Start menu, settings, store and all apps not working Windows 10 20h2

Good morning

Some days ago, I had problems with Windows Update, but I could not do an in-place upgrade because of the 20h2 bug, so I decided to use the program here: Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

The process ended successfully, and I have been able to keep my files and upgrade.

When everything ended up successfully, I tried to open Microsoft Store, but it crashed every time.
So I tried the troubleshooting inside the Settings, that found the problem but didn't solve it.
When I have used the powershell command

Code:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

it showed many errors.

When I restarted:

• Start does not open
• Microsoft Store and all the apps (built-in included), when opened, show the popup error "explorer.exe class not registered"
• I cannot use win+x or win+i
• Settings do not open up
• Only .exe apps work well (no errors)

So I have tried to:

1. sfc and dism (also from safe boot) --> No errors and repair successful
2. Do the powershell command again
3. Create new users
4. In place upgrade two times

But no one of these methods worked.

Currently I am using build 19042.685.

I don't have antivirus or optimisation programs installed.

Is there a way to solve this problem without having to format all the partitions?

Thanks in advance for the help!
W.

Thank you for your answer dalchina!

Sadly I have discovered this website when I already had problems with my PC (the WU problem written before) so I didn't have the opportunity to take a disk image backup when the system was working flawlessly...

I have used:
Hard disk sentinel trial --> All free tests found no problems
Crystal diskinfo --> Health: good and no problems
Built in Dell disk check --> No problems found

I have many apps installed and I would lose days to install all of them again... Is there another way without clean install?

Thanks in advance

dalchina said:

Hi, the simplest answer would be:
if you have followed the endlessly given recommendations to use disk imaging regularly and routinely (e.g. Macrium Reflect - free is good enough for most) then you could restore a disk image of your previously working O/S

(applies equally to any partition).

I would guess you have yet to discover how valuable that can be and how it can save you clean installing on occasion.

Given the range of problems you've been experiencing. start by checking your disk.
E.g. Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) - SSDs too - excellent
or basic SMART parameter check - Crystal Diskinfo (free)

Portable versions of both available.

I would guess you're facing a clean install.

Just tried what written from this website, no results.
I have already tried to create more users but they have the same problem.

Actually you are right, trying to fix this problem may take more days than clean install.

One last thing: I have a Dell laptop (top of the range from 2017) do you think it would be better to use Dell OS Recovery tools to clean install Windows (which installs all Dell's SW, drivers, etc.) or Windows Media Creation Tool (and then install only SupportAssist via Microsoft Store to update drivers)?

dalchina said:

As you have complete an in-place upgrade repair install at least twice, and you have no disk image, then I would say it's very unlikely.

Considering
"explorer.exe class not registered"

see e.g. 2nd part on of
How To Fix Explorer.Exe Class Not Registered Windows Error? [SOLVED]

You may have some form of registry corruption, or it could be your user profile is damaged.

You can try creating a new user and logging in as that user for comparison for test purposes initially.

If any repairs are possible, you are left with a certain doubt as to whether everything is fixed, and it may be a time trade-off between not using your PC, the frustration of struggling to fix it and a clean install.

Thanks again for your help

dalchina said:

I have no personal experience of Dell's tools but I believe they have been mentioned in other threads, so you could find precedent here.

Rather depends if your PC has special features requiring specific support from Dell utilities, for example.

When you do clean install, start a disk imaging routine as early one as you can (to large enough external storage), and plan to keep personal data off C: as far as possible, so it's relatively unaffected by O/S maintenance, including restoring (an older) image of C:

Also enable System Restore (great when it works) - you can schedule a daily restore point - tutorial available.

Hi,
Nothing special about 20h2
Get a nice 1909 or 1903 iso
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool