Unsolved

1 Rookie

 • 

4 Posts

32

November 1st, 2025 03:04

XPS 8930 unable to access Safe Mode

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

9 Legend

 • 

14.8K Posts

November 1st, 2025 18:55

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

3 Apprentice

 • 

1K Posts

November 2nd, 2025 14:23

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.

1 Rookie

 • 

4 Posts

November 3rd, 2025 14:52

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

1 Rookie

 • 

4 Posts

November 3rd, 2025 17:35

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 !

No Events found!

Top