761. Windows 10 Passwords

I received the following question/issue re a problem with different passwords that can be implemented to get on your PC. Thought it may be useful to others:

Issue:

"several days ago I have the bad idea to buy a new PC and "upgrade to W10" ... I waste a lot of time making necessary changes ... I am totally frustrated by the fact that I need password to enter my desktop. "

Answer:

I'm not sure which password you are referring to control your use. Please refer to these and let me know if helpful:

1. BIOS PASSWORD (Optional...also referred to as PC Hardware Password ... use to ensure boots from USB Stick, CD, other devices cannot override
security the normal boot from hard drive … first password security available to you and is your PC Manufacturer’s way of securing your PC, not just W10 ). See

http://www.howtogeek.com/186235/how-to-secure-your-computer-with-a-bios-or-uefi-password/ . Also http://www.askvg.com/how-to-reset-remove-bypass-a-bios-or-cmos-password/

The above article explains how to reset BIOS password (Have NOT tried this). Usually to get to BIOS you press F2 when booting (depends on PC manufacturer) and that is where it gets set.

2. MICROSOFT Account Password: (Can be used as W10 SIGNIN password in lieu of the LOCAL ACCOUNT password to control getting to Windows 10 itself ... this follows any hardware password as described above). See

http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/change-password-windows-10

3. LOCAL ACCOUNT Password: (If you do not desire using your Microsoft password as described in 2 above, you can set this method to get to W10.). See

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3016405/windows/three-ways-to-fix-windows-10-password-problems.html

4. Automatically going directly into W10 when you turn on your PC WITHOUT any password. See

http://www.digitalcitizen.life/log-automatically-windows-7-without-typing-your-password

I have simply presented links to clarify the types of password or no password use. I have NOT confirmed or verified the content in these links. Hope this helps.

Followup after #3 LOCAL Password implemented successfully:

A warning for down the road: Now that you have a LOCAL password instead of using Microsoft Password you might run across something that will require the Microsoft password to execute, maybe a special update, or access to a Microsoft blog, etc. You'll get a popup of course asking for the Microsoft Password which you will probably enter if you remember it (KEEP IT Somewhere). I believe on that popup may be some "fine print", or maybe not, that tells you that your system password (Your PC password) will also be changed to the Microsoft Password when entered. Thus, net time you reboot your PC you'll be scratching your head again (not fleas like Sam got, i.e., my long departed lab Sam) and will have to give the MICROSOFT password AND go through this change again to get back to LOCAL password. Don't know if this still happens, but it did in Windows 10 early life. I haven't had it in last year or so. Have a nice day.