Corrupted something, multiple issues

I am experiencing multiple problems in Windows 10 Pro 21H1 that I believe may be due to a corrupted user account, but I'm not sure.

Symptoms are:
- Many missing icons in the Start menu that can't be repaired by trying to rebuild the icon cache
- Windows update stuck at 0% for pending update downloads
- Audio service is not running. Trying to start the service produces an error, Access is Denied
- I can't run anything in admin mode including the command prompt
- I can't create a new user account, When I try to add someone else, the dialog window pops up for a split second and immediately disappears.
- I can't verify my identity from the Settings menu -> Accounts. Same thing happens with the disappearing dialog window
- If I click Forgot PIN at the Windows login screen, I get the same disappearing dialog window and it brings me right back to the PIN entry box. Luckily I do remember it.
- I'm sure there are other problems but those are the ones that I'm immediately aware of.

If it makes any difference, this is one of my home desktops, and the home network is set up as a workgroup. There is only one user account on the machine.

I'm stuck. Can someone help?

Hello Carnivore ,

With PC connected to network run the following from an admin powershell:

Code:

sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

if sfc found problems it could not repair, run it again a second after the dism command.

If the problem is resolved after that, then you're done. Otherwise continue to following.

Create a test account and see if the problem occurs there. If it does, then I would suggest trying an in-place repair install: Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Try creating the test account using the command line method:
Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10

Can you open an admin powershell? OP said you couldn't open an admin command prompt.

This might clear the stuck updates: Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

I can't run an admin Powershell or an elevated command prompt so I can't run sfc, that's the first thing I tried.

I managed to create a new user account with administrator privilege in netplwiz but all the same problems exist when I reboot and log in with that account.

I haven't tried to clear the stuck Windows updates using the instructions at the link you provided yet. I think I'd better solve the underlying problem first.

Can you open admin powershell from 2nd account or safe mode?

Try booting from a Windows install USB and try the repair option.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

I will try those things in the morning and report back. For now, I'm calling it a night. Thanks for your help.

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steve108 said:

Try booting from a Windows install USB and try the repair option.

This was ultimately the solution. The "Repair" option actually failed, but I was able to get System Restore to roll back to an automatic restore point that was previously unsuccessful when I tried to do it from within Windows.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I had forgotten about the repair option on a Windows install USB until you mentioned it.

Carnivore said:

I will try those things in the morning and report back. For now, I'm calling it a night. Thanks for your help.

- - - Updated - - -



This was ultimately the solution. The "Repair" option actually failed, but I was able to get System Restore to roll back to an automatic restore point that was previously unsuccessful when I tried to do it from within Windows.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I had forgotten about the repair option on a Windows install USB until you mentioned it.

Thanks for the update and glad that worked.

I'm still puzzled why in-place upgrade fails.

So everything is okay now and Windows Update is working too?

steve108 said:

Thanks for the update and glad that worked.

Yes, everything is back to normal after the successful system restore. My icons are back, admin options are back on the start menu, audio service is running again, Windows updates downloaded and installed normally, and everything is now up-to-date.

I noticed one of the updates that came down through Windows Update was an Advance Micro Devices - MEDIA driver update. I Googled that one and some of the top matches were from people complaining that this driver update had caused problems similar to what I just experienced. It installed fine this time around though, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it.