This device has been locked for security reason.

[MartinC2400]

I tried to start my Windows 10 Pro laptop, the keyboard was lit but the screen was blank. I tried pressing a few buttons but wasn't getting anywhere so I decided to switch it off and then on.

When it started up again it came up again and came up with the login screen I entered my PIN and it came up with the message.

"This device has been locked for security reason." 

It suggested that I leave it for a minimum of two hours and kept the machine plugged in.

I am at a loss for words if this is considered a valid security measure by Microsoft, denying me access for two hours especially when I needed to do some urgent work is totally unacceptable. As it was I was able to switch from the PIN to password login and that allowed me access.

I thought that it might mean that my PIN number has become corrupted so once I was logged in I tried to reset my PIN but when I enter the old and new PIN (leaving them all the same) I get a message that I have entered an incorrect PIN too many times and then a message.

"the dictionary attack migration is triggered and the provided authorization was ignored by the provider"

Does anyone know what on earth this all means? Does entering an incorrect PIN disable the PIN login for two hours? If it does that is fine providing I can use an alternative login but the security message is alarming considering the urgency I needed to access the laptop.

As for the "dictionary attack" message what does that mean, is it even English?

[REO51ST]

@MartinC2400

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/dictionary-attack

REO

[TheOldMan]

That error code shows up in searches related to BitLocker Drive Encryption.  Do you or someone that uses this computer have that turned on?

[MartinC2400]

I can confirm that the BitLocker Drive Encrytion is turned off, I am the only user.

I tried deleting the PIN and resetting it, which seems to have worked.  I am going to assume that this is omething that occurs if the PIN is incorrectly entered multiple times.

[TheOldMan]

That may be correct, however, I would also assume that the safeguards in place for that security would not misidentify multiple attempts as a dictionary attack.  If the conditions posted stay in effect with the new PIN, then perhaps that was it.

[MartinC2400]

I can confirm that once I had logged in using the alternative Microsoft Account password, I was then able to delete and then reset the PIN and when I restarted the laptop the PIN worked, although a few hours had passed between attempts so there is the possibility that the PIN security was reset but I don't think that was the case.

Although having resolved things the problem turned out to be nothing serious in the end but when I first saw it it was quite alarming and incredibly inconvenient but more than anything I was also a little concerned that something may have highjacked my laptop and was delaying my login while it ran riot.

When error messages are cryptic they are less helpful, there is nothing wrong with displaying a message that technical and non-technical people can understand.

[TheOldMan]

M$ error messages seem to be cryptic most always.  They might be simple and factual to the programmer but mean very limited explanations to the average user.

[Overlayj]

After doing an HP update I had a "computer locked for security reasons . . . . Connect to a power source and try again in two hours," warning. After waiting and restarting and waiting an restarting I still got the same warning.

I finally got the computer to start properly by selecting "sign in options" and signing in with my Microsoft Account password instead of using the PIN number.

[TheOldMan]

That info is good to know.  It might help another with the same problem.  Thanks

[yadav137]

Yadav