[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Laptop problem

[Drew King]

Michael,

It's late, and I rushed to get this written, so it may not be super clear.

If you have no working pin or password, I can't help you break in, sorry.

I've attached some pictures with comments.

Please read them carefully, as they may be your final resolution if you 
can't log back in to the system.

If you know the password, one of the pictures describes how/where to 
enter the password.

If you do end up re-installing Windows, I suggest either creating a new 
Microsoft account, or use one you own. Log in with that account and all 
of you documents, pictures, etc will automatically get backup up to the 
cloud.

You should be able to do a non-destructive re-install of Windows, 
preserving your data only not applications.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the computer has NO recovery partition, you can create your own USB 
install disk. (Using another computer of course.)
You will NEED the computers SERVICE TAG. Instructions for locating it 
are in one of the pictures. The recovery partition and the USB drive 
will contain whatever version of Windows is linked to the service tag. 
No exceptions.
*
*
*How to create and use the Dell Recovery and Restore USB drive*
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000125230/how-to-create-and-use-the-dell-recovery-restore-usb-drive

Summary: These instructions show you how to create the Dell Recovery and 
Restore USB drive and then how to use the drive to restore the operating 
system on a nonworking computer or tablet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Start HERE:

After choosing "I forgot my PIN" you should see a screen like this one.

I*STRONGLY* suggest you, and *EVERYONE *else configure your Microsoft 
account to use the *"Microsoft Authenticator"* application that gets 
installed on your cell phone. If you had been using that app, with a 
Microsoft account, you would *NOT* be locked out right now! You can turn 
that option "On" in your Microsoft account.



On 6/5/2022 10:03 PM, Michael Harris wrote:
> When the startup I was in imploded in 2020, I was given a Dell laptop. 
> The data plate is shown below. It has Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft 365, 
> an Adobe development suite, and other stuff.
>
> In the confusion, the machine was never formally registered to me at 
> Dell. The startup's domain and email accounts are dead, but the login 
> PIN, hardware and software have been working fine,so I gradually 
> forgot about that -- until today.
>
> When I tried to login today, the machine gave me a BitLocker error. I 
> resolved that, but the machine no longer recognizes the login PIN, and 
> the backup email address (and domain) are long gone.
>
> How can I best recover from this?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> -- Michael Harris
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Drew King

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