Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again.

Anonymous
2020-07-12T23:16:34+00:00

* * Locked * *

I have a new PC with W10. I decided to use the PIN code, but now I get the message "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again."

When I click 'Set up my PIN' nothing, the same message reappears.

I looked up the issue on the internet and found that I should login using another sign-in option. However, there is no way to get to another option. The text above is all I see on the screen.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2020-07-12T23:37:28+00:00

Hello there! I'm sorry that didn't work. You can try this steps instead:

Turn off your PC

Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button on the casing of your PC for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt . . . etc.

Please try each option one at a time, then see of Windows will boot . . .

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Repair

See if Windows startup can repair itself

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - System Restore

Check to see if you have a restore point you can go back to

If you do not have a Restore Point, go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Settings and click Restart

Upon restart, press 4 to enter Safe Mode

Once in Safe Mode, backup your data if you do not already have a backup

Open Device Manager and check to make sure all your Drivers are up to date

Reboot to see if Windows will start Normally

If the above fails, go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Options - Reset this PC

Choose to keep your files and apps, just your files or to keep nothing

Then start the Reset

Hope this will do the trick

Regards,

Louie

Was this answer helpful?

1400+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

492 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-12-02T19:32:23+00:00

    This does not work if I can not sign in. My pin is not functioning and it will not let me sign in with my password.

    My main problem here is that I forgot my admin password.

    Apparently now I have to use a installation media from a USB and act like I am going to reinstall the OS. Sigh I really wish windows would warn us if the start up changes made would affect signing in.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-08-09T17:30:27+00:00

    That does bring out another important point - move all your data directories to D: if you have a second drive. Documents, pictures, etc. can all be redirected and should be. That way if you have to do such a reinstall, you won't lose files.

    2nd note to everyone fairly new at this; when you get a new PC, as soon as you can set up extra accounts, some as Admin. Always have an alternate admin account you can log into. That gives you choices if you run into this problem. This becomes especially important if you only have one, fairly small drive in your PC (smaller new PC's may have a single, say 500gb SSD and no hard drive and no practical way to expand internally). I'll soon have one like this (odd situation) so I need to make the best of it. And I have to find a way to image it and back it up regularly and have a recovery flash drive.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-07-27T23:59:34+00:00

    There are likely several possible causes for the problem, and messed up configs high on the list. In my case, I'd done a BIOS upgrade - and nothing else, and it happened. Wouldn't let me log in to my day to day account with PIN or password. My guess is a huge bug in the login process, but who knows. Unlike so many other people here, any PC I have has multiple logins with some of them being admin, so I wasn't locked out of the PC, but I couldn't find any way to repair whatever the damage was and had to recreate my login.

    MS does need to fix these bugs PLUS where appropriate provide troubleshooting hints and scripts. Imagine you get the error, but are offered a troubleshooter by Windows that goes and fixes all It would reset MSCONFIG to normal, and fix other errors we can't see. MS has known about the problems for years; about time they do something to help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-21T12:55:54+00:00

    Hi,

    Please tell us which of the mentioned options helped you to resolve the issue.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments