Microsoft - Tech Support Customer Service Issues

I recently lost access to my Hotmail account that I've had for over 20 years. I forgot my password and it seems I set up 2-factor authentication, which I don't recall doing. Now, I am unable to reset my password since I can't complete the 2-factor authentication process. I need to turn off 2-factor authentication from within the account to reset my password. This is crucial as I have important data in my OneNote account and Office [redacted] Excel & Word accounts linked to this email. Your assistance in resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated. - C. Lintern Email: [redacted] (now [redacted]) Phone: [redacted]

I had issues logging into Excel, even after resetting my password multiple times. Following advice online, I attempted to uninstall and reinstall Office, which now has me uncertain if Office is still on my computer. I contacted Microsoft at [redacted], and they provided me with two numbers for verification, but both were either unreachable or reported as not in service, leaving me concerned about being scammed. Now, I need to verify if the Microsoft number I called is legitimate and if I still have Office installed. As well, I require assistance with logging in. Thank you.

On February 10, [redacted], I received a call from a person claiming to be from Microsoft, stating there were suspicious activities on my computer. I was told I needed to pay $[redacted] to replace my Microsoft license due to an infected network and was instructed to buy a Google Play card for payment. After facing issues with the first card, I bought another one as instructed. The caller promised a $[redacted] refund once I bought two more cards. On February 17, [redacted], I was informed by the caller, named Mike Dawson at 1-[redacted], that I needed to buy additional cards totaling $[redacted] for a refund. Upon encountering further payment issues, I realized this wasn't right. Now, I am left without $[redacted] and no resolution to my computer problems. At this point, I am unsure if this is a legitimate procedure or if I have been scammed.

We understand your concern about the delay in changing your security info for your Outlook.com account. The requested modification on 2/16/[redacted] will be processed by 3/18/[redacted]. Rest assured, you can still access and use your Microsoft account normally during this waiting period. If this change was not initiated by you, please inform us promptly. If you prefer to maintain your current security details, you have the option to cancel this update request. Regarding the time required for verification, we acknowledge that 30 days may seem lengthy. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. As for canceling the request, we regret any difficulty you encountered with the system not allowing the cancellation. We are sorry for the inconvenience you faced when trying to log in due to the error message related to changing your security info. We value your patience and aim to resolve this issue promptly so you can access your Outlook.com account without any further hindrance.

I have been using a Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop since [redacted], and in November [redacted], I upgraded to a Dell Inspiron [redacted] model I7[redacted]G. I used a universal cable to transfer my files but encountered an issue with an Excel file that was a shortcut on the old desktop. The new laptop's Notepad software doesn't support the ".Lnk" extension. Additionally, I have a backup on an external hard drive that opens in a foreign language in Notepad, even after trying to change the font to English. I don't have the old laptop anymore, but I do have the old hard drive; however, the files were deleted and settings were reset. I need assistance in retrieving the specific Excel file that didn't transfer successfully.

I have always used my email on my phone without any issues. One day, I found myself logged out of my email account and was prompted to log back in. Unfortunately, I struggled to remember my password. When I tried to reset my password by providing the requested information, I realized that I couldn't recall the answers accurately. I cannot create a new email account as there is crucial information stored in my current email related to school, taxes, and medical records. I am in urgent need of assistance to regain access to my email. The security questions I was asked during the reset process were unfamiliar and have made it challenging for me to recover my account, despite having reset my password multiple times in the past without such difficulty, especially due to my poor memory.

Yesterday, I received a notification that appeared to be from Microsoft, stating my computer would be locked unless I called 1-[redacted]. After calling, I was connected to a service claiming to be Microsoft. The technician diagnosed my computer with a virus and recommended better security, which I agreed to. I purchased a new security system online from Web PC Experts, also known as Nexway, using my card. My computer is now functioning well, and although I was not asked for a password, I created one. I am unsure if Microsoft is affiliated with this company or if I was scammed. Bogus.

On February 23, [redacted], I contacted a player regarding our game, Battlefront 2. Despite playing unfairly by team-killing my team and spawn camping, they continued their behavior when I spoke up. They, along with their friends, started sending rude messages after each match, causing me to retaliate out of frustration. Unfortunately, they reported me, resulting in a communication ban that I feel is unjust. It seems unfair that Xbox issues bans without fully understanding the context. I hope this situation can be resolved fairly.

On February 23, [redacted], I reached out to a player regarding the online game Battlefront 2. This player, along with three friends, engaged in unfair gameplay tactics, team-killing my team and spawn camping, making it impossible for us to compete fairly. When I addressed this behavior, they started taunting and harassing me with messages like "L" and insults. After expressing my frustration, one of the players reported me, resulting in a ban from communication. I feel this ban is unwarranted as I was simply standing up against their unfair practices. It is disheartening that such reports can lead to bans without a proper investigation of the situation. I kindly request a review of my case and urge for the ban to be lifted before the scheduled date of March 3rd.

My Xbox One turns on, then immediately shuts off. I notice the power brick goes from orange to white once I turn on the console, but then it shuts off right away. I have the original day one edition of the Xbox One and have been dealing with this issue for years. I purchased a new power brick and cord for $50, as well as a total of 5 new power bricks and cables, but the problem persists. I have tried all the troubleshooting methods Microsoft suggests, but nothing has worked. It's frustrating as I have been a loyal Microsoft customer since the Xbox [redacted], and now I can't even enjoy playing my Xbox One games without struggling to turn it on every time. I need assistance with fixing this issue for good.

We recently set up the email address [redacted] for our curling club without a proper recovery option and using general birthday information. Despite numerous attempts to recover the password, we are unable to provide enough correct information. We can confirm the date and time the email was created, as well as details of the only email opened outside our attempts. The email account was used for our Bonspiel event promotion, and we desperately need access. We understand the oversight and would like to rectify it promptly. If any assistance could be provided before our Bonspiel event on March 15-18, [redacted], it would be greatly appreciated.

On 2-25-[redacted], I encountered a scam where an individual claiming to be from Microsoft convinced me to allow them access to my computer. They mentioned a fee of $[redacted] for one year or $[redacted] for five years. Despite not providing any personal information and explaining that I couldn't pay, they spent hours scanning my system. After informing me of technical issues on their end, they abruptly stopped communicating. Though I only use my computer for shopping and emailing, I promptly contacted my bank to cancel my debit card. I'm considering changing my computer password as a precaution. It's concerning how easily I trusted the person due to the mention of Microsoft on the screens.

I am using QuickBooks for a nonprofit organization. When I set up the QuickBooks account, I used my Gmail address. Recently, I discovered that the QuickBooks email feature only supports Microsoft email accounts. Therefore, I decided to create a new Microsoft email account. I currently use [redacted] for Office [redacted], and I want to set up a new Microsoft account with the Foundation's credit card on a dedicated computer for bookkeeping. I tried to create [redacted], but I have been unable to set a password for it. Thank you for any assistance you can provide. Sincerely, Wendell Hague

Dear Microsoft team, I am currently a PhD student at Royal Holloway, University of London under the supervision of Professor Chris Mitchell, conducting research on password management security. In my survey, including an analysis of password recovery emails from 50 major websites, I found issues that could compromise security. I have formulated recommendations to address these risks. You can find the detailed study in the attached paper for reference. Regards, Fatma AL Maqbali Information Security Group Royal Holloway University of London

I keep receiving unsolicited messages from OneDrive, although I have never used the service and don't need it. My grandchildren are asking me to unsubscribe, but the online self-help instructions are unclear. Not all customers are tech-savvy millennials, and the Microsoft Community advice, "Something is wrong," is not helpful. I need to speak with a human for assistance or get a contact number. It would be beneficial to hire a technical writer who can create instructions that are easy to follow for non-tech-savvy individuals like me.

My computer crashed, then I downloaded Malware which caused Acrobat Reader to not open with the error message stating "EMET detected SimExecFlow mitigation and will close the application AcroRd32.exe." Now, even WinWord won't open. I suspect a virus or bug from the Malware program. I've deleted it and Acrobat and re-downloaded Acrobat, but it still won't open. I believe it's a Windows issue since reverting to a prior version briefly worked. However, after the first time it opened, neither program would open again. I need help clearing the virus or bug and getting my programs to work again.

I am unable to access my account after mistakenly logging out of my Microsoft account. Despite spending hours attempting to rectify the issue, even after changing my password, I am still unable to login. An additional challenge is that our phone number changed following our move last year. As I am in the process of setting up a new laptop, this problem has significantly inconvenienced me. I have not activated two-step security on my account. My priority is regaining access to my email and proceeding with the laptop setup. You may reach me at the alternate email I specified during my Microsoft account setup, not at my outlook email as I am presently unable to access it. I am willing to provide any necessary information to facilitate the account recovery process.

I need help accessing my Facebook account as someone changed the password linked to my old email, [redacted] Despite not changing the email on my Facebook myself, I have now been hacked and cannot remember the password or the phone numbers associated with that account. I only wish to regain access to my Facebook, but I am unable to access my old email. My current email is [redacted] I can provide some details from memory, but as the old email is ten years old, I may not recall everything. Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

I am unable to securely connect to certain websites, possibly due to outdated TLS settings. The issue began recently, around the time of the Windows [redacted] update. Refreshing the page sometimes helps. Two other laptops with the same update don't have this problem. I tried enabling TLS 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 in Internet Properties, as well as resetting Microsoft Edge, but the problem persists.

I have been trying to regain access to my hacked Hotmail account. It's been inactive for a while, but last fall, we started receiving complaints from our customers, indicating it had been compromised. The account, associated with our Danish-German gallery, had my name attached to it. Someone named Ninno attempted to extort us over the account and is now sending phishing emails from it to our customers with fake invoices. The email address in question is [redacted] Verification should be simple, just calling our gallery in Berlin where it's linked. As CEO, I can be reached at +[redacted]. I have saved conversations from that account in our team's emails. Please reach out to me promptly. Thank you, Heike Arndt