Multiple Issues After Resetting Laptop

Hi,

I recently reset my laptop and since then I've been experiencing a whole host of issues:

• Windows search bar doesn't work
• Shop app won't open
• Won't allow me to change location settings
• Clock/calendar on my toolbar is unresponsive when I click on it

Any ideas what the problem might be, please? Advice / suggestions are very much appreciated!

Cheers,

Clem

dalchina said:

Hi, first try checking your disk just in case:
Download, install and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) and post a screenshot of its GUI.

If ok, do this in case sthg has happened to your file system:

From an admin command prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
or
How to read Event Viewer log for Chkdsk in Windows 10 [Tip] | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTechdotTech
or
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

If ok, create a new user for test purposes and check the above.
If all is ok, your user profile is corrupt, and continuing will not help you. If so, you will need to transfer to the new user profile.

If you see the same problems when logged in as the new user, try an in-place upgrade repair install - which keeps all programs and data and most settings.

I don't know what your build is: check using
windows key + X, winver

If you are running the Creator's build 15063, then proceed as below (if you already have a Creator's build iso or bootable medium- recommended for repair purposes- you can use that)

Otherwise, if you have build 14393, then following the instructions below will upgrade to the Creator's build.
If you wish to stay with 14393 you will need to either use an iso/bootable medium you already have, or download an iso for 14393.

An In-place upgrade repair install will fix many things, but not those where the settings are not changed by the procedure.

For this you need an installation medium with the same base build as you have installed, and x64 if you have a 64 bits OS, else x86 (32 bits).

You should also make sure there's at least 500Mb of unallocated space on your system disk.

Recommendation:
Before you perform the following major repair procedure, do create a disk image (see below).

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

- this includes a link from which you can obtain a Windows 10 iso file (" download a Windows 10 ISO"), or create a Win 10 bootable medium. However, this will be the latest build from MS, which may not be the build you have installed. You must use one for the same major build.

If your installed Windows is not the latest major build, please post back.

However, this will be the latest build from MS, which may not be the build you have installed. You must use one for the same major build.

If your installed Windows is not the latest major build, please post back.

I would recommend creating the bootable medium, as this can be used
- for any future in-place upgrade repair install
- to boot from and use its recovery options should Windows become unbootable.
- to clean install Windows

This will refresh Windows, after the manner of a Windows installation.
- you keep all your programs
- you keep all your personal data

However: if you have installed some universal apps on a 2nd drive, these must be uninstalled or reinstalled on C: - else you will get an obscure error message that you can not keep your apps because they are in an unsupported directory.

"You can't keep Windows settings, personal files and apps because your current version of Windows might be installed in an unsupported directory"

- all/most associations will be unchanged
- you will lose any custom fonts
- you will lose any customised system icons
- you may need to re-establish your Wi-Fi connection
- you will need to redo Windows updates subsequent to the build you have used for the repair install
- Windows.old will be created
- system restore will be turned off- you should turn it on again and I recommend you manually schedule a daily restore point.
- you will need to redo any language downloads including the display language if you changed that)
- inactive title bar colouring (if used) will be reset to default
- if Qttabbar is installed, you need to re-enable it in explorer (Options, check Qttabbar)
This is one of the better features of Win10: as each major build comes out, that's your updated reference build, and as updates are mostly cumulative, there will be few to do.


Please consider using disk imaging regularly. It's a brilliant way to
- preserve your system (and your sanity)
- back up your data
- restore your system to a previously working state in a relatively short time

Recommended: Macrium Reflect (free/commercial) + boot disk/device + large enough external storage medium.

Thanks a lot for this. Hard Disk Sentinel says all is good. I've tried creating a new user, but same problems there. I ran the chkdsk, but now when it comes to viewing it in the logs, the only log I can seem to find is the one with the source wininit. Any ideas? Thank you!

dalchina said:

No more than the 3 alternative links explaining how to access the info, I'm afraid.

You only other option would be to run chkdsk from a boot disk.

Okay, I shall keep trying! Would performing a factory reset solve the problem, or could it make it worse?

dalchina said:

IT depends what outcome you want. An in-place upgrade repair will keep a familiar working environment, any partitions you've created etc.

A factory reset would wipe everything and take back to 'as bought'.

Hmm, okay, but it should definitely remove the problems? Unless... could it be that the problems arise when Windows begins updating? I'm happy to do a reset... I just don't want to make things worse!

Apologies for all the questions - and thank you so much for your help!