Joined May 2004
L6: Expert
Forum Thread
MS Profile Issue - How do I log in and.. what went wrong?
April 18, 2025 at
01:56 AM
Hi
My main computer is a Dell 3880 running Windows 11. It's an old machine, but has relatively few miles on it... I bought it years ago and it was in its original box for like 2-3 years lol.
It has a 128 GB SSD and a 1 TB HD. I tried to move as much data as possible into the HD, but somehow, I kept getting messages that memory was full. But I'd click OK to dismiss and everything still worked. (In retrospect, maybe Windows was trying to download an update and was unable to do so due to lack of space?).
1. Recently, if the PC times out... I was unable to get back in. I would enter my PIN and it would give an error. Only way to get around it was to restart (afaik).
2. Just now... same issue, but restart did not work. I enter pin and it just spins and spins. I restarted again and tried hitting Forgot Pin, but... it says unable to load profile. I do not see a way to log in differently or to choose a different profile (not that I have one set up??).
I vaguely remember you could restart in safe mode? I held down F1 key while restarting, but it did nothing. I was taken to PIN entry page.
Help! How do I get back into my PC?
Thanks!!!
My main computer is a Dell 3880 running Windows 11. It's an old machine, but has relatively few miles on it... I bought it years ago and it was in its original box for like 2-3 years lol.
It has a 128 GB SSD and a 1 TB HD. I tried to move as much data as possible into the HD, but somehow, I kept getting messages that memory was full. But I'd click OK to dismiss and everything still worked. (In retrospect, maybe Windows was trying to download an update and was unable to do so due to lack of space?).
1. Recently, if the PC times out... I was unable to get back in. I would enter my PIN and it would give an error. Only way to get around it was to restart (afaik).
2. Just now... same issue, but restart did not work. I enter pin and it just spins and spins. I restarted again and tried hitting Forgot Pin, but... it says unable to load profile. I do not see a way to log in differently or to choose a different profile (not that I have one set up??).
I vaguely remember you could restart in safe mode? I held down F1 key while restarting, but it did nothing. I was taken to PIN entry page.
Help! How do I get back into my PC?
Thanks!!!
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Try F12 or advanced startup options to access bios / euif
-backup paused at 2:18 for some reason, for several minutes. I walked away and when I came back, it was done.
-the backup confirmation had a date of May 7, 2022. Dunnow where that is from
-I just got into date configuration screen and that 2022 date was the "current" date
Could that be why the reset failed? The backup file dates didn't match or whatever?
The Reset got pretty far along... it was checking "memory" last I saw. Walked away and when I came back it said the reset had failed.
Could the reset have failed because SSD is too small? But if so, wouldn't it say out of space instead of saying FAILED? Does Windows require MORE than 100 GB to install itseslf (that would be ridiculous, but hey, MS apparently assumes we all have unlimited storage)
-backup paused at 2:18 for some reason, for several minutes. I walked away and when I came back, it was done.
-the backup confirmation had a date of May 7, 2022. Dunnow where that is from
-I just got into date configuration screen and that 2022 date was the "current" date
Could that be why the reset failed? The backup file dates didn't match or whatever?
The Reset got pretty far along... it was checking "memory" last I saw. Walked away and when I came back it said the reset had failed.
Could the reset have failed because SSD is too small? But if so, wouldn't it say out of space instead of saying FAILED? Does Windows require MORE than 100 GB to install itseslf (that would be ridiculous, but hey, MS apparently assumes we all have unlimited storage)
I've seen inaccurate time cause lots of issues. Beyond the issues it will cause connecting to the internet, drives and other important software are often signed with security certificates which the computer may not currently consider valid causing a raft of issues.
It's been a while since I've dealt with this, so my frame of reference is a bit out of date for modern OS, which are more cloud dependent. I haven't seen your exact symptoms.
I would try to make setting the time a top priority before you go down other rabbit holes. You might try plugging it in via Ethernet. There's a chance Ethernet may connect if WiFi won't. Even if you just leave it suck at the login screen, it may eventually sync the clock with a time server. You should be able to get in to the EUFI somehow or perhaps boot to a Windows install USB drive.
After trying multiple ways to reset (or just plain log in) and failing... finally opted for the Factory Install using the original Windows. So... I'm back on Windows 10 Home. Would you all agree I should update to Windows 11? Or not mess with it and leave it at Windows 10 Home?
Currently in the process of re-installing apps, but I guess its really just MS Office, Google Chrome, Anti-Malware Bytes and... that's it. LOL The Malware Bytes might be an issue, I found an old lifetime sub that I had bought and never used, and applied it on this PC when I first started using it. I don't know where the code is anymore.... Oooops.
Currently trying to find/re-find where I set the page file size and location.... want to move everything to the D drive, and leave the C (SSD) drive as clear as possible.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE ADVICE!!! I'd rep you, but it keeps saying I need to spread it around before I can rep you guys again.
Windows 11 is a personal choice. I haven't upgraded any of my machines yet. The alarms about Windows 10 support ending soon are not very alarming for home users, much more so for businesses. So stay on 10 if you want, upgrade to 11 if you want, likely won't matter relative to the issue you had before.
I'm also of the opinion that the current built-in Windows Defender, along with occasional on-demand scans with something like Malwarebytes are sufficient for the average home user's needs. Meaning I wouldn't worry at all about finding your Malwarebytes subscription key and would just install the free version. Since you're talking about manipulating the page file, you likely are trying to streamline your system. No need to have yet another process running in the background (malwarebytes). Just use it on-demand unless you're someone who does things that make it more likely that you're going to run into malware (TOR/black web, porn sites, etc.).
Lastly, having years ago manipulated page files, autoexec.bat files, etc., I would suggest that it's not necessary anymore except on the most bare bones systems that have little in the way of resources. More importantly, it would seem to me that you want your page file to be on your fastest drive (SSD). I'm curious as to what you're trying to accomplish here?
Again, just my opinions. Glad you got back up and running.