Problems reinstalling windows keeping existing data Win10

I attempted to reinstall Windows with the option to keep the existing setup, but that choice didn't really work

Here's what happened:

A problem occurred during a Windows update, and I received an error message. Windows attempted to repair the problem, but was not successful.
I had the option to use an earlier restore point, but that did not work.
The final choice was to reinstall Windows, with or without keeping existing "stuff".
I used the "with" choice, and windows was restored. I assumed I was also keeping existing programs but only one non-Microsoft app seemed to remain - IRFANVIEW. This program allows you make an image of the monitor screen and put the entire image or a portion on a Word document, or.......

For example, Firefox, Norton Security, Eudora (my email client), Internet Explorer, Malwarebytes, and even Office were gone. Edge remained, but started as if I was a new user. C:>Program files, including x86 only contained Microsoft products. Desktop icons and most programs listed on the left side no longer worked.

I thought I had clicked the wrong choice except files in the documents folder and IRFANVIEW remained, plus non-working desktop icons.

Is the above the normal outcome?

I don't need to recover my existing data as this is a backup drive, but need to know what to expect.

Jim

Jim8080 said:

I don't need to recover my existing data as this is a backup drive, but need to know what to expect.

Jim

Use Macrium Reflect Free to save backup images of your drive and then you can expect to be able to restore the computer to the exact same condition it was in when the backup image was created. Using only the restore functions provided by Microsoft and you can't really rely upon anything getting restored properly.

Unfortunately that is a lesson that is usually learned the hard way.

Try to roll back/system restore,
Reboot using OS CD/USB and choose repair your computer. Choose operating system > System restore or Roll back to previous version of windows
If that doesn't work, Try a Parallal installation of windows.