Windows 10: Cannot click taskbar or window minimize, maximize, and close icons

Since the last week the computer has gone into a mode where the taskbar and window interaction icons cannot be clicked.
Chrome tabs cannot be interacted with. Keyboard navigation works. The Mouse doesn't seem to have anything to do with it-- neither external mouse nor touchpad work, and the mouse is the same one I've been using since I got the computer last year.

I did a few things suggested by the forums here for similar issues, like restoring a clean image from command prompt, checking drivers, installing updates etc.

Neither restarts nor ending processes like explorer.exe and starting them again work.

The only thing that does work?
Weirdly enough, the moment I open command prompt in administrator mode, I can work normally on the rest of the desktop, I can then close it till the problem recurs and I have to do it again.

command prompt in regular mode doesn't work, it has to be administrator mode, and I don't even have to type any commands.

:)

 

Windows 10 - Minimized on taskbar do not open or maximize

Are you missing the standard process to maximize a minimized screen?

When I have a screen reduced, Smaller than full screen, in other words I have clicked on the double squares in the upper right, I can click in the - and close it to the taskbar and if I click on the icon on the taskbar it opens in the smaller size. If I
want it to be full screen I click on the square icon in the upper right. If the screen was at full size when I minimize to the taskbar and I click on the icon on the taskbar it opens to full screen.

This is working on 17763.104 and 18272.1000.

 

win 7 aero minimize/maximize question

You know how the icons on the taskbar seem to have the effect of like a genie going into a bottle whenever you minimize something? Is there a way to decrease/increase the rate at which speed min/maximizes like on a mac?

 

Windows 10 - Minimized on taskbar do not open or maximize

Once the window is minimized obviously it is minimized over taskbar to be accessible again. State of the window could be sized or maximized.

Clicking on it does not maximize or restore to original state. Happens randomly.