Someone at Microsoft really thought this one out...

Catnip · Jun 6, 2022

Not a complaint or anything, just a funny...

Yesterday I put in my new motherboard and when I booted up, Windows told me that it no longer had a PIN for me. It still had my logon and everything, just no PIN. Windows proudly notified me that I should create a new one and so I did. One of the things Windows does is verify your account when you do this. It does this by sending an email to your alternate email address, which is fine, but the only way I could get at the email was to get past the log in screen and look at my email on the locked machine. Duh! I was a little stuck, so I dusted off an old computer and logged on to webmail, except that I forgot my email password and had to call the internet provider to reset.

After an hour, I finally got it fired up and past the log in screen. I am fully activated and all is well, but I wonder how people without a second computer in the house would have managed this little bit of software stupidity. There has to be a better way.

Fabler2 · Jun 6, 2022

Use a mobile phone number as well.

BrianInEngland · Jun 6, 2022

Catnip said:
Not a complaint or anything, just a funny...

Yesterday I put in my new motherboard and when I booted up, Windows told me that it no longer had a PIN for me. It still had my logon and everything, just no PIN. Windows proudly notified me that I should create a new one and so I did. One of the things Windows does is verify your account when you do this. It does this by sending an email to your alternate email address, which is fine, but the only way I could get at the email was to get past the log in screen and look at my email on the locked machine. Duh! I was a little stuck, so I dusted off an old computer and logged on to webmail, except that I forgot my email password and had to call the internet provider to reset.

After an hour, I finally got it fired up and past the log in screen. I am fully activated and all is well, but I wonder how people without a second computer in the house would have managed this little bit of software stupidity. There has to be a better way.

I have email set up on my phone so this problem never occurs

Catnip · Jun 6, 2022

Fabler2 said:
Use a mobile phone number as well.

BrianInEngland said:
I have email set up on my phone so this problem never occurs

A fair comment, both. Unfortunately, my phone refuses to set up any kind of email other than Hotmail and Gmail. I can see my MS account through Hotmail (Outlook), but I can't see my ISPs provided email which is where Windows was directing me to.

Hehe. Perhaps I am worse at technology than I thought. lol

Superfly · Jun 6, 2022

Catnip said:
Hehe. Perhaps I am worse at technology than I thought. lol

No, MS is!

Illogical is the least of their problems but they preserver relentlessnessly - as I said before Win 11 reminds me of Win 8 - an experiment with lots of quirks which hopefully will be resolved - but don't hold your breath... roll on Win 12.. LOL

cereberus · Jun 6, 2022

Superfly said:
No, MS is!

Illogical is the least of their problems but they preserver relentlessnessly - as I said before Win 11 reminds me of Win 8 - an experiment with lots of quirks which hopefully will be resolved - but don't hold your breath... roll on Win 12.. LOL

Win 13 is going to be a doozy.

glasskuter · Jun 6, 2022

Look at it this way guys, the infinite wisdom of MS and their decisions (I say facetiously) exercises our brain and keeps us sharp (in my case I also say facetiously), this forum wouldn't be necessary and what would we all be doing in our retirement. Things were so much simpler in the old days.

bobkn · Jun 6, 2022

Catnip said:
A fair comment, both. Unfortunately, my phone refuses to set up any kind of email other than Hotmail and Gmail. I can see my MS account through Hotmail (Outlook), but I can't see my ISPs provided email which is where Windows was directing me to.

Hehe. Perhaps I am worse at technology than I thought. lol

Seems odd.

The email app on mine (One Plus 7T, running Android 11) has no problems setting up my Comcast email address, as well as the Gmail one.

But then, I have a second desktop PC and a (rarely used) laptop, so I have multiple ways to check all my emails.

Some of my accounts use only my cell phone for two factor authentication, though, so things might get entertaining if the phone failed. (Never had to use a backup TFA so far.)

TairikuOkami · Jun 6, 2022

Catnip said:
my phone refuses to set up any kind of email other than Hotmail and Gmail.

Forward your emails to either one.

Aside from mentioned methods, you can also use a recovery code.

Microsoft Account Recovery Code - Set up or Replace

How to Set up or Replace your Microsoft Account Recovery Code Microsoft has added the ability to create a secure recovery code, which can be used to regain access to your Microsoft account if you lose access to your other security information. For example, if a hacker breaks into your account...

www.eightforums.com

Bree · Jun 6, 2022

Catnip said:
A fair comment, both. Unfortunately, my phone refuses to set up any kind of email other than Hotmail and Gmail.

No, you can just give your MS account a phone number, then it will have an option to send you a Text.

TraderGary · Jun 6, 2022

Bree said:
No, you can just give your MS account a phone number, then it will have an option to send you a Text.

View attachment 30891

Exactly! That's what I do too. Doesn't everyone, especially techies, have a smart phone?

TairikuOkami · Jun 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
Doesn't everyone, especially techies, have a smart phone?

Techies would not use a simple SMS, it is long dead, it is like using an unpatched Windows XP, but companies keep SMS up, because other alternatives are too complicated to use (bank apps) or unavailable for everyone (a smartphone, hardware key).

Should 2-factor authentication using SMS be deprecated?

Google, Facebook and most of the important websites (banks, payment sites, etc...) use SMS as the major method for 2FA or for controlling the account (password reset, etc..). However, GSM was proven

security.stackexchange.com

TraderGary · Jun 7, 2022

But wasn't the problem that you don't have access to a 2FA key if you don't yet have access to your computer? And isn't an obvious answer that everyone has a smartphone in their pocket?

CountMike · Jun 7, 2022

MS already knows too much, don't want them to have my phone number too, they might sell me extended warranty or something.

Bastet · Jun 7, 2022

If you have a smartphone then you could use 2FA or even log in to webmail via the smartphone’s browser.

cineman195 · Jun 7, 2022

Could we use the Microsoft Authenticator app ?

Bastet · Jun 7, 2022

cineman195 said:
Could we use the Microsoft Authenticator app ?

If you or the op does I would strongly recommend ensuring the app is set to backup the entries & also When you add 2FA that you/op save the backup codes shown, otherwise if you change phone or lose the Authenticator app you can either recover the accounts &/or log in to the accounts using the backup codes & turn 2FA off &/or change device.

Dru2 · Jun 7, 2022

Catnip said:
One of the things Windows does is verify your account when you do this. It does this by sending an email to your alternate email address, which is fine, but the only way I could get at the email was to get past the log in screen and look at my email on the locked machine. Duh! I was a little stuck, so I dusted off an old computer and logged on to webmail, except that I forgot my email password and had to call the internet provider to reset.

.... I wonder how people without a second computer in the house would have managed this little bit of software stupidity. There has to be a better way.

You could have easily got a text message by providing a phone number on your account. But hey... "Microsoft is spying on me so they can't have my phone number"

Microsoft does provide the tools to make things easier on users. If one chooses not to use the tools then you can't complain.

Catnip · Jun 7, 2022

Dru2 said:
You could have easily got a text message by providing a phone number on your account. But hey... "Microsoft is spying on me so they can't have my phone number"

Microsoft does provide the tools to make things easier on users. If one chooses not to use the tools then you can't complain.

Playing the dumb girl card here: Assume I didn't know that.