to get to command prompt.

Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10

OK, how do I get to the command prompt? As far as I knkw f2 and f12 work.

Caledon Ken said:

You will need boot media.

You can use Media creation Tool to create. Once you boot on the very first screen presented press shift + f10

I think where MeandMyComputer was heading was a Dell Factory reset. If you have all your data off maybe be easiest but it is equivalent of clean install.

You never did say, why were you booting to Safe Mode.

I wanted to run windows defender in safe mode. Question.

Using f2 it takes me to settings. Under settings theres security. Then there is admin password "not set" ,system password also "not set". Does that mean anything? Or should I proceed to creating Media creation tool?

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robert paul said:

I wanted to run windows defender in safe mode. Question.

Using f2 it takes me to settings. Under settings theres security. Then there is admin password "not set" ,system password also "not set". Does that mean anything? Or should I proceed to creating Media creation tool?

I feel like such an idiot. Maybe because it was in safe mode I don't know but I used an old password and I was in.Then out of safe. Back to normal. I created the tool so I'll keep it case something happens in the future. Thank you so much for your help.