Windows 10: Nothing will open and I can't access any menus

Did the 15 August 2024 update. Now nothing will open. Nothing will respond. Can't get safe mode toin the start menu. Can't open any menus. Can't restart. Can't shut down without pulling the power strip. Why did the update brick my PC that isn't even 6 months old?

:)

 

Context Menu - Open With (Windows Suggested List)

Well.. have a look at this:

I took a risk. I've set a System Restore point then installed Gold Wave. It was not present in that Open With list. I used the Default Programs Editor:

Did you click Save...? You should have seen:

Note: if you are running as a standard user you may need to run it as admin, if it doesn't offer a UAC prompt.

- opened via Open With as above.

 

Context Menu - Open With (Windows Suggested List)

OS: Windows 10 Pro x64 22H2 Diagram 'A' shows Windows' suggested programs Diagram 'B' shows the extended list I have been trying to edit the context menu's "Open with" list of Windows' suggested programs for the .mp3 extension. I'm not talking about the extended list, but rather the programs that first appear 'before' the "choose another app" option. If you look at Diagram 'A' you will see the preliminary list generated by Windows, this is the list I am looking to modify. I have an .mp3 editor named Goldwave that I use for editing audio files, however, I do not want to change the preliminary program Windows uses to open .mp3s. My .mp3s should remain assigned to Winamp Player. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Can I customize the list of suggest apps in the "Open with" menu?

You can't use it to add additional programs, only to set default programs.

Interestingly for me it shows nothing for text files:








Then if I want to add a portable app like Jarte Plus to open with context menu windows doesn't like it.





It's not present and is near impossible to add even via "look for an app on this PC"

OpenWithAdd to the rescue:




Result: