How bad did I screw up brand new HP laptop? :(

[Big Chudungus]

When I signed in I created a new Proton email, but didn't set a recovery method and forgot the password. I seem to be signed out of that account so can't do proton thing from "signed in device".

Can I go crying to Microsoft or HP to do a factory reset and show them my Amazon receipt or something? Should I return this unit to Amazon and take WTF Re-Stock fee, before my 30days runs out? Can I take it to some MS Gold Partner shop and show my receipts, ID, etc and have them work some magic?

Laptop works fine and I can log into the laptop with 4 letter password, I just forgot the password for the new Proton email I used to set up laptop, and laptop is asking me to log into that email to synch with phone. I guess they want to send me an email to verify or something.

Under "Accounts" it does have the name I used, the proton email and "Administrator"

I can't tell if this is same as my issue. It doesn't mention setting new designated email for MS account or whatever.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/cant-sign-due-to-lost-email-and-forgotten-pin/fa7a6568-93a8-48dd-80b9-f337299f7d4e

[tacticalcity]

Here is how you can force a factory reset on an HP laptop. But you'll lose your data, if it is not backed up to the cloud.

To access the reset screen on an HP computer during boot (meaning turn off your computer first), follow these steps:

1. Turn on the computer and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly. This should take you to the "Choose an option" screen.
2. From there, select Troubleshoot and then choose Reset this PC.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to either keep your files or remove everything, depending on your preference.

This usually works, but not always. Fails like 2% of the time.

If it fails, you can create a bootable USB thumb drive from another Windows Machine and then use that thumb drive to wipe your computer and install windows. But it is a more complicated process.

[Big Chudungus]

thx, will try and report back.

called a couple places and they mostly just didn't get I'd rather just start over full clean, since I got almost nothing on this yet. If I gotta buy another Groupon $20 copy of Office that is no biggie.

What I don't want to do is create some non-Admin guest user account, but have my goofy issue lurking in background to bite me months from now.

[tacticalcity]

Since office uses a montly subscription, you should be fine there. Just log into office.com with your Microsoft username and password, and there will be a drop down in the upper right hand cornder to INSTALL OFFICE.

[Big Chudungus]

Since office uses a montly subscription, you should be fine there. Just log into office.com with your Microsoft username and password, and there will be a drop down in the upper right hand cornder to INSTALL OFFICE.

I got real off-line forever Office via a Groupon after tip from Cuda67 here. Got two copies for two diff PC, both work fine although its a couple extra hoops to install. https://www.calguns.net/forum/genera...-2021-lifetime

Says "if you leave 5Star review you will get another Key within one year" but haven't heard back. Also says "You can buy this deal 3x", but I'd guess that means "3x with that same email and Credit Card".

Just started with "Fully Clean Drive" reset.