Win10 crashed, no Shortcuts. Is there a WinIni file in Win10

I really haven't a clue where to post this so forgive me.

Three days ago, I came back to my sleeping computer and got nothing when I moved the mouse. Tried to reboot, but had to unplug power to the machine for 30 seconds, then the bios came up. When I finally was able to sign in to Windows, nearly every shortcut was missing, and I mean EVERY one. Microsoft wanted me to sign in by telling me to Sign Out (which meant Restart), and after stupidly trying that a number of times to no avail, I gave up. Process Explorer wanted me to Agree to its use, Firefox wanted me to open an account (fortunately I had it synced to my phone) but all was blank. Win10 was happy I choose it and wanted to take me on a tour. It's like I just bought the computer and had to initiate everything.

The A-Z list of programs was there on the Start Menu, but clicking on them brought up a popup telling me that I didn't have that program installed. Using Explorer brought up blank folders for documents, downloads, until I started to panic that all my files were destroyed.

I then tried System Restore, going back a day, then 2 days, then 5 days, until I was back at version 1903. Always the same situation, nothing remembered from the past. In previous Windows there was a WinIni file with all the remembered settings, if my memory serves me well, and this was as if that file had disappeared. Finally, I quit Restoring (many hours of waiting) because I was tired of having to re-sign in to browser, etc. And I was resigned to reloading all my files from backup.

At some point of going through Explorer, I got to This PC/C:/Users/Gomer, and there were most of the documents except those just temporary desktop files. Clicking on an Excel, or Word, file opened up the file after telling Word my name and initials.

So my question to you all is:
Is there a file in Win10 that stores all the settings for programs, libraries (Quick access only has Docs, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos, ditto for under This PC), programs, even my password manager, which came up blank? Or am I going to have to start from scratch with each program?

Let me know if you would like to see anything, screen shots or log files. BTW I'm getting old (77) and a bit rusty so be patient with my forgetfulness. I started out with DOS 2.0 and it's been downhill ever since. LOL

Thanks for all your good help and please Stay Safe, G

When the computer is powered on what do you see and hear?

If you can boot Windows what happens when you switch users?

Had you made free backup images?

Dell has supported this computer model only with tested drivers for Windows 7.

So all drivers are on a trial and error basis.

Did you want to troubleshoot?

or

restore the computer with one of these options:
a) reset save files
Reset Windows 10
b) custom install
Custom Install Windows 10
c) clean install
Clean Install Windows 10

Thanks Zbook
I see a flash message of Bios, then Win10 screen, password screen, and finally the blue desktop with Window, Start Menu, Task bar, and a half dozen Shortcuts for CCleaner, EPSON Scan, etc. Notifications in lower right, clock/date

There are no other users, and if I made a backup image it was years ago.

You write the following:

"Did you want to troubleshoot? or
restore the computer with one of these options:

a) reset save files
Reset Windows 10
b) custom install
Custom Install Windows 10
c) clean install
Clean Install Windows 10"

Troubleshoot, I guess. I don't think I need to reinstall Win10, and I have restored it over and over and it seems to work.

It's just that all the Quick access (Favorites, Recent, etc.) are missing. Histories are missing from everything, initial settings are missing, every program on opening feels like I have just downloaded or installed it and have to go through all the settings to establish my choice of them. Desktop screens are blue rather than wallpapered. My browser has forgotten what toolbars I use. All the program icons are missing from the taskbar and ditto those on the desktop.

If I go to C:/Users, I can find my Favorites, and they appear to be all there, but they don't show up in Quick access. Microsoft needs to fix my account problem, but signing it doesn't seem to do anything and restarting brings up the same notification.

I used Thunderbird as a mail aggregator, but all the settings were lost. Everything having to do with initialization is gone. Why? Obviously some file(s) were destroyed?

So troubleshoot seems to be the way to approach this. Thanks again, G

Recovery options are usually restore points and backup images.
Some have restored shadow copies.

These can be checked / tested:
operating system, component store, drive file system, malware , etc.

A new user named test can be created to test corruption of users in the registry, etc.

The computer logs may have information about the crash.

Others may know other troubleshooting steps.


1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}
12) net user /test add

13) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

14) There are log collectors used in another forum room.
Run each V2 and DM and upload results directly into this thread:
https://www.tenforums.com/bsod-crashes-debugging/

15) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan


16) Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US

17) These tests can be ran overnight:
a) HD Tune full error scan
b) Sea Tools for Windows long generic test

You don't want to hear what I just said.
I was typing out what appears after I log in to Win10, and made the mistake of trying to log in to my MS account which closed this browser and deleted my reply to you

After logging in:to Win10: Edge opens with a Welcome to Windows. A popup informs me that I have to signin to my MS account, and I choose Cancel because the other button takes me back to the Win10 password screen. I go to Manage Account and sign in, but it wants a pin then sync - all of which I have done over and over again. I change to FF as default browser and log in to my email for your reply, thank you.
Once again, the taskbar is loaded with MS stuff I don't use so I unpin them. There is no history in FF until I sync with my phone.


Here are the results of the process you list.

The result of 2): "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations"

The result of 3): "Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.18362.1 Image Version: 10.0.18362.720 [......100%.........]"

The result of 4): "Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.18362.1 Image Version: 10.0.18362.720 [......100%.........] The restore operation completed successfully."
5) sfc /scannow: "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations"
6) chkdsk /scan: file system is NTFS: "Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems. No further action is required."
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false: "Property update successful"
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7:"Property update successful"
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot: "AutoReboot FALSE"
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType: "DebugInfoType 7"
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}: "RAM Defects_____identifier {badmemory}
12) net user /test add: The option /TEST is unknown, The syntax of this command is:

username [password | *] [options]] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE]] [/DOMAIN]
username [/TIMES:{times | ALL}]
username [/ACTIVE: {YES | NO}]
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3506

Does this mean that this step needs to be redone? I will await your answer

The / should have been located between test and add.
See if this creates the new user named test: net user test /add

The log collectors for Ten Forums are V2 and DM.
Please follow the instructions in this link so that computer files can be troubleshooted:
BSOD - Posting Instructions

The v2 link downloads version 1.09 zip
When I click on the shortcut the log collector opens with all of this in red::

& : The term '.\resources\main.ps1' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable
program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:2
+ &'.\resources\main.ps1'
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (.\resources\main.ps1:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

I'll wait for your reply

See if you can upload DM first.

Please indicate: (if any)
a) antivirus software (always on and manual)
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software