Access to Windows 10 Settings blocked by Microsoft

I haven't seen symptoms like that before, so someone else may jump in with a specific fix, but it sounds messed up enough to be worth trying a new user profile. As a test, you can create a new user (make it an administrator), login as that user, and see if the issues exist with that new user account. If the new account is fine, you can try migrating your existing account to a new account using Account Profile Fixer.

Thankyou very much both for replying so promptly. I am very fogged this evening so will consider your suggestions tomorrow with a clearer head.

I have tried hard to get into my Microsoft account via my mobile without success. On the last try Microsoft said I had asked for too many codes today ! But one message said there was a waiting period so something might be happening. Thanks Spunk anyway, I think I am going to have to change my User account. My User Account is not a Microsoft account anyway. It is a Local Account with Administrator privileges.

To Paul Block

Thanks for interest. No I don`t see how as I have been using Windows 10 successfully, apart from the problem with the User Account and Microsoft . Oddly enough I can still access my data and programmes through a pin given to me by Microsoft prior to a clean install done by my son, during which he set up the User Account that is causing the problem. He intended to avoid the Microsoft problem I had always had by creating a Local Account with Admin privileges and on the whole this has worked. The current Microsoft account was created by me later when I set up an outlook email account.

Whenever I try to open settings and I have tried all the suggested routes. Microsoft pops up with direction to sign into the Microsoft account which I cannot do for reasons I wont detail here. File Explorer is working and I am able to create, copy, paste and move documents and use my Moneysoft programme without a problem. The problem for some time has been that folders in the User Account Directory (accessed through File Explorer) are duplicated, and at the same time files saved just disappear. I have got round this by creating two User Profiles (which do not appear in Control Panel) which I am able to access to save documents and Moneysoft Accounts, and also to download Bank Statements etc. I back all this work up to 2 External Hard Drives preparatory to setting up Macrium 8 to backup more securely. I am not very experienced as you can doubtless tell, and I am afraid my meddling will result in losing the pin before I have securely backed everything up. Though almost all essential stuff is backed up to the external hard drives.

It is an awful muddle I know. Many thanks for listening.

If you can't get to the "Personalize" settings (e.g. change theme) that would be an indication of not being activated. If you can't get to any of the settings, that would be an indication of corruption to your Windows installation or your user profile.

First do the basic checks (as dalchina mentioned) via an elevated Cmd window. Click the links for details:
SFC /scannow
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

As I mentioned earlier, you can determine if it's a user profile issue by creating, and testing with, a new user account. If a new user account is fine, then you can repair your account using Account Profile Fixer.

If none of that makes any difference, then you should try a Windows Repair Install.

re suggestions of Dal China

Thankyou very much for your suggestions.

No I cannot access my Microsoft account - it is not my User Account. That was set up during a clean install by my son who wanted to avoid Microsoft as I had always had a lot of trouble with them. It is a Local User with admin privileges. I do have a Microsoft outlook email account set up since. And I cannot access that either.

The particular problem with accessing Windows 10 Settings sprang up the day I started this thread. Prior to that I could access Settings easily from the Start menu. Though as you can see from my reply to Paul Black (sorry to refer you to another reply but the describing all aspects of the problem briefly and clearly is a bit beyond me.[/B]c

Unfortunately I cannot download Hard Disk Sentinel - I get error message it cannot be downloaded to my computer.
I am trying to download Crystal diskinfo - show in file highlights DriverSupport - is that correct ?

Thought I would go ahead with chkdisk scan but command with admin is rejecting it. Am I entering it incorrectly ?
chkdisk c: scan > Thanks