Mysterious computer problem

Hi,

So the downstairs family computer (Windows 10) started today (March 17, 2018), and I was stuck as all of the home screen icons as well as the ones on the taskbar were nowhere to be found. It has continued to be this way. I ultimately decided on System Restore, until I ran into another problem — no restore points had been created on the computet’s system drive. The dialog box suggests that I should open system protection to create a restore point, but I cannot do that because it is available only in online operating system, which I also can’t do. What do I do to restore the computer to the way it once was?

Sincerely,

ooboh

1) When you power on the computer what do you see and hear?
2) Do you see a computer manufacturer or windows icon, rotating dots, lock screen/wallpaper, logon screen?
3) Had you tried the hardware method to boot into safe mode?
a) Power on the computer an as soon as you see the Windows icon power off
b) Power on the computer again and as soon as you see the Windows icon power off.
c) Power on the computer again and this time let it advanced as far as possible.
Does it open the Windows advanced troubleshooting menu?
If so click startup options (not startup repair) > click reset > select #6 safe mode with command prompt
4) Safe mode failed then find a flash drive that you can format ( > or = 8 GB)
5) Create a bootable Windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
6) Insert the flash drive into any USB port
7) Power on the computer and click the applicable keyboard key:
List of PC brands with their corresponding hot-keys
8) If it is a custom computer then temporarily modify the BIOS boot order so that you can boot to the external USB hard drive
9) It may take 5 - 10 minutes for the iso to load while viewing the Microsoft Windows icon
10) Select language, time, currency, and keyboard, or click next
11) Click troubleshoot
12) Click system restore
(start with the oldest restore point and keep click restore up to the newest restore point)
If system restore fails or if there are no restore points then advance to the next step.
13) Click startup repair
If startup repair fails advance to the next step

For all of the steps using command prompt please use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into the thread.
If there are any problems posting images please use one drive or drop box share links.
14) Click command prompt > Administrator X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources> type:
15) c:
16) dir
17) d:
18) dir
19) bcdedit /enum
20) bcdedit | find "osdevice"
21) diskpart
22) list disk
23) list volume
24) select disk 0
25) list partition
26) select partition 1
27) detail partition
28) select partition2
29) detail partition
30) select partition 3
31) detail partition
32) select partition 4
33) detail partition
34) If there are any more partitions on disk 0 please continue in the same fashion
35) select disk 1
36) list partition
37) exit
38) chkdsk /r C:
This may take many hours and typically displays the ETA.

Please use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures of the command prompt commands and results and post images into the thread. Additional commands are based on the results of the above commands.

I can get to the Ctrl+Alt+Del blue options screen, but running Task Manager leads to the blue loading circle near the cursor, and then … nothing.

See if you can get the computer into safe mode:
Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

If not then use the bootable windows 10 iso advanced troubleshooting menu steps in the above post.

zbook said:

See if you can get the computer into safe mode:
Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials.

That is a +1: when it's time, select F5 to boot into Safe Mode with Networking.