Cannot log in: local account replaced with MS account and MS account inaccesable

Anonymous
2014-01-26T08:59:28+00:00

I have been using my laptop with my local account - i.e. NOT an MS account - up until now.

Today I wanted to use Skype on the laptop for the first time. Skype requires the use of an MS account. Hence I created a dummy MS account (@outlook.com) with which I logged in and used Skype.

LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE MY LOCAL ACCOUNT TO LOGIN ANYMORE!!!

I have the original user-id and password for my local account well documented (and protected).

BUT now I cannot log in with the MS account I created because some problem with the password (it has been blocked due to too many erroneous tries I reckon). Since it was meant to be a dummy account which I did not intend to use in the future I did not bother completing the form and take note of such things as security question, alternative e-mail, telephone etc.

NOW WHAT???

I WANT MY LOCAL ACCOUNT BACK!!!

What can I do??? I am desperate for help on this issue.

PS: I created another MS-dummy account with which I am posting this question.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T22:36:12+00:00

    I appreciate your persistence, Shawn, and hope my repeated bad news does not dampen your resolve.

    I want to Computer Management, but it does not include a Users and Groups section. (I am logged in as an admin, but -- since anytime I try to do anything admin-level, it asks me to verify the account -- perhaps I lost admin status?)

    I did try making a new local account, but was asked to verify the account and could not.

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-02-07T21:35:25+00:00

    Well I have been looking around in TechNet and there are group policy settings you could set to either prevent linking of Microsoft accounts in the first place, or using them to login.  It notes that if you use the second policy, users won't be able to sign in with those accounts -- but doesn't note if the existing local account can be used.

    You can try it (can't hurt, you can always turn the option back off).  First though, here's what I'd try:

    1. From any administrator account (more info here if you need to access your admin account) right-click Start button and go to Computer Management.
    2. Then in the Users and Groups section, go to Users and find the User1.
    3. Right-click and reset the User1 password, then try logging into that account.

    If that fails, might be easier to just make a new local account, drag the files from User1 to User2, and delete User1 entirely.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T21:14:26+00:00
    1. Go to http://account.live.com and login with the old (deleted) account.  It should prompt you to re-activate the old account (deleted accounts remain on the server for re-activation).

    When I attempt to login with the old (deleted) account I get the following message.: "That Microsoft account doesn't exist. Enter a different email address or get a new account." There is no prompt to reactivate.

    MS has twice responded that an email account that was closed will move into the "system's clearing period" and that "We will be unable to speed up the recycle period". Depending on which rep is responding, that period is either 30 or 365 days.

    When I started working on this problem, the 30 day freeze was two weeks and not four days away. But, even if can create a new account with the old email address, I'm not confident my problem will be fixed, especially given the following from MS: "Kindly be reminded as well that recreating the email address will be considered as a fresh independent email account."

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  4. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-02-07T20:58:00+00:00

    I thought you were able to login to the User1 account, just not unlink it.  So you can't login to it at all?

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T20:40:05+00:00

    So I managed to add another Admin account (User2) through the Linux system and have logged in under Windows with User2. How do I now change User1 back to being a local account again???

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