Windows menus become inaccessible, file permissions changes etc.

Hi Everyone,

I've been wrestling with a Windows 10 problem since November of last year, and it's really starting to get to me…

Here's the problem:

I generally leave my PC on all the time. Routinely at least once within a 24 hour window (not at consistent times) windows will stop working properly with the following symptoms:

• the Sleep/Shutdown/Restart Menus disappear (I have to shutdown/restart using alt-F4)
• Can't use program search after pressing the windows key. If I start typing nothing happens

• Files become inaccessible - usually get an error like this:

"Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

• Sometimes - edge/chrome/brave extensions disappear (doesn't happen with firefox) and I have to reinstall them


file permissions change like this:
before:



after:



All the above problems disappear (although I do have to reinstall browser extensions sometimes) after I logout and log back in again.... Until the next time :-(

I've tried the following to cure this:

- Many Antivirus scans
- Checked the EventLog
- Uninstalled programs one by one
- Disabled VPN/Antivirus
- Upgraded my BIOS
- Complete ReInstall of Windows and then incrementally adding programs

Each time this problem keeps coming back.

Any thoughts on fault-finding this problem?

Many thanks
Shaun

Windows 10 v22H2 (OS build 19045.4291)

Is it repeatable through a clean install of Windows? (you've said "complete") If so I'd suspect about a software incompatibility. From failing hw I'd expect less specific symptoms, specially after a Windows reinstall.

I like running DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth before SFC /scannow, it's advised so in some MS page, although it might be long (about 40 minutes in my W10).

Instead of logging out/in I use to reboot, Idk if it's better or worse in this case. Sometimes it's for the same problem I've seen other times, but rebooting fixes it (maybe logging out/in would fix it too). I consider this more or less normal.

Otherwise I use image backups to recover. I've done this just now in this Win7 system, that is stable in general but 2 days ago it booted up w/o gfx drivers and Windows installed ones or the same on its own. I had a fine session but today it failed with Windows Updates, that only installs Defender definitions and the monthly KB890830 anyway, but the list of recent updates was empty and, a bit to my regret, I've just now restored my latter image (from more than 1 month ago), and all is fine now. Both Windows Defender and my antivirus have recovered the delay w/o issues.

But you seem to have a sw incompatibility.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the replies, and suggestions. I've now got some more avenues to pursue.

I tried sfc /scannow which didn't highlight any problems:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

Also downloaded CrystalDiskinfo and that is showing everything is good with the Disk.

Actually, when I did the complete clean windows reinstall previously several months back (from usb flashdrive), I did it on to a completely new NVME drive. This is same model as my previous one. I wanted to get up and running but have the original to fall back on if I needed to revert.

I don't normally use imaging software (but maybe I should now) - my main drive is bitlocker encrypted and thought this might have caused some hassles to do an image, so never explored (I use syncback to backup individual files to multiple destinations).

So I think I might next try creating another separate local account and give that a try to see if the problem happens and then if does , will do another complete Windows installation and carry on from there...

Many thanks

Shaun.

dalchina said:

It would be a great choice to start using disk imaging.
Not only does that provide a 100% backup, but recovery from bad situations to a previously good state.

Sounds good - does Macrium Reflect work in a straightforward way with my fully bitlocker encrypted home drive?

You might also therefore consider backing up key personal data more frequently.

No worries there, I have my personal files on a separate internal SSD. Files are backed up every 15 mins onto another internal SSD using Synchback, also on a weekly cycle backup to my NAS, and Onedrive (as a backup) all using Syncback Pro

I assume all virus scans are clean. [

Yes - so far

Once you have things working reasonably, try booting to Safe Mode for comparison, and then leave your PC on overnight. [

thanks - something to consider - it can happen anytime over a 24hr period so generally I'm using it (login to work using Citrix)

Is your PC synching with any other device? If so, disable that.

No, it's not doing that.

(I almost always shut mine down overnight thinking of the environment!)

I prefer to keep it on in lower power mode (only uses 5w when in sleep) because I have to do multiple password logins to Bitwarden (in three browsers), KeepPassXC etc.