Windows 10 device starts on the Welcome Screen and as “Other user” or “defaultuser”

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Symptoms

When you turn on a new Windows 10 device for the first time, the device may start on the Welcome Screen, which displays Other user, instead of starting in the Out of Box Experience (OOBE). In this situation, you cannot log on to the device or use Windows.

Cause

This issue occurs because a critical Windows process (dwm.exe) fails to start.

Resolution

To work around this issue, follow these steps:

  1. On the Windows Home screen, press and hold the Shift key.
  2. Press or click the Power button icon in the lower-right corner of the Welcome Screen. (Do not release the Shift key)
  1. Press or click the Restart option. (Do not release the shift key)

After that the system will restart and take to the Windows recovery menu. Follow these additional steps:

Click Troubleshoot

Reset this PC

In the end It may ask you to keep your files or delete everything and this will be your choice. Then go on with the next steps.

on Reset this PC click Local reinstall

The process will start

Then click Just remove my files
Note: If you click the wrong option here it will wipe the whole disk and you wont be able to restore the system through this process again.

At last click Reset on the bottom and wait until the process has been completed.

After all this the system should restart with a brand new OS and you will be able to set up a new user from scratch following the usual process.

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