How to reinstall Windows 10 (lost my Microsoft account password)

N

northumbria82

Member
Hi guys,

I need to Secure Boot my PC before the October update, so it's compatible with Windows 11 (my computer is, I just need to Secure Boot it). But I can't do this because I can't remember my Microsoft account password that I installed Windows with (I know my login Pin, to access Windows, but not my account password). And it won't let me Secure boot it without it.

I've tried going through the recovery process with Microsoft, but no luck!

I have seen videos on YouTube that show you how to remove the password using third party tools, but I wouldn't feel secure doing this.

So, I'm wondering if reinstalling Windows would work?

If so, I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me how to do this!
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
I tried the password recovery process but no luck! So, I’m looking into reinstalling Windows. If anyone can help me.
Click to expand...
You’re stuck without your Microsoft account password. You need to get that reset before you can do anything

Windows 11 doesn’t need secure boot on to run or install
 
N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
You’re stuck without your Microsoft account password. You need to get that reset before you can do anything

Windows 11 doesn’t need secure boot on to run or install
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it’s much appreciated!

I ran a PC health check and it said I needed to enable TMP 2.0 (which I did) and the Secure Boot. It says Windows 11 won’t run without it.

If I buy another’s Windows 10 to install, would that work?
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
If I buy another’s Windows 10 to install, would that work?
Click to expand...
I’m not sure how else we can say it, you seem to be confused. Without your Microsoft account password, you won’t be able to install windows

You need to sort out your Microsoft account first before you do anything.

You don’t need secure boot to install windows

You don’t need to buy anything, you’ve already got a license.

Yiu just need your Microsoft account unlocked
 
N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
I’m not sure how else we can say it, you seem to be confused. Without your Microsoft account password, you won’t be able to install windows

You need to sort out your Microsoft account first before you do anything.

You don’t need secure boot to install windows

You don’t need to buy anything, you’ve already got a license.

Yiu just need your Microsoft account unlocked
Click to expand...

I'm not able to recover my account password, I've tried!

I have searched for this on Google and this is what it says (please see screenshot attached).

Is that advice not correct then?

Another member, above, recommended installing Windows 11 if my computer is compatible... my computer set up is Windows 11 compatiable, but I have to go into the CMD to change the Security Boot setup so that it's not legacy. But I can't do that without my Microsoft
account password.

So are you saying that if I can't recover it (which I can't), my computer is basically going to be useless in October?
 

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SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
I'm not able to recover my account password, I've tried!

I have searched for this on Google and this is what it says (please see screenshot attached).

Is that advice not correct then?

Another member, above, recommended installing Windows 11 if my computer is compatible... my computer set up is Windows 11 compatiable, but I have to go into the CMD to change the Security Boot setup so that it's not legacy. But I can't do that without my Microsoft
account password.

So are you saying that if I can't recover it (which I can't), my computer is basically going to be useless in October?
Click to expand...
That’s AI, you can be pretty sure any AI output is always wrong.

You don’t just give up getting your Microsoft account back, that has all your keys, all your internet history, payment details, address, games, passwords etc. You need to get your account back

Unless you'd broken the terms of service and you're not being clear with what the issue is.

Again, I‘m not sure what it is you’re not understanding, you don’t need secure boot to install windows 11. And you don’t enable secure boot from cmd anyway.

I have a feeling you’re relying far too much on AI, AI is garbage, it’s almost always wrong

I‘ll bow out, seems to be a communication issue going on
 
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N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
That’s AI, you can be pretty sure any AI output is always wrong.

You don’t just give up getting your Microsoft account back, that has all your keys, all your internet history, payment details, address, games, passwords etc. You need to get your account back

Unless you'd broken the terms of service and you're not being clear with what the issue is.

Again, I‘m not sure what it is you’re not understanding, you don’t need secure boot to install windows 11. And you don’t enable secure boot from cmd anyway.

I have a feeling you’re relying far too much on AI, AI is garbage, it’s almost always wrong

I‘ll bow out, seems to be a communication issue going on
Click to expand...
When I set up the Microsoft account (years ago), I’d left an abusive relationship and was worried about giving my personal information online, because I was worried about my ex partner being able to find out where I lived… so I set up my microsoft account anonymously, not using my actual name and date of birth etc.

In hindsight, stupid, I know. But that’s why I can’t recover my account, I have no idea what details I put in.
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
When I set up the Microsoft account (years ago), I’d left an abusive relationship and was worried about giving my personal information online, because I was worried about my ex partner being able to find out where I lived… so I set up my microsoft account anonymously, not using my actual name and date of birth etc.

In hindsight, stupid, I know. But that’s why I can’t recover my account, I have no idea what details I put in.
Click to expand...
Ok, apologies, that does explain it better. It must have been tied to an email though? That should be all you need, so long as you can get those emails? Although if it’s gotten as far as requesting security details then it likely will be stuck in the heightened security layer

If it is totally lost, then just create a new one. If you do, once it’s set up, go into the security settings and enable MFA, best to use Microsoft Authenticator or Apple Password manager if you have an iPhone.

That way even if someone gets your password, they still can’t login.

Then you can buy a windows 11 key and install it using that new Microsoft account. Once you’re in windows, if you don’t want windows tied to your online account you can then reduce it to a local account only bit to actually install windows it needs to be with a Microsoft account
 
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N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
Ok, apologies, that does explain it better. It must have been tied to an email though? That should be all you need, so long as you can get those emails? Although if it’s gotten as far as requesting security details then it likely will be stuck in the heightened security layer

If it is totally lost, then just create a new one. If you do, once it’s set up, go into the security settings and enable MFA, best to use Microsoft Authenticator or Apple Password manager if you have an iPhone.

That way even if someone gets your password, they still can’t login.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much!!!

I’ve been so stressed out about this!

Yes, it’s stuck in the heightened security layer. I’ve tried but I can’t recover it.

You say to just create a new one… do you mean a new Microsoft account? Would I be able to do this, even though my old account is attached to my computer?

Thanks again for your help!
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
You say to just create a new one… do you mean a new Microsoft account? Would I be able to do this, even though my old account is attached to my computer?
Click to expand...
Yes, you should be able to.

To ensure preventing any cross communication, if you install Brave browser (very reputable security based browser): https://brave.com/download/

Then open a private browser window, and go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/
Click on the person icon in the top right hand corner, and then select "create an account" in the bottom.

Brave is one of the few browsers that properly ties down that active window, so will effectively hide your windows session from microsoft.
 
N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
Yes, you should be able to.

To ensure preventing any cross communication, if you install Brave browser (very reputable security based browser): https://brave.com/download/

Then open a private browser window, and go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/
Click on the person icon in the top right hand corner, and then select "create an account" in the bottom.

Brave is one of the few browsers that properly ties down that active window, so will effectively hide your windows session from microsoft.
Click to expand...

Thanks so so much for your help!! I really do appreciate this!!
 
N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
Ok, apologies, that does explain it better. It must have been tied to an email though? That should be all you need, so long as you can get those emails? Although if it’s gotten as far as requesting security details then it likely will be stuck in the heightened security layer

If it is totally lost, then just create a new one. If you do, once it’s set up, go into the security settings and enable MFA, best to use Microsoft Authenticator or Apple Password manager if you have an iPhone.

That way even if someone gets your password, they still can’t login.

Then you can buy a windows 11 key and install it using that new Microsoft account. Once you’re in windows, if you don’t want windows tied to your online account you can then reduce it to a local account only bit to actually install windows it needs to be with a Microsoft account
Click to expand...

Sorry to bother you again,

I just have a question about installing Windows 11…

My PC health check says that currently my computer isn’t compatible with Windows 11, that I need to change the secure boot settings (so that it’s not set to Legacy, it has to be set to UEFI). That’s where I’ve encountered the problem, when I’m asked for my old Microsoft account password, that I don’t have.

Will I be able to install Windows 11 without changing that setting first?
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
northumbria82 said:
Sorry to bother you again,

I just have a question about installing Windows 11…

My PC health check says that currently my computer isn’t compatible with Windows 11, that I need to change the secure boot settings (so that it’s not set to Legacy, it has to be set to UEFI). That’s where I’ve encountered the problem, when I’m asked for my old Microsoft account password, that I don’t have.

Will I be able to install Windows 11 without changing that setting first?
Click to expand...
Yes, it just needs to be secure boot capable, but secure boot doesn’t need to be enabled to install windows 11.

It sounds like it is currently enabled on legacy, in which case you need to change it to UEFI. Or you can disable it.

To change it the setting will be in the security part in the BIOS
 
N

northumbria82

Member
SpyderTracks said:
Yes, it just needs to be secure boot capable, but secure boot doesn’t need to be enabled to install windows 11.

It sounds like it is currently enabled on legacy, in which case you need to change it to UEFI. Or you can disable it.

To change it the setting will be in the security part in the BIOS
Click to expand...
Thanks so so much!! I really appreciate your help, I’ve been so worried about this!
 
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