Microsoft password

I've just experienced a third instance of a strange problem with my Microsoft password following a restart due to a Win10 update. A window popped up saying I needed to login to gain access to Onedrive.

I used my password manager, so it was a surprise when I got a message saying my login details were incorrect. After another (failed) attempt I chose the 'change password' option and entered my old password (from the password manager), only to get the message that it was unacceptable because it was the same as the previous one. So why was it previously deemed to be incorrect?

Sounds like a forced password change (possibly due to the old password having been in use for a long time?) - therefore your "old" password cannot be used as the "new" one needs to be different.

That's what I thought, but the previous change was in February.

Just a guess, I suspect two different Microsoft accounts have desynchronised. There are at least 3 different login/account mechanisms in Windows:

• For corporate use, accounts are managed centrally over the local network using a tool called Active Directory.
• Stand-alone passwords allow access to the computer when it isn't connected to a network. This is the classic mechanism.
• More recently, Microsoft Accounts linking the computer with remote Internet Cloud services like OneDrive. The idea is that one Account, the Cloud account, controls access to all Microsoft services, whether local or in the cloud. Local accounts still exist but they are managed by the Microsoft Account.   Microsoft are pushing this method; rather than earn money by selling operating systems, they earn money by selling cloud services. The Microsoft Account is accessed by a single password, and it makes where services are delivered from transparent: could be on the host machine, or on the internet, or both.

As Active Directory is unlikely to be used in a Home Computer setup, I think Gary's Microsoft Account has become misaligned with a local account on his computer, probably due to a glitch caused by the update. Both Local and Microsoft Cloud Accounts complain when an old password is reused, so either of them could be rejecting the duplicate. Try changing to a completely new password.

Odd behaviours can often be fixed by rebooting the computer, hence the classic advice to 'turn it off and on again'. It clears out memory and resets everything to sensible defaults. But I don't think it would help here.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 16/05/2021 15:32:20

I've also encountered this problem and I simply added a * to the end of the old password and then if it happens again I add another *.

I suppose that now I've said that, I need to change all my passwords so that they don't include any * 's!

Brian