windows update wanted restart, now no login screen

although windows boots, I'm back at all the issues that led me to a reset which resulted in the original problem, default apps are not sticking, links in programs do not work, links in browsers to pdf files show error 500 .......... its a long list. most likely it has to do with the default apps. the other pc's that I upgraded do not have these symptoms.

I have tried all the fixes for default apps, but nothing sticks past a reboot. I created a new account, no go.
I'm at a loss as to where to go next, my fear is another reset will once again leave me with an unbootable system.

Do a Repair Install. See if that will solve your problems.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

another fine kettle of fish .......... the media creation tool gets to selecting USB or ISO, either selection gives me the cannot run the media creation tool on this system.

can this be created on one of my other systems and used on this pc?
thanks

all the other systems are using ver 10240, this system has 10586.218, does the media creation tool download the version on the system or the latest.
thanks

the repair is under way ............ crossing my fingers for success ........
thanks

many thanks to all,

the repair has completed ............ default apps seem to stick now (2 reboots), but links from inside apps still do not work.

in any web browser if I click on a link for a pdf nothing happens
in outlook if I click a link in an email nothing happens
in Acronis for example (many other programs too) if I go to tools, than click more tools the explorer window does not pop up

this does not happen on any of the other systems, but they are all on 10240.

I'm thinking this is something simple, but I cannot find it.

feel free to post your thoughts, I'll bang away at this for a few more hours, then I'll have to decide to either do a clean install and lose everything, or restore Windows 7

hopefully the third time is the charm .....
can I do a clean install from the USB I created and keep my license? is there any info from the current install I will require before nuking the C drive?

thanks