XPS 8930, unable to access Safe Mode

Question

Hello
Boots directly into the screen asking for pin. No logo screen, no Dell logo just immediately boots into the PIN screen. No icons anywhere except sleep, shutdown, restart.

I have a usb boot drive inserted it is not picked up; I have a windows install disc it is not picked up. I have done all the below and other methods. If I could get into safe mode I could change the account to local but alas I run into all these challenges that fail in the attempt to get into safe mode. Below is what I have used.
I need advise. Thanks

To get past an unretrievable PIN and into Safe Mode on a Dell XPS 8930, access the Windows Recovery Environment by holding
Shift while clicking Restart from the sign-in screen, or by repeatedly rebooting the system. From the recovery menu, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and restart to access Safe Mode options. If the computer is inaccessible, you may need to use a hardware method like clearing the CMOS jumper to reset the password.
Option 1: Use the Windows Recovery Environment
Access Recovery: From the sign-in screen, click the power icon, hold down the Shift key, and click Restart.
Navigate: Once the blue recovery screen appears, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
Restart: Click Restart to reboot your computer.
Boot to Safe Mode: After the computer restarts, press 5 or F5 to boot into Safe Mode with Networking.
Option 2: Use the BIOS/UEFI settings (if password is still an issue)
Clear CMOS:
Shut down the computer and unplug the power cord.
Open the computer case and find the jumper pins for the password.
Remove the jumper plug, turn on the computer, wait for the desktop to load, and then shut it down again.
Replace the jumper plug in its original location and restart the computer.
Clear PIN from recovery: If the above method doesn't work, you may be able to clear the PIN hash from the Windows Recovery Environment by booting into it and using the Command Prompt.
Option 3: Force Windows into Recovery Mode
If you are unable to get to the sign-in screen at all, turn on the computer and let it reach the boot screen.
As soon as the Windows logo or manufacturer logo appears, shut the computer off using the power button.
Repeat this process two or three more times.
On the next boot, Windows should automatically launch the Windows Recovery Environment.
Option 4: Use SupportAssist OS Recovery
Power on the system and press F12 repeatedly to access the Boot menu.
Select SupportAssist OS Recovery and choose Windows recovery to access the Windows Recovery Environment.
If none of these options work, you may need to perform a system reset or reinstall Windows, which will likely result in the loss of your data

anne_droid · Accepted Answer

Hi

Best advice...

Don't use it, just break it.

Unplug the drive and then try and boot from a USB, just to prove you can.

Clear the BIOS as suggested above.

Change/Set the boot order to USB first, and HDD last.

Then you can work on a fix, of which the internet has some methods for.

anne_droid · Accepted Answer

Prego.

To log into Windows using your password when a PIN is set as the default login option, you can switch from PIN to password at the login screen by following these steps:

At the Windows login screen where it asks for your PIN, look for a sign-in options link or icon. This usually appears as a link or a key icon below or near the PIN entry box.
Click this sign-in options link, and then select the password icon or option.
You will then be prompted to enter your account password instead of the PIN.
Enter your password to log in.

If you want to stop Windows from defaulting to the PIN entirely, you can remove the PIN so that Windows requires a password by default:

Open Settings from the Start menu.
Go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
Find the "PIN (Windows Hello)" section and click "Remove" to disable the PIN login.
Confirm removal by entering your current PIN.
Next time you log in, password will be the default sign-in method.

Note that Windows remembers the last sign-in method used, so logging in once with the password may temporarily default to it next time unless a PIN is used again. To permanently switch to password login, removing the PIN is the most reliable method.

redxps630 · Answer

If F2 or F12 keyboard tap has no response try replace CMOs battery and clear CMOs by mobo jumper

Archives-007 · Answer

Hello

I did the pin password bios on motherboard as suggested above.

When I turn on the computer there are no icons nothing below or above just the PIN login screen
And to the bottom right the power icons. That's it.

But restarting holding the Shift key I was able to enter troubleshoot.
At the command prompt I added two users. However the success add user message indicated the users
were added but no to local group.

I than activated the Administrator account.
Thus I created two users and activated the Admin account.

However when I exited and the computer went to windows ( and also after I followed up with a reboot) the Microsoft Pin
Login screen presented itself with no icons on the screen with no ability to switch accounts.

Alt Ctrl Del did not give me a screen to change user.

I read articles that the Microsoft Pin account cannot be reduced, removed via Safe Mode.

I do not want to use the PIN account. I have a medical office and its basically office workers using medical office applications

Now that I do have an active Administora account how can I simply turn on the computer - and then log in as Admin or log into one of the two
users I created.

Thanks for your advise 'dont use it, just break it' a God send
Gratitude

Archives-007 · Answer

Hello

I read an article that one can delete the NGC folder. I drilled down into :

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft

The NGC folder is missing.

Post later on developments.

Thanks !

Archives-007 · Answer

Hello

There is only the PIN window with a login feature there is nothing other than that

This:

look for a sign-in options link or icon. This usually appears as a link or a key icon below or near the PIN entry box.

Nothing there no icons

I want to remove PIN completely however there is no evidence of the Start Menu. If I do alt ctrl del nothing happens.

However after working with motherboard password reset I can at least enter microsoft remover advance and those features. If I do command prompt do net user I see several user accounts so those accounts are there

In short after Windows loads up its only the PIN panel no other features are there just PIN and to the bottom right sleep shutdown restart.

Thank you for your assistance

anne_droid · Answer

Hi

Pretty much the last roll of the dice ...

You can remove the need for a PIN login in Windows and only use your password by adjusting your sign-in settings. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Steps to Remove PIN and Use Password Only

Go to Settings and select Accounts.
Select Sign-in options from the left menu.
Under Windows Hello PIN, click Remove. You’ll be prompted to enter your Microsoft account password to confirm.
If the Remove button is grayed out, make sure to turn off "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device" in Additional Settings under Sign-in options.
If you want Windows to automatically log you in with a password, press Windows + R, type netplwiz, and uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." After clicking Apply, enter your password to enable auto-login.
Now, your PIN will be removed, and you will use your password to log in (or automatically, if you set up auto-login).
If you use a Microsoft account, some features related to passwordless sign-in or security could prevent you from removing the PIN until “passwordless account” is disabled in your Microsoft account security settings.
Removing your PIN does not remove your password. If auto-login isn’t set, Windows will ask for your account password instead on sign-in.

These changes work on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and help ensure your login method is password-based only.

Ivannf · Answer

To boot into Safe Mode if you can't access it during the boot:

While in Windows, right-click the Start button, click Run, type in msconfig and click OK.

System Configuration opens, click on the Boot tab, select the Safe boot box, and click Network, Apply, OK

The system will prompt you to reboot, it will then reboot in Safe Mode with Network support.

Note it will continue to boot in Safe Mode until you go into msconfig again and uncheck the Safe Boot box

XPS Desktops

XPS 8930, unable to access Safe Mode

Steps to Remove PIN and Use Password Only

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