Cant assign folders to Start Menu

[Jackietools]

Had to try a few different methods to get the start menu not working problem to go away. Finally I had to go back to a restore point from just after the upgrade from Windows 8.1 Pro

to get the start menu to work again.

Now I try to turn back on the folders in Personalization > Start > Choose which folders appear on Start and the only one that is able to be toggled off and on is the Settings one. I want to turn most of them back on, but they are all locked to off.

 

[Trouble]

Looks like there may be an issue with the install. Something corrupt with the system files.
Maybe try the native System File Checker and see if that helps.
Admin Command prompt (right click the windows logo and choose Command Prompt (admin), and type
sfc /scannow
See if that produces anything.

 

[Jackietools]

Thanks. Tried it once but Ill run it again and let you know.

 

[Jackietools]

No, nothing. "Did not find any integrity violations" Thanks. Hello Microsoft?

 

[Trouble]

After the "restore point" did you check back with Windows Updates and confirm that there are none pending that need attention?

 

[Jackietools]

Yes. Latest updates ran this morning. Must be a user permission problem. I signed off my Microsoft account and signed in the Guest account and all the settings worked as they should. Signed back in to my Microsoft account and have same problem. Something strange in netplwiz. Why do I show 2 accounts? One has a different icon from the other. Not sure what each icon signifies. When I go to control panel it only shows my Admin account so why is it showing 2 accounts of same in netplwiz. Thanks for your help.

Don't know where to go from here.

 

[Trouble]

hmmmmm. IDK but that is sort of interesting.
What do you show for profile folders C:\Users\
Are there two with that same name there as well?

 

[Jackietools]

I don't know what the heck happened but my user folder is a disaster! Jackie should be the only one and maybe a Guest. What the others are I am not sure. I wish I had just did a clean install but I hate to reinstall everything as it would take days to get the PC back to where I want it. Any ideas?

 

[Trouble]

Windows logo key + R
type
lusrmgr.msc
hit enter
Double click "Users"
Create a new user account
give it a name and a password
After it's created double click it and use the member of tab to add that new account to the local adminstrator's group.
Log off and log on with the new account, test to see if problem persists.
I suspect some fundamental profile corruption.
If all is OK..... you can attempt to associate that account with your Microsoft account.
If that works then it is just a matter of cleaning up by moving your stuff over. Contents of my docs, my music, my etc.,
The only caveat being you can not be logged in as either the old user or the new user when you move items from one profile to another.
Generally I use the hidden admin account to do that.
Admin command prompt and type
net user administrator /active:yes
hit enter

 

[Jackietools]

It shows it created an account. It will not open. I get an error when I try to log in "User profile service failed the sign in. User profile cannot be loaded"

 

[Trouble]

That would suggest that there is something fundamentally wrong with the install.
I can't help but notice that your are still using Desktop Widgets.... no one has actually used those since Microsoft declared them a potential attack vector a few years back and no longer offers or supports them.
Have you scanned that computer for the possible presences of malware.

These are the programs I use to generally delouse a computer with virus and or malware issues.
ADWcleaner from here http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/dl/125/
JRT (Junkware Removal Tool) from here http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/junkware-removal-tool/dl/131/
Norton Power Eraser from here https://security.symantec.com/nbrt/npe.aspx
Malwarebytes from here http://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/confirm/
Ccleaner from here http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard
TFC.exe (Temporary Files Cleaner) from here http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/
ESET Online Scanner from here http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/

Eset online scanner is a bit different than the others in that you need to either use
IE or download and run their smart installer if you're using another browser. Then tick
the radio button that says "Enable detection of potentiall unwanted application"
Then click the link that says "Advanced settings", then check all the boxes except the
one that mentions "Use custom proxy settings", unless of course you're using a Proxy
Server. Then just click "Start", it will do a thorough system scan so it takes a long
time.

I don't check the links above everyday, so if you have any problem with any one of them then just Google for the program name but use the site names that I have recommended since I'm relatively certain they are free of extraneous garbage.

 

[Jackietools]

I only installed them a day ago. I had this problem beforehand. I use all of those programs. I build PC's as a side job and also do virus removal and PC tuneup so I am well acquainted with all of them. Thanks bit I'm pretty sure it has to with the account ownership. I had the same problem in Windows 8 where from time to time my apps would not open and I would have to a system restore which would only work in safe mode using a different user. I probably need to do a clean install at this point. Thanks for the help. I'm out of ideas.

 

[Trouble]

I'm out of ideas.

Me too.
But, good luck.

 

[Jackietools]

Thanks. Hopefully Microsoft will look into it but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed!