So I recently faced this issue where I was told I couldn't use my PIN to login anymore and had to reset the PIN. Unfortunately, I forgot the password to my microsoft account and password recovery isn't working out. (If you require more information, you can refer to my previous post).

So I'm basically locked out of my C drive but I did have another user I could use but it doesn't have administrator privileges. I would like to know if I could just reset the C Drive and login with a new microsoft account to minimise data loss to just the C Drive and not the couple of other storage drives/partitioned drives

ASUS TUF F15, I7 12th gen

Windows 11, RTX 4070

Not that this would work out any better, but why are you not using a local admin account After the install.

This.

Technically, you could activate the local admin account and then use something like Hiren's Boot CD or Hiren's Boot CD PE to reset the password on the admin account, which would invalidate the pin and allow a login to the machine (and the ability to subsequently reset the pin).

I don't know anything about a local admin account and after what install? Could you clarify?

Beyond some orphaned ACLs, it won't affect them. If you're paranoid, just detach the drives before you perform the reset.

If you have a local admin account, you can use a boot disk/flash drive to access the command prompt and change the password.

As for the Microsoft account, go on your phone or another pc and change your password, it will work for the login too.

Sure. Create an windows use stick, boot it and open CMD with shift F10. Type in diskpart, sel dis 0, clean, clean, conv gpt

reset my pc windows of a full windows install

hirens boot usb to change this to a local account warning if you have biit locker on it will not

many people have used this withut problems but as always goes without saying do your own research

hirens boot usb

or a full windows reinstall

full windows reinstall

After you re install Windows which seems your only option at this point.

Google “enable built in admin account in windows”. Too late now.
You need a reinstall then plan for the futur

You have backups?

I do have backups for most of my important files. And it looks like its too late to retrieve whats left. Does doing a factory reset work similar to a windows reinstall in the sense that I can add a new microsoft account for my laptop and would it also just affect my C drive?

Does doing a factory reset work similar to a windows reinstall in the sense that I can add a new microsoft account for my laptop and would it also just affect my C drive?