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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

60 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-02-08T17:43:18+00:00

    That doesn't work for this user because he cannot login to the account in the first place.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-08T17:29:38+00:00

    Follow instructions on this site to revert to using your local user account: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-change-microsoft-live-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-02-08T17:21:11+00:00

    Well the User1 account was never really replaced or removed, only the display name gets changed (every user account in Windows 2000 onward has a username and a display name such as skeene versus Shawn Keene).

    I've looked high and low and although I found the group policy setting I mentioned above, I can't find any way that an admin can unlink another account's connected service (which could be something other than a Microsoft account).

    I really do think that the least amount of time and frustration would be to just go into C:\Users\User1 and drag the files you want out into User2 and just kill the old account.  But I have also asked some other experts if they know of a way to unlink an account without logging into it and I'll share what they tell me.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-08T15:12:57+00:00

    I still cannot login to the 'User1' account (which is the account that has been "replaced" by the outlook.com account which is the original problem and the reason why I have started this thread).

    Now I have managed to create account 'User2'.

    In the "login screen" I can choose between account 'User2' and the outlook-account. Account 'User1' still is not shown (and hence I cannot login to it). In the Linux terminal session I do however see that account 'User1' still exists (which you also indicated that it should).

    Now I am able to login to the newly created 'User2' account. Since 'User2' is an admin account I am hoping that it will be possible to use it to revert the outlook-account back to account 'User1'.

    Is this possible? If yes pls let me know how and this nightmare will finally be over.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2014-02-08T00:33:42+00:00

    Hello Shawn

    I have a very similar problem. Is it the same or is there another solution?

    I upgraded to Win8.1 some months ago, and the installation virtually forced me to establish a Microsoft ...@outlook.com account.

    After sitting idle since then I now find I cannot log in to the machine - at the blue login screen it will not accept what I am pretty sure is my password. (I was able to login to the outlook account on another PC using the password.) Gives message "Your PC is offline. Please sign in with the last password used on this PC".

    I have tried some proprietary software, and "removed" the password, but this makes no difference to the login behaviour.

    I have followed your initial instructions to use safemode, etc, but have the same result as amifu_ckedreally - no arrow and no sign of any other accounts, administrator or not.

    So am following this discussion, but really find it disturbing the way Windows is going (at least for older users like me). XP was good - how about Windows Lite that just switches on, runs programs, and connects to the www.

    David

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments