User profile and default app issues after updating to 20H2

Alicia J · 13 Jan 2021

I just updated my Windows 10 Home to 20H2. When it finished the update and restarted I could not sign in to my profile. After several attempts and shut downs, it finally allowed me to sign in. Now I am getting a ton of messages saying "an app caused a problem with the default app (then it lists the app, there are many) so it was reset to the default app.

Every time I try to change the default to my choice, not the one Microsoft says is default, I get the same message and it reverts back to the default Microsoft app.

How do I resolve this mess?

dalchina · 14 Jan 2021

Suggest you first do a couple of basic checks- check your disk e.g.
Crystal Diskinfo free, Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) - SSDs too - portable versions available.

If ok, run
chkdsk c: /scan
from an admin command or Powershell prompt.

If ok, read this carefully, and consider its use:
Fix An app default was reset Error in Windows 10

It's more a workaround than a proper fix. See comments following.

Plenty of results were you to search for
an app caused a problem with the default app
e.g.
An app default was reset notification error on Windows 10

Alicia J · 14 Jan 2021

I was looking for some preliminary check recommendations before following a trail of google searches on default app reset issues.

I will run thru your first three suggestions and then check out the last link you gave me.

Thanks dalchina.

Try3 · 14 Jan 2021

Alicia J said:

I just updated my Windows 10 Home to 20H2. When it finished the update and restarted I could not sign in to my profile. After several attempts and shut downs, it finally allowed me to sign in.

Alicia,

It is always worth having a spare local password-protected Admin user account in case of login problems with your normal account.
Add Local Account or Microsoft Account - TenForumsTutorials
Change Account Type [to Admin] - TenForumsTutorials
Make sure you write their passwords down somewhere secure yet readily available to you. Writing down their passwords is as effective as & is a lot cheaper than making 'Password reset disks' [which are only for local accounts anyway]. I always write user account passwords down on a piece of paper that I keep inside one of those dog nametag cylinder things attached to my main keyring -

Here's a [UK] link for ID tags https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pet-Barrel-.../dp/B00DEB1JVQ There are lots of available choices but I bought ones that, like these, have a slot in the bottom for me to swing off so I can be confident they won't come apart accidentally while I'm out & about.

By the way, you did not mention whether the problem account was local or MSAccount-linked. Local accounts have fewer moving parts to get snagged up.

Denis

dalchina · 14 Jan 2021

For consideration- impact of possible older programs:
An application caused a problem with the default application...

Alicia J · 14 Jan 2021

dalchina I did check the hard drive with Hard disk sentinel. No issues were reported. I ran the
chkdsk C: /scan and no errors were found. I do keep my software updated, but perhaps there are still issues with Windows 10 20H2 and 'app default resets' as others have also reported.

Try3 it is an administrator local account. I will create another account so I have a sign in option in cases like this.

I have Easus Backup software which I use to do a system backup on an external hard drive. What files would I need to back up if I just want to backup my user profile?

It appears that so far the issue has resolved itself.

dalchina · 14 Jan 2021

You can't really back up a user profile as such - it's a complex mix of registry keys, folders of data and folders of programs specifically associated with the user profile.

There are programs that help you transfer users and more to another PC, but on a one transfer license basis.

More (for interest only, really): see e.g.
How to backup a local Windows 10 user profile and restore it in Windows 10? - Super User

- but Backup and Restore is deprecated.

How to Migrate a Windows User to Different Windows 10 PC

Alicia J · 15 Jan 2021

I suspected it would not be an easy endeavour.

I’ll check out the links you posted.

Thanks dalchina

- - - Updated - - -

zbook · 15 Jan 2021

There is a default 10 day rollback for feature upgrades.
The number of days can be modified.

Set Number of Days can Go Back to Previous Version of Windows

Logs can be collected now.
After a rollback if there were specific problems identified there may be steps to mitigate them.

Alicia J · 15 Jan 2021

Thanks zbook. That makes it easier to keep track of how many roll back days are left.