Sigh.
Turned on the computer and immediately get a message that "Too many attempts have been made" and completing a "Challenge Code" is required.
I didn't touch anything.
This has happened before.
The code is right there. How is that called "security"?
Tried to change loggin options.
The Windows11 Settings menu buttons didn't work. Could not click. Actually they worked once and then stopped.
I have "OneDrive" (online storage of contents) and the new "Co-pilot" (AI assistant) installed with the last update disabled.
I ran a "sfc /scannow" system file check, which was clean. Also an update.
Tried several shell re-set commands which Windows "couldn't find" despite cut-paste with admin privileges.
A Start-Search menu led to automatically opening Microsoft Edge Browser despite it being 'disabled' and another browser being set as default.
(When I run CCleaner there is still a lot of Edge/InternetExplorer usage data being stored locally on my hard drive.
This is stealing my proprietary information. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act)
There was one internet search result in Edge: Log into Microsoft Website online accounts.
(the same happened while trying to find several settings from the Start Menu.)
I can't change my Operating System without internet access...
The Microsoft Online account couldn't 'find my password', despite it not being changed.
I couldn't use my existing password as a reset.
This required several texts to my phone.
Perhaps that 'verification' is what MS wanted originally, and everything else was sabotage and trolling.
Two hours wasted. Now there is "Windows Hello" prompt for facial recognition and a fingerprint reader.
Oh Microsoft....