No longer have Audio, Start Menu, or Settings

[Stampede]

Hello! I'm currently in serious need of some help with my Windows 10 PC. I have searched for answers to my problems but it always leads to another error or issue. If anyone has any answers to whats going on below please let me know!

Randomly my PC decided to freeze up completely. I could not move the mouse and nothing was changing on the screen. After around 30 minutes of waiting for it to hopefully unfreeze, nothing happened. I decided it was long enough and used the restart button on my PC to hopefully fix the freeze. It did fix the freeze but brought many more issues.

After the restart audio has stopped working, the windows button and search button on the taskbar no longer work and right clicking the desktop and selecting Display Settings/Personalize brings up an error box below.

Right Clicking the Desktop and selecting Display Settings/Personalize

https://i.gyazo.com/259ca3c5bbd40e7c859900b9526b7b85.png

Audio Icon along with Troubleshooting and cannot select default playback/recording devices

https://i.gyazo.com/0eb1cd2a8ee0fa518c0975f98aa14b58.png

Trying to Left/Right Click the Start Menu and Search Button

https://i.gyazo.com/21646ea19be147529606e8b18c9837d1.mp4


If you have any ideas or questions please ask! Thanks for anyone who tries to help.

 

[Wolfie]

Hi Stampede,

if you have so many problems; I suggest you insert your disk/USB stick and start a fresh installation, choose "Upgrade" and select C:/ drive for the install but do not format the drive!.

This will leave your files intact in a folder called Windows.old, you can copy and paste your files to the new users folders and then delete the Windows.old folder.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-properly-remove-windowsold-folder-windows-10

See the following link about using the Media Creation Tool, do it on a different computer!:

https://www.windows10forums.com/thr...ws-10-to-the-latest-version.13015/#post-79067

You can also "Reset" windows 10 and keep your files (see "Reset your PC"):

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options
​

When you have a complete freeze, don't use the restart button on your PC, press and hold the power button for 4 - 6 seconds and let the computer shut down as you may well damage your HDD by doing so otherwise!.