RESET EVERYTHING?

[GregSr1]

I have an HP laptop with windows 10 (model BCM943142Y) that I bought at Best Buy in 2016 which was working just fine, up to a week ago. I assigned it a "PIN" years ago and have been using it for almost a decade. A week ago that "PIN" stopped working; Without my assigned "PIN" I cannot access anything. Even had to borrow a laptop just to write this. 

I hope someone can help.

Greg

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@GregSr1, Hello and welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

I'm sorry to hear you're locked out of your HP laptop, I know how frustrating that can be, especially when everything was working fine just a week ago. Let's walk through a few steps to help you regain access.

Option 1: Try Using Your Microsoft Account Password

If your PIN isn't working, you can still sign in using your Microsoft account password:

1. On the login screen, click Sign-in options.
2. Select the key icon to switch to password login.
3. Enter your Microsoft account password.

If you don’t remember your password, you can reset it here:
Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password - Microsoft Support
 

Option 2: Reset the PIN

If you're able to log in using your password, you can reset your PIN:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Under PIN (Windows Hello), click Remove.
3. Restart your PC and then go back to the same menu to Set up a new PIN.

Option 3: Use Recovery Options

If you cannot log in at all, you may need to use recovery tools:

1. On the login screen, click "I forgot my PIN" (if available).
2. If that doesn’t work, try booting into Recovery Mode:
   • Turn off the laptop.
   • Turn it on and immediately press F11 repeatedly until the recovery screen appears.
   • Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Important Notes:

• If your laptop is linked to a local account (not Microsoft), and you’ve forgotten the password, recovery is more difficult. You may need to reset the PC.
• If you have important data and want to avoid losing it, consider removing the hard drive and connecting it to another PC using a USB enclosure to back up your files before resetting.

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support