Unsolved
1 Rookie
•
2 Posts
0
122
June 16th, 2025 13:32
Alienware automatic BIOS update caused Windows 11 to forget my PIN
A few months ago, I bought a new Alienware laptop with Windows 11. It uses a 4-digit PIN to log in. Everything was fine until this morning, when it updated the BIOS. Then it complained that the Service Tag hadn't been set. When Windows started, it said:
“Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again.”
I click, and it offers me a Microsoft account log in dialog. I try to log in, and it wants to send me an e-mail to confirm. Problem is, that email account was closed down after I created the Microsoft account.
I can still go to https://account.microsoft.com/ on another machine, and log on just fine. I tried changing me e-mail address for that account, but it says it will take 30 days to change!
I'm in a real pickle here. Is there anything I could try? This is pretty urgent. This is my work laptop, and it's basically bricked until I can sort this out.
DELL-Jesse L
Moderator
•
17.6K Posts
0
June 17th, 2025 06:31
You will need to contact Microsoft for login information including your pin.
To receive assistance from Dell chat support, they need to verify the warranty status and ownership. Then you must troubleshoot with them. Click the "Get Help Now" icon on the right to start a live chat session. If already out of warranty, click here for the Dell out of warranty offering.
Corvus_Coraxdcd3bb
1 Rookie
•
1 Message
0
June 19th, 2025 23:28
@DELL-Jesse L Just so you're aware, this happened on my system as well, so this is *not* just a Microsoft problem. Your bios upgrade busted something and I had to reset my pin.
Rocketmagnet
1 Rookie
•
2 Posts
0
June 20th, 2025 08:44
@Corvus_Coraxdcd3bb Thanks Corvus. That's honestly what it feels like. A bug in the BIOS update has exposed a stupidity in the Windows PIN system.
Since both companies are involved, neither will fix it.