I recently updated my BIOS and everything appeared to go smoothly. However, when I attempted to log into Windows, I encountered a message stating, 'Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again.' After clicking through that, it asked me to log into my Microsoft account and I received an error saying, 'You've tried to sign in too many times with an incorrect account or password' right on my first attempt, even though I'm on a private network.
I tried to reset my password, but since I have two-step verification activated, I needed a verification code sent via text. Unfortunately, that verification method isn't working right now and I've been stuck on this for over two hours. I'm at my wit's end and I'm really frustrated. Is there anything I can try before I resort to drastic measures?
6 Answers
No guarantees, but if you have Windows installation media handy, you might want to try reinstalling Windows. It saves the old Windows files in a folder named 'windows.old,' so you could still recover your important documents if needed.
A common issue! Pro tip: Avoid using SMS-based two-factor authentication. If you can, switch to an app or a hardware key for future logins—way less hassle.
It sounds like you might have messed up the TPM settings after updating your BIOS. It’s worth checking that out, as getting that right can sometimes resolve issues with logging in after a BIOS change.
Thanks for the tip! I'll look into the TPM settings and see if that helps.
I completely understand your frustration—I updated my Gigabyte X870E motherboard and had a similar issue where I needed to change my PIN through Microsoft mail. Luckily, having the Microsoft Authenticator app on my phone helped me sort out my access. Definitely consider checking your options there if you can.
That's interesting! I had to change my password several times due to similar issues before Microsoft finally let me in. It's such a hassle sometimes.
The PIN method does work, but the error messages you’re seeing are usually on Microsoft’s end. They tend to push security measures without ensuring everything works seamlessly, which causes confusion.
If there’s no password login icon on your screen, you could try accessing Safe Mode. Restart your PC and force a shutdown while it's booting up a couple of times. On the next power-up, it should give you an option to boot in Safe Mode, where you can log in with your password and reset your PIN.
I hear you! It makes sense to use a more secure method to avoid these kinds of problems.