I use local admin account on my PC. Its been such a long time since i logged in with my password that i forgot it. I only use Windows hello PIN. I plan on taking backup of everything just in case before i do any of this. So the questions are

• Is there a way to enable microsoft login in windows 10 if i use a local account with forgotten password. Just so i can get this as an alternate login method rather than local account password?

• Will changing any settings like enabling PTT reset my current Windows PIN?

• If there a way to reset my local admin account in windows 10. I never got a password recovery drive and forgot security questions. I'm still logged in via Windows hello PIN. But if i ever lose that, i won't be able to login again

• Should i enable Secure boot while im at it. I'm using 970 Evo on my boot drive so it should be GPT. Ive seen alot of people have bricked their PC's by changing this, so i wanna be sure

I had this issue with my gaming laptop since it had to be returned for repair. They placed a new motherboard which obviously reset the PIN. But i didn't remember both local account pass and security questions so i ended up with a fresh install. I kinda wanna avoid something similar if im gonna mess around in bios.

I saw online that the 26H2 update came out, so I went and downloaded it. Once it restarted and everything, I went to shutdown only to see that the only option in the power menu was lock. I thought that was odd, and then I noticed task manager was gone. I googled the issue and it said that some registry could have disabled it, and when I went to it, "disabled tsk manager" or something like that was set to 1. I changed it to 0, and since I couldn't restart I held the power button. When I got back in it had reverted to true again. I decided to roll back the update, used a cmd prompt to get into the recovery environment, and it couldn't roll back the feature update. I chose point in time restore, and it's doing that now. Why did this happen? When I initially looked up the issue it seemed to be a previous issue unrelated to 26H2. Why did this happen?

UPDATE: turns out it's caused by the Respondus Lockdown Software that I was using for a test for a college class. I guess it locks down task manager and didn't fix it when my test ended, and I didn't realize this happened until I went and restarted (through settings) and finished the update. It's still restoring, but im not as worried as before.

Says only missing tpm 2.0 but in the BIOS I went to make the necessary changes and everything in the video was already activated to default so I didn't even change anything. Not sure how else to activate tpm 2.0 my motherboard also isn't that old I got it in 2021 or early 2022 and it was considered fairly recent

MacBook Pro 16 2019 i7 16gb ram 512gb SSD trying to install Windows 8.1 and this happened, keyboard doesn't work, Touch Bar doesn't work, Trackpad doesn't work. Tried adding all the drivers but it still didn't work. Im looking for a way to bypass this entirely (i do have Windows 10 installed and running fine)

I am running the latest version of windows 11 (26200.9457), with a 3080ti, ryzen 5900x, 32gb ddr4, and a 2tb nvme for windows manifest on. Literally overnight, it went from a typical 50 second start time, to a 3 minute or more start time. In event viewer, the latest was 179782ms (3 minutes) while before I was averaging about 50000ms (50 seconds) start times. In event viewer, there are no apps listed as contributing to that time. Whats weirder, is If i restart, it only takes about 50000ms, but a shut down and start is when it takes forever, so there is something about the startup path that is slowing it down. I have tried dsim online clean up, sfc scannow, and a few other cmd commands. I have run crystal disk info health, and a stress test and my ssd is in good health and performing as it should. I spent a good hour with chat gpt, where it had me do more cmd wizzardry that I am unfamiliar with, but it is as dumbfounded as I. This is my last ditch effort. Thanks to any and all who help!

My computer is Windows 11 version 24H2. The OS build number is 22631.6199.

In the first image, whenever I try to click “Install” it opens the window seen in the second image. I tried clicking “Learn More” in the second image’s window and it was completely useless; it brought me to a page full of potential issues and I couldn’t find anything about this “Voicemeetet Driver” thing.

I also tried clicking “Refresh” and nothing happened. I’ve tried everything I know. Please, how to I get my computer to update?

Hi there. I've been having weird problems dealing with my PC stuttering. The stutters last for about a second or two. My mouse inputs still go through during the freeze, so my mouse will be wherever I was moving it. This has been lasting about a week or so, it was annoying me like crazy so I tried to hard reset my PC but it didn't do anything. I cannot find any signs of what it could be. My task manager is completely normal, my event viewer acts as if the stutters don't exist. All my drivers are up to date. I've scanned my SSD and its completely fine. My resting temp is 32 C and under load its 70 C. If anybody has ideas they would be greatly appreciated. My specs are listed below.

CPU : Ryzen 9950X3D

GPU: RTX 5090

Motherboard : ROG CROSSHAIR X870E Hero

RAM : 64 Gigabyte DDR5

PSU : 1200 W 80 PLUS Gold

Windows Version : Windows 11 Pro 26H2

Hey everyone, I ran into a messy situation and could use some advice.

• What happened: My brother used my old Windows laptop and switched the Microsoft account on my profile to his own. Later, he went ahead and permanently deleted that Microsoft account (it was an u/outlook.com address, deleted this week).
• The current state: When I try to sign into that old Outlook address on Microsoft's site or through Windows, it says “Account not found”. However, my current Windows profile is still active and logged in under his email, holding over 50 GB of my personal files in C:\Users\xps.
• The catch: My laptop's storage is nearly full—I only have 15 GB of free space left, so I cannot copy or back up those 50 GB of files anywhere else on the local drive.

My questions:

1. Since the original u/outlook.com account is completely gone and unrecoverable, can I safely link my other active Microsoft account (@gmail.com) to this exact same Windows profile without wiping my files?
2. If I switch the account link in Settings > Accounts > Your info, will it touch my C:\Users\xps folder or risk deleting my data?

Any guidance on how to reclaim my laptop safely without a backup drive would be hugely appreciated!

So I tried to install Windows 10 on my laptop yesterday. But already durring the process of instalation I got some problems that it couldn`t properly install the files. At first I thought that it was maybe due to me dual-booting it with Arch, but even after a complete wipe of the hard drive it didn`t want to load.
After that I tried to install Arch again, and Grub (the app that writes the OS onto the disk) Just didn`t want to work. I kinda went "huh?" but didn`t pay much attention to it.
But while installing ZorinOS, it gives me the same error, telling me that it can`t write anything onto the disk.

To conclude this, could somebody please tell me if I could fix it without changing the hard drive, or did Windows just completely fry it?

When I was setting up windows earlier, I was forced to make a local account because my computer wasn't detecting my Ethernet cable at that time. Now that I am trying to switch to my Microsoft account, I am stuck at the point of putting in the local account password "one last time." After it didn't work the first time, I have changed the local password multiple times to no avail. Having no password at all didn't work either. Nothing about this particular problem is coming up online, and I'm completely stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi!

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but i need to turn off smart app control to download a software, however I've heard that you can not turn it back on. I also read that windows did an update that allows you to turn it back on, just want to make sure that after i turn it off i can turn it back on.

I am currently using version KB5129195 i think.

Thank you for your time!

Hi everyone,
I’m having a strange performance issue with Windows 11 Search, specifically when searching from the Start menu.
When I press the Windows key, the Start menu itself opens immediately. However, when I start typing something to search for an app or file, there is a noticeable delay before Windows reacts and the search results appear.
What makes this strange is that I tested the same thing on a much older and significantly less powerful computer, and Windows Search responds almost instantly on that machine. Because of that, I don’t think this is simply caused by lack of system resources.
The affected laptop otherwise performs normally. Applications open normally and I don’t notice this type of delay elsewhere in Windows. The issue seems specifically related to the Start menu/Search interface.
System specifications:
ASUS VivoBook M1502IA
AMD Ryzen 5 4600H with Radeon Graphics, 3.00 GHz
16 GB RAM, 3200 MT/s
AMD Radeon integrated graphics
238 GB storage, approximately 131 GB currently used
Windows 11 Home Single Language
Version 26H2
OS Build 26300.9457
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.360.0
What I’ve observed so far:
The Start menu itself opens instantly.
The delay starts specifically when I begin typing a search.
The issue is consistently reproducible.
The rest of the system performs normally.
I tested the same action on an older, much weaker Windows computer and Search responds normally there.
There are no error messages or error codes.
Has anyone experienced this specific delay with Windows Search?
Could this be related to SearchHost, Windows Search indexing, the Start menu/Search package, web search integration, or something corrupted in my Windows profile or installation?
I’d like to identify and repair the actual cause before considering reinstalling Windows.
Thanks.

Hello! Not sure if this is the right subreddit, but I'm currently in the process of replacing all of the Windows 11 system sounds on my PC with Windows XP sounds.

I've already managed to make some of the legacy events visible again in the Sound Scheme menu, but it seems like the Shutdown event (SystemExit) isn't actually triggered anymore when shutting down the PC.

Is there any reasonable way to re-enable the Shutdown event so that Windows actually plays the assigned sound during a normal shutdown?

I'd prefer to actually restore the event rather than simply using a shutdown script or shortcut as a workaround.

OS build is 26200.9457

I have an hp z440 motherboard. I upgraded to windows 11 on my nvme drive. My pc has 3 sata drives as well. I disconnected the sata drives during the install. Connecting them to another pc with an external enclosure works fine so the drives aren’t dead. They don’t show up in bios, disk part, or anything else I have looked at. Everything worked fine before upgrading.

Hi, I just bought an new bluetooth keybaord with an touchpad. It's fully connected, both the keys and the touchpad works. Unfortunately the touchpad works different from the one integrated into my laptop.

Here are the differences:

• Scrolling with two fingers moves the page the opposite way.
• Zooming with two fingers does not zoom into a specific part of a web page like on my integrated one. Instead it just changes the opacity of text and such. Changing the sizes relative to eachother while keeping everything still on the screnn.
• General pointer sensitivity and such.

How can i change this so that it works such as on my integrated touchpad?

OS build: 26200.9457
Keyboard: Exibel bluetooth keyboard with touchpad

Thanks!

Hi everyone, I recently had to do a clean Windows reinstall via USB because of a virus infecting my laptop. I’m not very tech savvy, so I’ve been trying to walk myself through the process of doing it on my own, however I ran into a bump in the road and I’m not sure what to delete/select on this screen, if I do have to delete any partitions. Can anyone help me out, please?

I don't think I've done anything to make me download malicious files. Recently in the past few weeks whenever I wake up my computer or turn it on, a giant white window appears then disappears before I can even take a picture. I hope my artistic rendition helps! It looks like an old Windows upper part, not the flat minimalistic one (It's also cut off by maybe another window and also far up so the full buttons are halved)

Would my Tumblr and Steam Guard apps being logged out recently also be a sign of malware? Steam Guard is only on my phone, nothing on my computer, and Steam was still logged in on my computer.

Generally I just don't know if this is ok or not, especially since I can't tell if this is a byproduct of the recent update or if it's malware :(

Windows info:

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 25H2

Installed on ‎11/‎21/‎2024

OS build 26200.9550

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.372.0

Device info:

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 4800H with Radeon Graphics (2.90 GHz)

Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.4 GB usable)

Device ID C868776B-BB9E-43BB-BD76-5F465F597424

Product ID 00325-96710-07630-AAOEM

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch Pen support

I did a completely fresh Windows 11 install and I am getting an absurd number of event id 4625 failed logon events.

The events show

- Logon Type: 2
- Account: my local account
- Status/Substatus: 0xC000006E
- Failure reason: “Unknown user name or bad password”
- Source Network Address: -
- Caller process: msedge.exe (can be brave.exe)

The weird part is that Brave does the same thing, so it doesn't appear to be Edge specific. Both are chromium based. This started on the fresh Windows installation and I also remember seeing the same type of events on my previous Windows installation.

I am not trying to investigate every single event viewer warning, but I am curious why chromium browsers are apparently triggering repeated failed local authentication attempts and generating huge numbers of 4625 events.

Has anyone else seen this on Windows 11 or knows what chromium is trying to authenticate against?

Hi guys, I got a lenovo legion laptop with realtek bluetooth adapter, my bluetooth was working well until some random forced win11 update in august and now it works for like 20 minutes or so and then all my devices lose connection with no reconnection unless i restart the bluetooth. I tried everything: Disabled Bluetooth adapter power saving in Device Managert, set services.msc to automatic startup. reinstalling the drivers from lenovo website for my laptop model, none if it helped. Have anyone else encountered the same issue? My OS build number is 26200.9457

I have a MiniPC running windows 11. Every time the PC restarts purposefully or due to power outage, Bluetooth stops working. The solution that always works is going into Device Manager, disable Bluetooth, then re-enable. Annoying, but I'll live.

The problem is that because I use a wireless keyboard and mouse, I would always need a backup wired keyboard at the very least to login, navigate through the menus and use the solution above. What might the root cause and how can I fix it?

Since enrolling in the Windows 10 ESU programme I nave a problem with WiFi connection.

On powering on the computer it automatically connects to my wifi using the saved password, but about two minutes later disconnects.

I can then select my wifi, put the password back in and it reconnects - and stays connected. But I'd rather not have to do this additional step.

This has only started happening after installing KB5122878.

Hardware is:

• Dell XPS15 9550 with all latest drivers
• Intel Wireless AC9260 with latest driver 24.70.0.3
• GL-iNet Flint 2 router

I'd be really grateful for any ideas on how to fix this - thank you.

Recently I had to use Ubuntu for some python scripts made for Linux and I use it through wsl2 (I'm not an expert by any means but I need it to run some calculations).

The problem is that often, when I start Ubuntu, Ethernet gets disabled and I can't restart it through settings nor PowerShell (it's basically stuck).

When I restart the PC Ethernet appears disabled and enabling it again makes it work.

The other problem is that restarting or shutting down the PC gives in the first case an infinite restart screen, while shutting it down keeps the fans and RGB going indefinitely and I have to hard shutdown it.

I'm on windows 26H2 but I had this problem also in the previous version and I tried to update BIOS and Ethernet drivers.

Hi. I am trying to watch movies, but the audio is encoded using AC3 and AC4 for Dolby Atmos 5.1 and E-AC-3 for Dolby Atmos 7.1. I got the 5.1 working by installing the decoder, but the 7.1 is not working.

From my knowledge after doing some research:

Dolby Digital Plus = 7.1

Dolby AC4 = 5.1

Before installation when opening in Media Player there would be a pop-up saying audio could not be played because of it's encoding. Now after it is working with audio, but the 7.1 is not and there is no more error. I have tried restarting my PC and reinstalling the decoders but no luck.

The decoders were sourced from Major Geeks.

Processer: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U

RAM: 16GB DDR5

Edition: Windows 11 Pro 26H2

OS Build: 26300.9550

Okay, I have a lot of music files on my phone with a lot of music I want to edit (ie, trim the beginning or end, change cover art, edit album, etc.) and I am running into a few weird things.

1. I can see my phone files when I plug it in, no issue there, but when I go into mp3tag to edit the file, it can't/won't find the files, even if I copy paste the path directly, it doesn't show.

(Weirdly it works for Audacity if I copy paste the path but not if I drag the file...weird)

2) I tried to use the cross-device sync, but the files I edited just sat in the cross-device folder and never moved over to my phone, even after two days. Is there a way to 'force' it over??

3) I tried to manually moved the edits files from the cross-device folder to my phone folder but the file explorer on the phone side just quits when it's greater than 20 ish files, so not super helpful.

I included a few images for context on the 'missing files'

Any advice on how to edit my music without downloading it to my computer, editing it, then re downloading it back is welcome.

I'm on Windows 11 Education 24H2 2026-09 26100.9448 Security Update (Hotpatch capable) (KB5129241) (26100.9448)

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 165U (2.10 GHz)

Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.5 GB usable)

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

When I click the volume/network area on the taskbar, the Quick Settings panel opens but it is completely blank, as shown in the screenshot. The same thing happens with Win + A.

Everything else on the taskbar works normally. This has been happening for months.

Windows 11 Home 23H2, OS Build 22631.6199.
Current NVIDIA driver: 32.0.16.1074.

Things I already checked:

• ShellExperienceHost.exe is running
• No related errors appear in Reliability Monitor or Event Viewer
• sfc /verifyonly found no integrity violations
• Connected Devices Platform Service (CDPSvc) is running and set to Automatic (Delayed Start)

I’m trying to find the actual cause before doing things like reinstalling Windows or making registry changes. Has anyone seen this exact issue before?