Windows 10 Troubleshooting
Safe Mode - Howto
How to boot into Windows 10 Safemode
WHEN YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GUI (3 different ways)
- Use "Shift + Restart" on the Windows 10 Sign In screen, Choose Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> See more recovery option -> Startup Settings -> Startup Settings and enable Safe Mode
- Run 'msconfig.exe' and click the BOOT tab, check the box that says 'Safe mode' and keep 'minimal' selected.
- Goto Windows 10 settings and choose Recovery options and start Safe Mode
WHEN YOU CANNOT ACCESS GUI (3 different ways)
- When booting, as soon as the Windows logo appears press the POWER button and interrupt the boot process, repeat this 2 more times (3 times in a row triggers the next boot to Automatic Repair mode where you can choose Safe Mode)
- Boot from Windows 10 setup DVD or USB memory stick: boot, choose language, keyboard layout and click next -> Repair your computer -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Command Prompt: Then from the command prompt type 'bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal'
- Boot from a Windows 10 flash USB recovery drive
We can't sign in to your account
Isn't this a terribly worded error message? How stupid is this? It sounds as though "other people" are trying to log into your account. Microsoft developers are idiots.
When you see this error message dialog then Windows 10 likely signed you in with a temporary account.
On Windows 10 after an upgrade, installation of a new monthly update and something goes wrong it will display this dialog and your typical desktop is not available.
- Open the Windows Registry Editor as Administrator 'regedit.exe'
- Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
- Identify your profile and note if it is listed with .bak on the end of the key name
- Delete the temporary profile and rename your profile by removing the 'bak'
How to identify which profile path is yours: You have to select the one that has the 'ProfileImagePath' key set to the system profile path.
also
- https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/not-able-to-access-my-windows-account/80dfbb7a-5c66-41a3-9f4a-dcc14de30b73
- https://www.windowscentral.com/how-fix-we-cant-sign-your-account-error-windows-10
The error message "We can't sign in to your account" (often paired with "You've been signed in with a temporary profile") does indicate Windows failed to load the normal user profile and fell back to a temporary one. This commonly happens after updates, upgrades, or profile corruption, and the desktop/settings become unavailable or reset in the temp session.
Two clarifications of note in registry fix suggestion:
- Sometimes you also need to set RefCount and State values to 0 in the renamed key (if they exist and are non-zero), though many cases resolve without this.
- If no .bak exists, the profile may be fully corrupted (different fix needed, like creating a new account). Always back up the registry key (export it) before changes, as errors can worsen things.
This registry fix does NOT address "intermittent "Finish setup" / "can't connect to Microsoft account" / direct-to-desktop behavior." Those stem from the auto-setup-after-update toggle and auto-login settings.