Windows 10 unable to login password issue and network issue after update.

Soldato
Joined
26 Sep 2013
Posts
10,758
Location
West End, Southampton
Hi guys, need a bit of help.

A friend has some issues with a laptop, I said I'd help out. She's updated Windows but since the update is unable to login to windows with a incorrect password prompt. She knows its the correct password as she can login to Microsoft.com with her credentials.

On the login screen there is a red X on the network icon, I can enter wifi details which then shows "connected, secured" but the red X remains. I've also connected via cable but still showing the red X over the icon.

I've tried to do a system restore, or system repair and even to access command prompt but even that is asking for the password which it's not accepting. I've also tried to boot into safe mode but every time I select it from the advanced startup options it just boots into normal mode.

How can I go about changing this blinking password or even getting into Windows? I don't know what version of Windows she has installed as I can't get into the machine and neither does she. She can't see what version she's got when she's logged in to her account at Microsoft.com so I'm just trying all the basic stuff at the minute which isn't getting me anywhere.

Any help would be great, never seen this one before.
 
Last edited:
If it has done a feature update roll back to the previous build, if it was a normal update try to system restore.
You can access the recovery options by holding the shift key whilst clicking restart from the power icon on the login screen.
 
Use a Linux live USB if you need to access the drive, that'll at least help determine the version you are dealing with.

Also, look at the Sticky Key Windows Reset (Linux Live USB will be needed), it'll at least give you access to the local account if the live one is locked out until you get a network connection.

Have you tried connecting via cable to a network?
 
Like I said guys, can't roll back, can't repair, can't access anything from the advanced troubleshooting menu when booting, everything asks for a password first. And tried Ethernet cable, the red x doesn't disappear from the connected icon on the login screen.

I've created a bootable USB via Rufus and got a Windows 10 Image on it but can't boot from It as there is no way to get into bios or a boot menu at start-up, no button presses work, just shows a Lenovo screen and loads in as normal. Only way I can get up the windows 10 troubleshooting and repair options is to chose restart and hold shift. I can then chose to boot from USB but it then comes up with a boot manager message saying no USB boot possible.

I've never seen this before.
 
Lenovo laptops can have a few ways of getting into the BIOS it so best to google the model and how to access. Anything from F1/F2 to special buttons or pinholes to push and hold.

Chances are it'll be an option in the bios that is stopping you from booting from USB.

If you can get into the repair options is there an option for the cmd prompt? Sometimes it shows and sometimes it doesn't.

Does it have a CD drive? Bootable linux CD maybe?

If you can get a cmd prompt or get they sticky keys hack working you can reset the password this way https://4sysops.com/archives/forgot-the-administrator-password-the-sticky-keys-trick/

Is there a sticker on the laptop showing the OS?

Last resort would be hard drive removal, backing up on your PC and then formatting and reinstall.
 
Lenovo laptops can have a few ways of getting into the BIOS it so best to google the model and how to access. Anything from F1/F2 to special buttons or pinholes to push and hold.

Chances are it'll be an option in the bios that is stopping you from booting from USB.

If you can get into the repair options is there an option for the cmd prompt? Sometimes it shows and sometimes it doesn't.

Does it have a CD drive? Bootable linux CD maybe?

If you can get a cmd prompt or get they sticky keys hack working you can reset the password this way https://4sysops.com/archives/forgot-the-administrator-password-the-sticky-keys-trick/

Is there a sticker on the laptop showing the OS?

Last resort would be hard drive removal, backing up on your PC and then formatting and reinstall.

I can get to the advanced trouble shooting menus by holding shift key and restarting just fine. There I have all the options available, even the cmd prompt but when I select any option it asks me to put in the password (also shows me the email address of the account)

Oh and I forgot to mention. By Googling earlier, the button on the side of the laptop for entering bios doesn't work, that's why I'm looking for other options. It's a Lenovo G50
 
Last edited:
Actually, I have seen this problem before and it was due to a keyboard mapping issue. The way to recover was to bring up the on-screen keyboard and enter the password that way.
 
Actually, I have seen this problem before and it was due to a keyboard mapping issue. The way to recover was to bring up the on-screen keyboard and enter the password that way.

The correct password is being inputted though, I checked multiple times by clicking the little eye symbol to reveal the characters

ok guys. Finally in to CMD, this is weird though. I'm unable to reset the password here

46553607471_5af87f127c_b.jpg



so trying to do it direct from CMD, but there appears to be no account setup for the user????

46553607691_fc5b733556_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
At the command prompt type rstrui to launch System Restore.

edit:
46554635701_e58513e114_b.jpg


45830695284_3487802233_b.jpg


This one has got me well and truly stumped. Just created a new local user, at least I can now get into the OS. Strangely it's booted me into safe mode hmmmmm, I'm sure that's not normal. Will dig around MSConfig although can't do nowt in here as it's not the admin account and everything asking for that poxy password :mad::mad:
 
Last edited:
When you run System Restore, go to c:\windows\system32 and run rstrui from there. And when you run it, use RUNAS to run it as the administrator.

runas /user:administrator rstrui.exe

Plug in runas /? for full details.
 
I'VE GOT IT BOYS EUREKA MOMENT

When I added another local account it logged on in safe mode. Thought then that was a bit weird. So tried
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot
restarted and bang straight in, admin password successful (the one I've tried 50 times over the past few days which we knew was correct)

All along it was bloody loading Windows into safe mode, not giving me networking and admin password not working for some reason. OMG, never seen that one before.

Massive thank you for all your help and ideas on this one. Turned out to be something rather simple lol.
 
Last edited:
Great that you've fixed it, I can help a bit, but only with why it's doing this.

Basically because she setup her PC with her Live account (or MS Account) there are no cached credentials stored on the PC, it must have a network to be able to login. Windows Hello solves this, and you can / should now set that up.

The red cross network icon should be interactive. ie, you should be able to see networks and adjust the settings but not if it's been disabled (which it sounds like it has).

Lastly, to quickly identify the machine name, just type .\ at the start of the username and the machine name will appear below.
 
Back
Top Bottom