Lost Apps, lost PC Settings, Can't do SR - Help!

Several sudden issues (after a crash - long story) on which I'd greatly
appreciate help please.

Can't do a System Restore
-------------------------
Repeatedly get a message reporting unsuccessful because couldn't access
a file, and suggesting I retry after switching off anti-virus software.
Disabled Defender's protection and retried, but same result.

Can't get to 'Settings'
-----------------------
I use the Classic Start Menu. Clicking PC settings no longer works.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lljsnl24r...ing-1.jpg?dl=0

Can't get to 'Apps'
-------------------
The MS Apps are not showing up. Wouldn't normally worry me overmuch but
I *do* need Skype and Camera urgently.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pi9b0qqrzz...pps-1.jpg?dl=0

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:

Several sudden issues (after a crash - long story) on which I'd greatly
appreciate help please.

Can't do a System Restore
-------------------------
Repeatedly get a message reporting unsuccessful because couldn't access
a file, and suggesting I retry after switching off anti-virus software.
Disabled Defender's protection and retried, but same result.

Can't get to 'Settings'
-----------------------
I use the Classic Start Menu. Clicking PC settings no longer works.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lljsnl24r...ing-1.jpg?dl=0

Can't get to 'Apps'
-------------------
The MS Apps are not showing up. Wouldn't normally worry me overmuch but
I *do* need Skype and Camera urgently.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pi9b0qqrzz...pps-1.jpg?dl=0

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Pleased to say that after spending most of the morning on this I have
now recovered!

Those three problems were fixed by doing a safe mode SR. Sets me back a
day or so, but worth it.

The initial issue that I was trying to solve (during which I had the
serious crash) was relatively trivial. OT, but in brief in case it
prompts ideas: I installed a new webcam recently, a Logitech C170. It
works in the Camera app and in the Skype app. But after installing
Logitech Webcam Software, the Quick Capture in that program does not
activate the webcam. Records audio only. Much googling indicates it's a
fairly common problem, but so far I've not found a solution.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:
Terry Pinnell wrote:

Several sudden issues (after a crash - long story) on which I'd greatly
appreciate help please.

Can't do a System Restore
-------------------------
Repeatedly get a message reporting unsuccessful because couldn't access
a file, and suggesting I retry after switching off anti-virus software.
Disabled Defender's protection and retried, but same result.

Can't get to 'Settings'
-----------------------
I use the Classic Start Menu. Clicking PC settings no longer works.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lljsnl24r...ing-1.jpg?dl=0

Can't get to 'Apps'
-------------------
The MS Apps are not showing up. Wouldn't normally worry me overmuch but
I *do* need Skype and Camera urgently.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pi9b0qqrzz...pps-1.jpg?dl=0

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Pleased to say that after spending most of the morning on this I have
now recovered!

Those three problems were fixed by doing a safe mode SR. Sets me back a
day or so, but worth it.

The initial issue that I was trying to solve (during which I had the
serious crash) was relatively trivial. OT, but in brief in case it
prompts ideas: I installed a new webcam recently, a Logitech C170. It
works in the Camera app and in the Skype app. But after installing
Logitech Webcam Software, the Quick Capture in that program does not
activate the webcam. Records audio only. Much googling indicates it's a
fairly common problem, but so far I've not found a solution.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Is this a FrameServer issue ?

A couple releases back, Microsoft decided to change the path
that web cam video takes through the OS. They decided to
intercept the frames of video. And have a "FrameServer".

What this does, is allows one information source, to have
two or more information sinks. You could send video to
Skype, at the same time video is shipped to the NSA :-)
And the user would be unaware of exactly how many
copies were being made of the video.

Normally a webcam connects to just one device, and previously
lacked the facilities for mischief.

So anyway, this idea had some dependencies on the CODEC
outputs of the webcams. And I think some Logitechs had
a problem. My 9000Pro was broken for three or four months,
until Microsoft provided a fix. I don't know what happened
to some other models that were announced at the time to
have a problem with what Microsoft had done.

https://arstechnica.com/information-...-most-webcams/

The thing was, at the time, some outside developer told
the dude at Microsoft doing the work, not to do it that
way. And he did it anyway, and shipped it. And breakage was
the result.

Paul

Paul wrote:

Terry Pinnell wrote:
Terry Pinnell wrote:

Several sudden issues (after a crash - long story) on which I'd greatly
appreciate help please.

Can't do a System Restore
-------------------------
Repeatedly get a message reporting unsuccessful because couldn't access
a file, and suggesting I retry after switching off anti-virus software.
Disabled Defender's protection and retried, but same result.

Can't get to 'Settings'
-----------------------
I use the Classic Start Menu. Clicking PC settings no longer works.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lljsnl24r...ing-1.jpg?dl=0

Can't get to 'Apps'
-------------------
The MS Apps are not showing up. Wouldn't normally worry me overmuch but
I *do* need Skype and Camera urgently.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pi9b0qqrzz...pps-1.jpg?dl=0

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Pleased to say that after spending most of the morning on this I have
now recovered!

Those three problems were fixed by doing a safe mode SR. Sets me back a
day or so, but worth it.

The initial issue that I was trying to solve (during which I had the
serious crash) was relatively trivial. OT, but in brief in case it
prompts ideas: I installed a new webcam recently, a Logitech C170. It
works in the Camera app and in the Skype app. But after installing
Logitech Webcam Software, the Quick Capture in that program does not
activate the webcam. Records audio only. Much googling indicates it's a
fairly common problem, but so far I've not found a solution.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Is this a FrameServer issue ?

A couple releases back, Microsoft decided to change the path
that web cam video takes through the OS. They decided to
intercept the frames of video. And have a "FrameServer".

What this does, is allows one information source, to have
two or more information sinks. You could send video to
Skype, at the same time video is shipped to the NSA :-)
And the user would be unaware of exactly how many
copies were being made of the video.

Normally a webcam connects to just one device, and previously
lacked the facilities for mischief.

So anyway, this idea had some dependencies on the CODEC
outputs of the webcams. And I think some Logitechs had
a problem. My 9000Pro was broken for three or four months,
until Microsoft provided a fix. I don't know what happened
to some other models that were announced at the time to
have a problem with what Microsoft had done.

https://arstechnica.com/information-...-most-webcams/

The thing was, at the time, some outside developer told
the dude at Microsoft doing the work, not to do it that
way. And he did it anyway, and shipped it. And breakage was
the result.

Paul

That sounds very much on the mark, Paul. Squares with the sort of google
hits I've been scanning. No hint of a fix?

My previous Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 webcam failed to work fully in
Skype. I saw them, they didn't see me. I'd assumed the webcam was broken
or incompatible with Win 10 (I bought it for my XP PC years ago). But it
may have been a quite different issue: namely that I'd been unaware
Skype had changed to an MS 'App'. As a very occasional Skype user I'd
never noticed. Nor, with that webcam, had I ever tried to use the Quick
Capture facility of the Logitech Webcam Software(LWS.exe).

So my £20 ($25?) purchase last week might have been a waste of cash. ;-(

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:


So my £20 ($25?) purchase last week might have been a waste of cash. ;-(

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

I wouldn't give up on it just yet.

I wanted to give you a search term to
work with, to see what the situation is
like this week.

I don't Skype, and I haven't plugged in the webcam
into the Win10 machine, since the last test where I
proved it was working again. That might have been 14393,
but who is counting.

You could try data-mining Newegg or other sites that
have reviews, and see if any other users have noticed.
Maybe there's a solution making the rounds.

Paul