MS account password/local login password

[Diggs]

I didn't realize (I'm a bit slow sometimes) that changing the password to a Microsoft account online will also change it on the local machine account when logging on to Win10 if the account is a MS account. Yes, I know it makes sense. But what happens when the password is lost and the machine is offline? Even my toys wouldn't reset a "Live" password? (I've since created a local account for them with no password. They didn't even know you could run Windows without a password - they are sooo grateful.)

 

[GTP]

This is the reason I urge clients not to create MS accounts and passwords on Windows computers.
Local passwords only.
You can guarantee that at some point they will forget the password and the information they submitted to create it, so password retrieval becomes impossible as well.!

 

[GTP]

But how will they get to all the wonderful entertainment and productivity software in the Windows Store? Or use free OneDrive storage to protect all their precious stuff?

Yeah, sorry, I was being a bit too general.
The clients that do need their bicycles er.. stuff create a MS account, but these clients are savvy enough to know the importance of password security/storage.
The clients I was referring to are the ones that have no idea and setup an MS account - "cause that's what it said to do" and just follow like sheep, or fish or....

 

[Porthos]

The clients I was referring to are the ones that have no idea and setup an MS account - "cause that's what it said to do" and just follow like sheep, or fish or....

Yup.

 

[Porthos]

Microsoft are helping to shape a new highly-acquiescent generation of users who will agree to practically anything as long as it lets them play with the shiny toys.

And FREE.

 

[AndrewFergus]

We had this last week a customer who swears that a Microsoft Account password magically appeared on her computer overnight and she has no ideas on what it could be. Ended up booting from PC Unlocker and enabling hidden admin account and resetting the password for that account, obviously we could not reset the password of the locked account as that was tied to Windows Live. Then used the admin account to run Fabs to backup and create a new user profile.
Not sure what service she used to create the issue as she does not have a Hotmail/Outlook password and Skype was not installed on the computer.

 

[Porthos]

We had this last week a customer who swears that a Microsoft Account password magically appeared on her computer overnight and she has no ideas on what it could be. Ended up booting from PC Unlocker and enabling hidden admin account and resetting the password for that account, obviously we could not reset the password of the locked account as that was tied to Windows Live. Then used the admin account to run Fabs to backup and create a new user profile.
Not sure what service she used to create the issue as she does not have a Hotmail/Outlook password and Skype was not installed on the computer.

All you have to do any app and it prompts for a MS account. They create one then forget they did it and the next restart could dayts later or weeks later and bam all of a sudden they have this password they swear never did before.

$$$$$ for us.

 

[GTP]

The nice thing about sheep is that you can shear them so many times.

The "Golden Fleece" so to speak!

 

[JoeTech]

After switching people from ms accounts to local accounts, I don't think I have ever had one complaint back from them about not being able to do something they used to be able to do with an MS account.

I'm pretty sure most people would choose the convenience of not having to type a password in over whatever a ms account can offer and having to have a password. Too bad the first option is an MS account and they don't seem to know you can skip that. Anyways it helps make me look like a hero when I set them up in a local account with no password.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I didn't realize (I'm a bit slow sometimes) that changing the password to a Microsoft account online will also change it on the local machine account when logging on to Win10 if the account is a MS account. Yes, I know it makes sense. But what happens when the password is lost and the machine is offline? Even my toys wouldn't reset a "Live" password? (I've since created a local account for them with no password. They didn't even know you could run Windows without a password - they are sooo grateful.)

As has been said REPEATEDLY here PCunlocker will convert your Microsoft Account to a local account. You convert back to local and then get online and convert the local back to the Microsoft Account after you have regained access to it. It is very hard, nee impossible, to create a M$ account without either a backup phone number and/or email account. Therefore it is usually pretty easy to get back into one. And if you managed to CHANGE the M$ account password then obviously you have access. And most machines will get online with DHCP with an ethernet cable. If THAT happens then you can login with your UPDATED password and gain access. So with all the above it really is hard to see how a properly thinking and equipped tech is going to be unable to gain access to the system.

 

[Rocco]

Customer is bringing me a 8.1 rt with a bitlock error. Tried doing the recovery process. I have not had a lot of experience with this half-baked program.

My question is, is it on by default?

 

[nlinecomputers]

Yes

 

[NviGate Systems]

The bitlocker recovery key should be located in their OneDrive online disk. If they haven't forgotten the password. That is if there is info they need.

If not going to recovery (winre) and resetting the tablet will remove bitlocker and erase all data. It will give you an error, you just have to select "skip this drive".

 

[GTP]

As has been said REPEATEDLY here PCunlocker will convert your Microsoft Account to a local account. You convert back to local and then get online and convert the local back to the Microsoft Account after you have regained access to it. It is very hard, nee impossible, to create a M$ account without either a backup phone number and/or email account. Therefore it is usually pretty easy to get back into one. And if you managed to CHANGE the M$ account password then obviously you have access. And most machines will get online with DHCP with an ethernet cable. If THAT happens then you can login with your UPDATED password and gain access. So with all the above it really is hard to see how a properly thinking and equipped tech is going to be unable to gain access to the system.

Unless the client CANNOT remember what information they used! People use prepaid phones with different numbers, lose phones and change numbers, change ISP and get different email addresses, use Tarot Cards to change their Fate, whatever. It's still easier for some clients to have a local account to start with!
My .02

 

[NJW]

... and then get online and convert the local back to the Microsoft Account after you have regained access to it.

Unless the client CANNOT remember what information they used!

Or the account was set up by a family member who never made a note of the details.

Or the account was set up by the retailer (I'm pointing at you, PCWorld in the UK) who borked it all by also setting up PIN access and not recording any details.

Or the MS account has been hijacked, when all bets are off.

It is very hard, nee impossible, to create a M$ account without either a backup phone number and/or email account.

Yes, but very easy to use an existing email address, where those safeguards are not in place.

 

[fincoder]

A Windows computer without a Microsoft Account is like a fish without a bicycle.

An MS account is needed for some functions like installing an app from the Store. The account can be specified 'per app' without changing from a local account for Windows login. The app remembers it so no need to keep entering it.

I always set up computers for my clients with a local account. The only problem is that when an app (e.g. Store) requests an account and the user specifies/creates one, the following screen has a deliberately vaguely worded request for permission to switch to MS account for the computer login.

Although this is optional, many users just agree because over the past decades the wise choice was, if unsure, to accept Microsoft recommendations. This has become a collective habit, even some techs on these forums believe a MS account computer login is needed for all functionality.

Since Windows 8 though, Microsoft recommendations are not always in the best interest of ordinary mum & dad users (or any users, some would argue). Many don't even read the screen requesting the switch to MS account login, so the next time they turn on their computer (e.g. the next day) they suddenly have an MS account login. It "magically appeared on the computer overnight"

 

[NJW]

@fincoder Well put and so true.

 

[Diggs]

An MS account is needed for some functions like installing an app from the Store. The account can be specified 'per app' without changing from a local account for Windows login. The app remembers it so no need to keep entering it.

I always set up computers for my clients with a local account. The only problem is that when an app (e.g. Store) requests an account and the user specifies/creates one, the following screen has a deliberately vaguely worded request for permission to switch to MS account for the computer login.

Although this is optional, many users just agree because over the past decades the wise choice was, if unsure, to accept Microsoft recommendations. This has become a collective habit, even some techs on these forums believe a MS account computer login is needed for all functionality.

Since Windows 8 though, Microsoft recommendations are not always in the best interest of ordinary mum & dad users (or any users, some would argue). Many don't even read the screen requesting the switch to MS account login, so the next time they turn on their computer (e.g. the next day) they suddenly have an MS account login. It "magically appeared on the computer overnight"

Is that where some of the switching of accounts is coming from? One purchase from the Store and the next login is through their MS account? Hmmm...... I've never bought anything through the Store.

 

[fincoder]

One purchase from the Store and the next login is through their MS account? Hmmm...... I've never bought anything through the Store.

It doesn't need to be a purchase. The 'Store' is also used to install free apps, just like IOS and Android app stores. The only requirement is an MS account, no payment details needed. Other apps also ask for a MS account, e.g. MS Solitaire Collection (pre-installed store app) requests an MS account but you can now choose to 'play as a guest' (but not in the original version).