Cortana locked me out, how can I get back in?

[Windows Central Question]

Cortana locked me out

I owe my living to Microsoft but they've really let me down this time. Here's what happened:
1. The home computer was upgraded from Windows 10 from Windows 7
2. When this was complete, logging in gave the "Critical Error: Cortana and Start Menu cannot start..."
3. After some sleuthing, tried to reboot the computer into safe mode using msconfig > Safe Boot > Minimal
4. Computer restarted, but now I'm locked out! When I get to the login screen, it prompts for my Msft account password and when I enter it I get "Parameter Incorrect"
5. Because I got myself into this using Safe Mode w/o networking, the OS will not allow me to connect to the internet from the log in screen.
6. Now I'm totally hosed. I can't log in, I can't get to safe mode. Ugh.
7. I'm writing from another laptop I have, but it doesn't have a DVD burner that I could create a recovery disk on removable media, etc.

 

[Rose640]

Re: Cortana locked me out

What about safe mode with internet, or was it calles command prompt, can't remember right now.
And one more thing, why don't you reboot from USB Stick.