Grumpy Old Luddite needs help with Windows 8.1 DISASTER

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

(Have posted this on Geekschat but think there's alot of very clever peeps on here who might be able to help)

Needed a new laptop. Bought one which came with Windows 8. Created local account, got rid of a load of the crappy tiles, downloaded some useful programs and within 2 or 3 days I had a set-up that I could work with fine.

However, on start up I would get 'Configuring updates, x% complete, do not switch off computer'. This process would move at a glacial pace (minimum 10mins) until it reached 97%, whereupon the message changed to 'Configuring updates unsuccessful; reverting; do not switch off computer'. Ten minutes later I could actually start using my laptop (grrrrrrrrr). The second time that that happened I thought, I wonder if 8.1 will fix that? and promptly downloaded it.

Once installed, I had to create a Microsoft account. WTF? Why do I need a &^%^&% Microsoft account? Why do they need to know if I want to send an e-mail or have a game of solitaire? Consequently I was extremely cavalier when creating a profile that I was never going to use again.
I used the laptop for the rest of the day with no problems, then shut it down.

So, today I open up my lappy, delighted to see that no updates need configuring but WHAT?!?!? 'Password: N.B. The one for your Outlook account' But where's the Local account sign-in? It's not bloody well there, is it? Can I remember that password for an account I'm never going to use again? Don't be silly!

Yes, I've been on that account.live.com site, but you have as much chance of providing the security information as I have :-(

I can't get into my new laptop and I don't know what I can do. PLEASE, do you have any (NB useful) suggestions?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

A tip for you when setting up windows 8.1 machines, turn off the wireless before you set it up (or turn off the router if you cant turn off the wireless) so it has no internet access and it wont ask you to set it up with a microsoft account it will default to a local account.

To reset the password for the microsoft account you will need to get onto someone elses pc and just goto the microsoft account sign in page on the internet and use the Forgot Password link to reset the password.

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

A tip for you when setting up windows 8.1 machines, turn off the wireless before you set it up (or turn off the router if you cant turn off the wireless) so it has no internet access and it wont ask you to set it up with a microsoft account it will default to a local account.

To reset the password for the microsoft account you will need to get onto someone elses pc and just goto the microsoft account sign in page on the internet and use the Forgot Password link to reset the password.

Thanks, Phil, but it's more complicated than that. When I 'filled in' the profile I put any old rubbish in at random (e.g. I think my first name was nn and my surname was bb, and I just selected a date of birth at random. Now I can't remember anything I put in and the Forgot Password page says I've not provided enough information to confirm my identity. Doh! :-(

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Thanks, Phil, but it's more complicated than that. When I 'filled in' the profile I put any old rubbish in at random (e.g. I think my first name was nn and my surname was bb, and I just selected a date of birth at random. Now I can't remember anything I put in and the Forgot Password page says I've not provided enough information to confirm my identity. Doh! :-(

Just do a system restore and this time dont connect it to your wifi so it uses a local account and dont fill in the password bit either then the pc will just log straight in.

Also if you want the windows start button / menu back try this -> I install this on all the windows 8 pc's I sell -> http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

Just do a system restore and this time dont connect it to your wifi so it uses a local account and dont fill in the password bit either then the pc will just log straight in.

Also if you want the windows start button / menu back try this -> I install this on all the windows 8 pc's I sell -> http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

Now that sounds promising, but I don't know how I do a system restore without logging on. Is it something to do with the BIOS set-up?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Now that sounds promising, but I don't know how I do a system restore without logging on. Is it something to do with the BIOS set-up?

I am assuming that there isnt any data on the pc you want.

As soon as you turn on the pc start slowly tapping the F8 key and you should be presented with a menu, the top option should be Repair Windows ( or something similar ) if you go into this there should be an option to reinstall the software back to factory settings then you can go though the set up you did before again.

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

The data's not a problem because it was all transferred from my old laptop (this one, which is even slower than a sluggish sloth) via an external disk drive, and it's all still on the EDD.

However, I've tried your F8 ruse three or four times now without success - both after shutting down and restarting - pressing slowly and repeatedly throughout the start up process. Laptop still wants my password :-(

 

[phil_hg_uk]

The data's not a problem because it was all transferred from my old laptop (this one, which is even slower than a sluggish sloth) via an external disk drive, and it's all still on the EDD.

However, I've tried your F8 ruse three or four times now without success - both after shutting down and restarting - pressing slowly and repeatedly throughout the start up process. Laptop still wants my password :-(

What computer is it ?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Ah sorry my bad I was thinking windows 7 duh

Have you tried turning off the wifi on the laptop or turning off the router so that it cant get to the internet to log into the microsoft account and see if that forces it to log into a local account.

By the way a tip for you is the first thing you should do with a windows 8 pc is run the program that creates the restore DVD's BEFORE you do anything else so you can reinstall windows should anything go wrong.

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

What computer is it ?

ASUS X55A-SX203H | Intel Dual Core Processor | 4GB RAM | 500GB HDD | Windows 8
Sorry, cross-posted. Yes, I have tried switching off wi-fi. When I get to the log in screen it says 'Your PC is off-line. Please log in with the last password used on this PC'
The only password I've used with 8.1 is the Outlook one. The machine doesn't recognise the local account password I used with 8.0

 

[phil_hg_uk]

ASUS X55A-SX203H | Intel Dual Core Processor | 4GB RAM | 500GB HDD | Windows 8
Sorry, cross-posted. Yes, I have tried switching off wi-fi. When I get to the log in screen it says 'Your PC is off-line. Please log in with the last password used on this PC'
The only password I've used with 8.1 is the Outlook one. The machine doesn't recognise the local account password I used with 8.0

Ok as soon as you switch it on press F9 and see if it has a restore partition in it.

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

BINGO! Three options:

1. Continue - Exit and continue to Windows 8
2. Troubleshoot - Refresh or reset your PC or use advanced tools
3. Turn off your PC

Do I need to know anything before I press 2?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

BINGO! Three options:

1. Continue - Exit and continue to Windows 8
2. Troubleshoot - Refresh or reset your PC or use advanced tools
3. Turn off your PC

Do I need to know anything before I press 2?

Option 2 - you want to either:
1. Reset the pc back to factory settings then you can set up a Local Account this time
2. use Advanced Tools and see if you can change the account type to a Local Account

Remember if you choose to so a system reset dont let it see the internet when you are setting it up and it will go to a Local Account by default.

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

Option 2 - you want to either:
1. Reset the pc back to factory settings then you can set up a Local Account this time
2. use Advanced Tools and see if you can change the account type to a Local Account

Remember if you choose to so a system reset dont let it see the internet when you are setting it up and it will go to a Local Account by default.

Phil, I can't thank you enough. There is a Reset Your PC option, which I have selected. I can go to bed soon and sleep happy, knowing that tomorrow, all will be well (well, it might be!). Loads of kudos and gratitude heading your way

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Phil, I can't thank you enough. There is a Reset Your PC option, which I have selected. I can go to bed soon and sleep happy, knowing that tomorrow, all will be well (well, it might be!). Loads of kudos and gratitude heading your way

Good glad it got sorted

Phil 1 - Microsoft 0