Something went wrong, we weren’t able to set up your PIN. The fix was caused by safe boot

Troubleshooting the PIN Setup Error on Asus Laptops: A Personal Guide

If you have encountered the frustrating message, “Something went wrong, we weren’t able to set up your PIN,” while using an Asus laptop, you’re not alone. This issue can arise from various system configurations, notably after tweaking settings in Safe Boot. As someone who faced this problem firsthand, I hope to share my experience and provide a step-by-step guide that could help you resolve the issue.

Understanding the Issue

This pin setup issue can occur when you enable Safe Boot through the System Configuration tool (msconfig). For my laptop, specifically the Asus Strix Scar 18 G835LW, activating this feature created an infinite boot loop, rendering me unable to log into my system. Attempts to reverse the changes via UEFI settings or even standard recovery methods proved fruitless.

Step-by-Step Solution

After hours of searching through articles and tutorials without any luck, I stumbled upon a resolution using Hiren’s Boot CD. Here’s how I went about it:

1. Create a Bootable USB Drive:

• First, download the Hiren’s Boot CD ISO file. You can typically find this on the Hiren’s website. Here’s a link to help you get started.
• Next, use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive. Simply select the ISO file you downloaded and follow the prompts in Rufus to prepare your USB drive for booting.

1. Booting from the USB Drive:

• Insert the USB drive into your laptop and restart it. Enter the BIOS or boot menu by pressing the appropriate key during startup (often F2 or Delete).
• Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive, then save and exit. The system will take some time to load, but eventually, you will be greeted with a Windows interface containing various tools.

1. Accessing BCD-MBR Tools:

• Once you are in the Windows environment provided by Hiren’s Boot CD, navigate to the desktop and locate the “Utilities” folder.
• Within that folder, find “BCD-MBR Tools,” and launch the application known as “EasyBCD.”

1. Adjusting Safe Boot Settings:

• Upon opening EasyBCD, select your language and agree to the terms. Navigate to the “Advanced Settings” section.
• Here, you will choose your operating system, proceed to “Advanced,” and switch the Safe Mode setting back to its default (normal) state.

1. Save and Reboot:

• After making the changes, ensure you save them by clicking the appropriate button at the bottom right corner of the application.
• Restart your laptop, and this time, it should boot up without any issues related to the PIN setup.

Additional Note

Warning: If, during this process, the Boot CD is unable to find your main disk, a possible workaround is to disable Rapid Storage Technology in the BIOS. For the Asus Strix model, this setting can sometimes interfere with the detection of the disk.

Conclusion

Navigating technical issues with your laptop can be daunting, but with the right approach and tools, they can often be resolved. My experience with the “PIN setup” error taught me the value of persistence and the right resources. If you find yourself in a similar jam, I hope this guide helps you regain access to your Asus laptop quickly and effectively.