Upgrade from Windows 7 created Local Account-Now What?

I'm on a topic that is uncharted territory for me. Here is some background.
I have a laptop from my Mom how just recently passed away. The machine had Windows 7 and was upgraded to Windows 10 Home edition.

When it upgraded it only created a Local Account which is probably what was expected. It does not prompt me for a password, it is like netplwiz has been set so you don't have to log in, it just takes you to the desktop.

I want to reset the Laptop but I'm not sure what to expect regarding the Microsoft Account. I highly doubt there is a MS account on this machine, if there is, I don't know what the password or the account email address is. If the machine is reset will it keep the local account or will I be asked to login/create a Microsoft account?

Has anyone had a situation like this before? Any suggestions or tips you can give me before I reset the laptop?

Thanks,
Greg

Bree said:

My condolences for the loss of your Mother.

Normal behaviour is to offer the login for the last account that was logged on. If that account has no password you'll go straight in without a prompt for the password. If you look at Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options it will say if the account has no password.

I've not done a reset, but it should put the machine into the state it would be if you'd just installed Windows. At install you are asked to set up the first account. The default offered is to set up with a Microsoft account, but you can choose to set up a local account instead.

Thanks Bree, her loss was very sudden for us. Dad is doing ok, but he misses her. They were married over 66 years so it is very understandable how he is.

Thanks for the tips, I haven't checked the Account setting you mentioned, but I will. I'll cross my fingers when I do the reset, part of my concern is I didn't want to lose the activated account otherwise I'd have to purchase a new copy, but not a big deal if I do.

Samuria said:

Two things create a disk image with free software so you can role back if it goes wrong second backup the activation if you google uncleaner on that site they have s utility to backup activation I am on phone so can't give a direct link

Good points, I'll do that first.

Thanks!

NavyLCDR said:

When the computer is upgraded from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10, the digital license for Windows 10 is stored on Microsoft activation servers along with the unique Hardware ID of the computer - as long as the computer has been connected to the internet at some point since the upgrade. You can completely wipe the hard drive on the computer down to absolutely nothing and as long as you install the same version of Windows 10 that was on it before it will activate itself when it sends the Hardware ID to Microsoft activation servers and it matches the digital license stored there. No Microsoft account is required for that. Linking the digital license to a Microsoft account is only needed when you want to move that digital license to another computer.

You do have to be mindful of other programs installed, though, like Microsoft Office. They will not automatically re-activate.

Thanks. I was successful in resetting the PC. The license activated with no problems. The laptop didn't have MS Office so no worries there.

All the feedback from everyone here helped me today. I've very appreciate, thank you! :)

Greg