Unable to log in Windows at start up

layman · 02 Aug 2022

I haven't used my Windows laptop (ASUS with AMD A8 processor) for the last three months. Today when I try to log in with my PIN, the cursor is unresponsive to inputs from alphabet keys. However, with numeric keys it responds but after four numbers it automatically "Enters" with the message "Wrong PIN". Next I tried the "On screen keyboard", but the result was same, the cursor won't budge. After several failed attempts I get the message,"Please enter A1B2C3 to continue". This time I am able to enter the required input both from the alphanumeric keyboard as well as the "On screen Keyboard". But the subsequent attempt to enter the PIN have the same result : the cursor is unresponsive. My Windows version Number is 21H1, build 19043.1023

dalchina · 02 Aug 2022

Hi, what happens if you boot to Safe Mode? (e.g. power button bottom right of login screen, and SHIFT + click Restart, and work through the screens to get there).

This laptop seems to be from around 2013 - is that correct?

layman · 03 Aug 2022

I tried to "Safe Boot" with the same result. It showed the message asking me to type A1B2C3, which was done effortlessly but when trying to enter PIN the cursor won't budge.Any other suggestions will be appreciated.

Yes, the laptop is old and of 2013 make.

dalchina · 03 Aug 2022

Hi, is your touchpad disabled by one means or another? Apparently that can have this effect..

How to fix a stuck laptop cursor | Tech Advisor

layman · 04 Aug 2022

I have checked that article. I have tried "through BIOS" and "Function Keys" and notice that the Touchpad of my laptop is not disabled . In fact, the log in window opens after I touch the touchpad after the laptop boots. As intimated earlier, when I am asked to enter A1B2C3 to continue to log in I am able to do that both through the keyboard as well as through the "on screen keyboard". The cursor is struck up in the subsequent step of entering the actual PIN.

dalchina · 04 Aug 2022

You might try this
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

to see if you can enable the special built-in admin account so you can at least log in...

It doesn't seem anyone (yet) has an idea as to what has caused your problem.

Note: you may now have seen how members here endlessly recommend the routine use of disk imaging to support recovery from difficult situations by restoring an image of e.g. Windows partitions- Macrium Reflect (free/paid) etc... do you have such a disk image?

Perhaps System Restore was acitve- there may be a System Restore point you could use. Do you know the password? (The password is NOT replaced by a PIN and is still necessary in some cases, and relevant if you remove the PIN of course).

layman · 06 Aug 2022

I must apologise to dalchina and all knowledgeable members here for raising false alarm. As I was using the laptop after long absence all the time I was trying for entering the "Password" instead of the PIN. The PIN is a number and that too only four digits in my case. That's why only the numeric keyboard was active. After entering the numeric PIN, I was able to log on. Thank you once again.