Something went wrong we werent able to set up your PIN. The fix was caused by safe boot

Overcoming PIN Setup Errors Caused by Safe Boot on ASUS Laptops: A Step-by-Step Guide

Encountering system errors during device setup can be frustrating, especially when standard troubleshooting methods fall short. Recently, I faced a specific issue on my ASUS laptop where I received the error message: “Something went wrong, we weren’t able to set up your PIN.” This problem was caused by enabling Safe Boot mode via msconfig, which ultimately prevented me from accessing my Windows account. In this article, I will detail the root cause of this issue and a reliable method to resolve it, ensuring you can restore normal system operation.

Understanding the Issue

The error emerged after I intentionally enabled Safe Boot mode, a diagnostic feature that boots Windows with minimal drivers and startup programs. While Safe Boot can be useful for troubleshooting, leaving it enabled inadvertently can lock you out of your account, especially if certain configurations are altered.

Initial Troubleshooting Attempts

I attempted various standard solutions, including adjusting settings in UEFI firmware and following online tutorials. These approaches proved ineffective, as the persistent Safe Boot configuration prevented normal login procedures. I also tried to revert Safe Boot settings through Command Prompt and Windows Recovery options, but none yielded success. Since installing or repairing Windows normally wasn’t feasible at this stage, I needed an alternative approach.

The Solution: Using Hiren’s Boot CD

To bypass the issue, I resorted to using a bootable rescue environment. Here are the steps I followed:

1. Create a Bootable USB with Hiren’s Boot CD

2. Download the ISO image from Hiren’s Boot CD official site.

3. Use Rufus (or a similar tool) to create a bootable USB drive:

   • Insert a USB drive
   • Open Rufus, select the ISO, and follow the prompts to create the bootable media.

4. Boot from the USB Drive

5. Access your BIOS or boot menu (usually by pressing F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup).

6. Select your USB drive as the boot device.

7. Save and reboot; the system should load Hiren’s Boot CD environment.

8. Launch Windows Utilities

9. Once loaded, locate the “Utilities” folder on the desktop.

10. Find and open “BCD-MBR Tools.”

11. Launch “EasyBCD” – a tool for managing boot configurations.

12. Adjust Safe Mode Settings