Windows 10 Pro - 1909, OS Build: 18363.1198
Howdy Folks
I've been using my Windows 10 PIN for so long I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten my password and have learned I need it to roll back to a system restore point.
Google has suggestions on resetting my password, but I'd rather get some advice from my friends here.
Appreciation to all who read this post and to those who reply.
Hi, the Tutorial section is a good place to look - many many valuable professional quality tutorials.
There are several circumstances when a password is still required after having set a PIN. MS should make this VERY clear when setting a PIN, but don't. As you now know, a PIN is just a frill really, but can be made more complex than 4 digits if required (Tutorial refers).
Try
Reset Password of User Account in Windows 10
Searchable linear list to bookmark:
Windows 10 Tutorial Index
@dalchina
Ah! Tutorials ...How many times have I read your reference to these? My bad ... late at night and a bit flustered I bypassed the proper source. FWIW: Tutorials are now bookmarked on my browser!
And I thank you for sharing your knowledge; interesting to learn: "There are several circumstances when a password is still required after having set a PIN. MS should make this VERY clear when setting a PIN, but don't. As you now know, a PIN is just a frill really,"
Still, I am surprised I didn't make note of it as I do with almost everything else. e.g. "Best friend's name" Yes, but which *best friend* for *this* site?
My appreciation to you!
@dalchina
Oops, not so fast
I chose Netplwiz which I've used in the past (probably Windows 7) and found Reset Password is grayed out. (Photo)
And it tells me to use PC Settings>Users, so I tried that and worked my way through it. All seemed good but later found out I had changed my Microsoft Account password, not my local one.
Trying System Restore (Shift>Restart) again my new password failed and from the "error messages(s)" I inferred perhaps I wasn't logged in as Administrator. (?_not sure) As I have only one account which is also Administrator, I'm a bit lost here.
FWIW: "Your Info" in Settings has 3 lines under my photo:
"First Last" names
"Email address" (redacted in image above)
"Administrator"
Next I tried changing the local password in my Microsoft Account (which is where I learned it was that password I changed).
Option 3: Reset your password worked as if I wanted to change my Microsoft Account Password, not my local password, so I passed on that method.
Fortunately, it is not imperative I roll back to yesterday's System Restore Point, but someday it may be.
Do you have any thoughts or comments?
Thanks,
Last edited by jdUnionngarden; 09 Dec 2020 at 23:54.
Sorry, not personally as I've never been through this process. Hopefully someone else will comment.
Please would you clarify what you have done that makes you think that there is such a thing as a "local password" because there is not.
- A local user account has a password on the computer. It can be reset or changed on the computer.
- An MSAccount or a GMail account can only be reset or changed online using the facilities provided by MS/GMail. Such an account only has one password and it cannot be reset or changed on the computer itself.
Denis
As your user name is an email address, that is a Microsoft Account.
So follow instructions for resetting a Microsoft Account password:
Option 3 or 4 of Reset Password of User Account in Windows 10
@NMI
You have identified my problem. Thanks.
Apparently my Windows 10 Account was setup improperly using an email address where a Username should be. And this one account is both the Administrator and the User.
Can you tell me if I should have two accounts, one being the Administrator?
Regardless, I'd like to correct this error without losing any User files.
Can you offer assistance with this?
Appreciation goes out to you!
Last edited by jdUnionngarden; 10 Dec 2020 at 00:27.
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