Completely lost the ability to run Winaero Tweaker

Windows 10 Pro x64 2004 VPS

Ran Winaero Tweaker 0.18.0.0 (latest version) without issue in the past. However, cannot remember exactly when the last time was I ran it successfully.

Click Start Menu, directly run .exe, run from command prompt, doesn't matter. It won't start. It does nothing. Creates no event log. No clue what's wrong, where to look, or what to troubleshoot.

Something is obviously different but I've no idea what.

There doesn't appear to be any support for Winaero Tweaker. So I can't contact anybody.

I have no problems like this on Windows 7. So far Windows 10 has been a complete nightmare for me. I've spent hours on this so far and no solution.

Google searching seems to indicate that this isn't something that has happened to anyone.

I guess I have to consider this VPS a bust, because it is possible for programs to just suddenly stop working, with no error messages or event logs, leaving me in the complete dark.

I can do x64dbg log but what I really need is a log from before on this VPS, when it worked. Do I have to make x64dbg logs for every program installed on this VPS now?

x64dbg log, Win10 VPS, will not start
Initializing wait objects...Initializing debugger...Initializing debugger fu - Pastebin.com

x64dbg log, Win Server 2008 R2 SP1 VPS, starts normally
Successfully loaded C:\Program Files\x64dbg\x64\GleeBug\TitanEngine.dll!Initia - Pastebin.com

The thread exits at the end are normal... it appears to "re-launch" itself somehow, I guess to prevent loading into a debugger.

AFAIK it only installs into C:\Program Files\Winaero Tweaker, and only creates a Windows Registry key under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Winaero.com. Uninstaller removes Winaero Tweaker folder but leaves registry key.

Tried running uninstaller, deleting registry key, and re-installing.

Had no effect.

Am only using Windows Defender. Tried disabling it.

Had no effect.

Not following your posts.

I didn't "try any tweaks in Winaero Tweaker that caused me to notice the program isn't working."

The program, will not start. At all.

This is probably related... this tweak:

Open command window here as administrator - Add in Windows 10

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Created by: Shawn Brink
; Created on: August 10, 2016
; Updated on: April 29, 2020
; Tutorial: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/59686-open-command-window-here-administrator-add-windows-10-a.html



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin]
@="Open command window here as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin\command]
@="cmd /c echo|set/p=\"%L\"|powershell -NoP -W 1 -NonI -NoL \"SaPs 'cmd' -Args '/c \"\"\"cd /d',$([char]34+$Input+[char]34),'^&^& start /b cmd.exe\"\"\"' -Verb RunAs\""



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin]
@="Open command window here as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin\command]
@="cmd /c echo|set/p=\"%V\"|powershell -NoP -W 1 -NonI -NoL \"SaPs 'cmd' -Args '/c \"\"\"cd /d',$([char]34+$Input+[char]34),'^&^& start /b cmd.exe\"\"\"' -Verb RunAs\""



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin]
@="Open command window here as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin\command]
@="cmd /c echo|set/p=\"%L\"|powershell -NoP -W 1 -NonI -NoL \"SaPs 'cmd' -Args '/c \"\"\"cd /d',$([char]34+$Input+[char]34),'^&^& start /b cmd.exe\"\"\"' -Verb RunAs\""



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryFolder\background\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin]
@="Open command window here as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryFolder\background\shell\OpenCmdHereAsAdmin\command]
@="cmd /c echo|set/p=\"%V\"|powershell -NoP -W 1 -NonI -NoL \"SaPs 'cmd' -Args '/c \"\"\"cd /d',$([char]34+$Input+[char]34),'^&^& start /b cmd.exe\"\"\"' -Verb RunAs\""


; To allow mapped drives to be available in command prompt
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableLinkedConnections"=dword:00000001

Has also stopped working. It worked when I set it up initially. Now it stopped working. Does nothing, creates no crash or event log. Just simply no longer works. Tried using the .reg remove and re-added it. Had no effect.

I guess this VPS is hosed.

The program ran fine without issues on the same VPS as recently as some days ago. Now it no longer works.

With no crashes, event logs, or any clue where to look, I have no idea how to fix this. Something must be different. I've no idea what.

- - - Updated - - -

I have no idea what I did to cause this, but, now the program throws an error message when I try to run it:



(It's Windows 10, I'm using Simple Classic Theme. That's not the issue, I've had SCT installed for weeks.)

Additionally, I've lost the "Run as administrator" option for ALL exe files in Windows Explorer:



I can run other exe's.

I've never seen anything like this.

Some kind of weird policy?

Malware?

????????????????