Solved Laptop will not let me type password

Polonut · Aug 12, 2024

Laptop running OK for months - then without prior warning it no longer accepts typing of password. It seems that numbers work BUT not letters
All help appreciated.
Dell Vostro Laptop
22H" (os build (19045.4717)

Bree · Aug 12, 2024

Polonut said:
it no longer accepts typing of password. It seems that numbers work BUT not letters

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Are you sure you haven't (by accident or intention) set a PIN? By default a PIN only uses numbers, so will only accept numbers when you type. The PIN sign in screen looks like the Password screen at first glance, but it says PIN in the box, and has 'sign-in options' beneath it. If you click 'sign-in options' you can choose to sign in with your password instead.

See this tutorial for more details.

Add PIN to Account in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to add the Windows Hello PIN sign-in option to your account in Windows 11. Windows Hello is a more personal, more secure way to get instant access to your Windows 11 devices using a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint. You'll need to set up a PIN as part of...

www.elevenforum.com

Bree · Aug 12, 2024

Polonut said:
(os build (19045.4717)

That's Windows 10, but the PIN works the same way in 10 as it does in 11.

Add PIN to your Account in Windows 10

How to Add a PIN to your Account in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Polonut · Aug 12, 2024

Hi Bree (As usual you are the first to the rescue!)
Laptop is in fact my neigbours. You make a very valid point about pin being numbers only. In this instance, there is apparently a number and letter password.
On startup we go to the relevant screen and the invite to enter password HOWEVER there are no sign in options, so cannot go anywhere. The owner is a known 'messer' - so no idea if he has made any alterations.
should have said 23H" (22631.3958)

Bree · Aug 12, 2024

Polonut said:
On startup we go to the relevant screen and the invite to enter password HOWEVER there are no sign in options, so cannot go anywhere. The owner is a known 'messer' - so no idea if he has made any alterations.

On the sign-in screen, at the bottom right, there is a Power button icon. The next one in (looks like a gingerbread man) is the Accessibility options. You can turn on an on-screen keyboard here. See if that has any better luck typing the password.

Polonut · Aug 12, 2024

Tried on-screen, no change.
I suspect (?) that two people may be using this laptop, one of which has a pin number. Will enquire from neighbour if this is the case.

Bree · Aug 12, 2024

Polonut said:
Tried on-screen, no change.
I suspect (?) that two people may be using this laptop, one of which has a pin number. Will enquire from neighbour if this is the case.

Are there any other account names at the lower left of the sign in screen?

It's certainly behaving as if it's expecting a PIN. For my laptops I take out and about my account has a password. I've recently added a PIN and find it more convenient (and supposedly a PIN is more secure). No matter how many letters I may type, it only accepts the number keys.

ICIT2LOL · Aug 12, 2024

Hmm Polonut mate as Bree has said using a PIN is by far and away better than using a password - I swapped over to using a PIN a very long time ago. Just as a matter of curiosity is there anything in the BIOS settings that may be affecting the use of the keyboard?? My BIOS in my Asus Vivobook has settings for disabling the touchpad for example amongst other stuff affecting the use of the keyboard. There may not be anything in the BIOS of course but worth a look.

kelper · Aug 13, 2024

Can you restore from a backup? Often quicker than troubleshooting. most PINs are four digit. Try his birthday or the date he can't forget - wedding anniversary!

DDMM or YYYY or MMYY etc.

Another thing to try is a complete shut-down and reboot, this cure many gremlins.

Or reset the password thus.

Change or reset your password - Microsoft Support

Learn how to change or reset your Windows password if you've forgotten or lost it.

support.microsoft.com

Bree · Aug 13, 2024

Polonut said:
I suspect (?) that two people may be using this laptop, one of which has a pin number

It could be something as simple as that. Windows will offer to sign you in as the last user who had been signed in. If there are two (or more) accounts listed at the left of the sign in screen, then click on another one and try the password with that account.

kelper said:
most PINs are four digit. Try his birthday or the date he can't forget - wedding anniversary!

If you are going to try guessing a PIN, then there are a couple of things you need to know. The first is that after 4 incorrect guesses you cannot enter another PIN until you have correctly typed the challenge phrase A1B2C3 (a bit like passing a Captcha). The second is that Windows PIN complexity rules wouldn't have allowed using a simple number pattern, such as 1111 or 1234.

kelper · Aug 13, 2024

A password on one of my local accounts stopped working twice in the last couple of weeks. I had a photo of it and 100% had not forgotten it. I clicked on the all-seeing eye to be sure I was entering it correctly. I reset it with the three security questions. I wonder if it's a recent bug. I was using net user times commands and a logoff command and think this somehow corrupted the password.

Bastet · Aug 14, 2024

I’d check to see if Numberlock is enabled & if it is disable it. Tbh it shouldn’t affect letters but worth checking.

ICIT2LOL · Aug 14, 2024

Bastet said:
I’d check to see if Numberlock is enabled & if it is disable it. Tbh it shouldn’t affect letters but worth checking.

Yes mate just what I was thinking too and as well as my Asus Vivobook I am sure has other settings to control what the interface and internal operations the machine and system do.
Now I also think that the OP should be very careful especially before making changes of whatever kind when in the BIOS, regedit, gpedit features and to back up everything, including making plenty of fresh Windows system restore points feature.
The BIOS too should be handled properly and if not sure then ask some tecchie or this forum for advice and again especially when or if he is adjusting someone else's computer(s).

Bastet · Aug 15, 2024

@ICIT2LOL +1 on making a backup, preferably with imaging software before making changes.

ICIT2LOL · Aug 15, 2024

Bastet said:
@ICIT2LOL +1 on making a backup, preferably with imaging software before making changes.

Yes mate I backup regularly onto an external hard drive usually keeping at least three backup copies after I stuffed up big time years ago and usually after a Windows update of whatever version. In my view anyone who does not do this is asking for trouble and painstaking (in the derriere) reinstalls.

TechnoMage2021 · Aug 15, 2024

Two things.... 1. if he cannot log in, then he wouldn't be able to run any Backup Software on the PC.
2. before he mucks it up totally, he could just take it to a PC shop where they could run the Password Removal Tool. I would do that for him.

In most cases where I've had to use that tool on a customer's PC, the customer decided they really didn't need a password at all.

Then DO NOT install another password, unless there is a special reason why this is required.

TM

dacrone · Aug 15, 2024

Why take it somewhere and pay to remove the password when you can do it for free yourself using command prompt?

ICIT2LOL · Aug 16, 2024

TechnoMage2021 said:
Then DO NOT install another password, unless there is a special reason why this is required.

Yes mate I agree I would just stick to a PIN if it were me when it was up and running again.

Bastet · Aug 16, 2024

TechnoMage2021 said:
Two things.... 1. if he cannot log in, then he wouldn't be able to run any Backup Software on the PC.
2. before he mucks it up totally, he could just take it to a PC shop where they could run the Password Removal Tool. I would do that for him.

In most cases where I've had to use that tool on a customer's PC, the customer decided they really didn't need a password at all.

Then DO NOT install another password, unless there is a special reason why this is required.

TM

He could download on another pc, create the software’s boot media then use it to boot the problem pc & image it that way - no log in required.