My Windows 10 account password is not recognized in Windows RE

Frank15 · 15 Nov 2021

I’m trying to restore a restore point from Windows RE, for which I’m prompted for my Microsoft account password, however, when I enter my password, it’s not recognized, I checked the password is correct by signing into Microsoft on another computer.

On the other hand, I find it strange that I’m prompted for a password for this, (I’m also prompted for my account password when trying to restore a Windows Image). None of this is happening on my PC, I’m not prompted for my account password there.

On both computers I’m using Windows 10 21H1 and is up to date, the boot SSD drive is over 50% free.

I later fixed this by restoring a Windows image, but still the password is not recognized in Windows RE.

I wonder why my password is not being recognized despite being correct, and why am I prompted for a password in this PC and not in the other?

Any help much appreciated

Windows 10 21H1

FreeBooter · 17 Nov 2021

Boot your computer into Windows Recovery Environment with Windows 10 installation media, that way you don't need to enter a password.

Bree · 17 Nov 2021

Frank15 said:

....I’m also prompted for my account password when trying to restore a Windows Image...

As FreeBooter says, you will not require a password if you boot to the recovery environment from install media (or from recovery USB).

However, you would only be asked for a password when restoring a system image if you are using the built-in Backup & Restore (Windows 7) System Image Backup. If that's what your using then stop using it immediately! It's been a deprecated feature for four years now and Microsoft recommend you use something (anything) else. Macrium Reflect Free is a popular choice.

Microsoft said:

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution
We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

Frank15 · 17 Nov 2021

Bree said:

As FreeBooter says, you will not require a password if you boot to the recovery environment from install media (or from recovery USB).

However, you would only be asked for a password when restoring a system image if you are using the built-in Backup & Restore (Windows 7) System Image Backup. If that's what your using then stop using it immediately! It's been a deprecated feature for four years now and Microsoft recommend you use something (anything) else. Macrium Reflect Free is a popular choice.

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

Thanks for that. However, I tried on an installer USB stick RE and I couldn't restore a restore point (the option appears there but when you click it I got an error message). I could restore a Window Image I had created with the built-in Backup & Restore though.

I didn't know this nice feature had been deprecated, I wonder why, it always worked fine for me. I wonder what you think about File History, I use it.

I still wonder why my Microsoft password isn't recognized, maybe it's the old password I used when I installed Windows back then? shouldn't it be updated in Windows RE when changed? I wonder if reinstalling or resetting Windows would fix this.

Bree · 17 Nov 2021

Frank15 said:

I didn't know this nice feature had been deprecated, I wonder why, it always worked fine for me.

Because it is unreliable and temperamental. When it works it is fine, but google "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer" to see how unreliable it can be. It's biggest failing is that, for no apparent reason, it can fail to recognise a perfectly good system image.

I wonder what you think about File History, I use it.

No complaints there. I use it too, but as one of several ways I back up my files. For system imaging (which also includes all my files) I use Macrium Reflect.

You can never have enough backups