odd windows shortcut key problem

Hi, I'm running Windows 10 build 15063 on an X99 motherboard.

Odd problem: There must be at least one application open and visible on my desktop in order for any of my user-defined shortcut keys to work.

I have several shortcuts to which I've given Ctl-Alt sequences for, but all of a sudden they've stopped working. If I open at least one application and it is not minimized to the task bar, my shortcuts will work normally. Some of the shortcuts are from the public desktop, others are custom to my non-admin-level user. As soon as I close or minimize the last app running on the desktop none of the shortcuts work.

My admin user does not have this problem. I examined the non-admin user access to the shortcuts, including "effective access" and there is nothing wrong. I've tried changing the Ctl-Alt sequence to one of them and "Apply" but to no effect.

The only things out of the ordinary I've done recently (in order) is:
a) Installed the recent creator's update of Windows 10.
b) Ran a Windows 2000 VM with VMWare player.
c) Set the Vxt and Vxd bits in my BIOS to allow better VM performance.
d) Updated my Nvidia display drivers. (I was quite behind, since I didn't use GeForce Experience.)
e) Installed GeForce Experience.

I'm using EMET and Defender as virus protection.

I used AutoRuns and did the virus total, but nothing weird was found.

I'm going to try uninstalling GeForce Experience and possibly upgrade EMET (if I'm behind on that) and will report back if that fixed it, else I'm baffled.

EMET on Windows 10 is redundant, so I uninstalled it. (That however did not fix my problem.)

What DID fix the problem was uninstalling GeForce Experience. God knows why, but it fixed it.