Windows 10: Win10 1803 issues - start menu reset, control panel not showing all programs

I just bought a Thinkpad X1 Yoga (3rd gen). And I'm now trying to set it up the way I like so that I can start using it. But Windows 10 is making it SO hard. I'm coming to a PC after 10 years on a Mac so maybe these are silly problems bc I don't yet know my way around Windows 10 but it's mighty frustrating.



This is what I did:



1. Turned on laptop and went through initial setup

2. Downloaded all Windows updates as well as Lenovo updates through the Lenovo Vantage app

3. Proceeded to try and uninstall some bloatware. I THOUGHT some programs were missing (more on this later) in the Settings app so proceeded to use the Start Menu, right-clicked, and clicked 'Uninstall'. I did this for programs like Minecraft, Netflix, Fitbit Coach, and Candy Crush Friends. I also rearranged my tiles in the order that I liked.



**Issue 1:** Some apps would be removed after clicking on the 'Uninstall' button. But others would just come back right after! Some would appear as before, others would come back int this weird 'ghost' format where there's a tile and the name but no picture and would be unclickable. Like the 'Candy Crush Friends Saga' button in this picture:






4. So at this point, I decided to restart my computer.



**Issue 2:** After reboot, NONE of the changes that I had made to the Start menu had saved! All my rearranging was gone and ALL the "apps" I thought I had uninstalled came back. My Start menu looks like how it looks the first time I ever opened it:






5. I clicked on Candy Crush Saga and instead of opening, it downloaded and installed! That's when I realized that some of the items in the Start Menu list aren't even real programs. Are they links? Are they ads? I HAVE NO IDEA. What are they and how do I get rid of them?



6. So now out of curiosity, I wonder what apps are ACTUALLY installed and which are just...link/ad/type things. I go to the Control Panel, then Programs and Features. And it's only showing 8 programs installed on my computer?! Other ones I know are installed - like Mail, Microsoft Edge, etc. -- aren't even showing up:





At a loss on what to do. This is a brand new computer. Here are some details about what I'm running:






Someone please help me! I've already spent hours and hours searching online for fixes but I feel like these are multiple problems compounding on me at once.

:)

 

windows 10 control panel

Hello,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community and providing us with the detailed description about the issue.

As per the description, I understand that you want to know how to access the control panel in Windows 10?

I certainly understand your concern and will try my best to help you.

I would suggest you to try the following steps to open the Control Panel in the system.

Step 1: Opening Control Panel in Windows 10.

• 
  Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows and R keys (Windows + R).
  
• 
  In the Run dialog box, type
  Control and then press Enter key to open the classic Control Panel.
  

Step 2: Access Control Panel in Windows 10 from desktop.

• 
  Right-click on the Start button (Windows logo button at the bottom-left corner of the desktop) and then click Control Panel to open the same.
  

Step 3: Launch Control Panel using search.

• 
  Open Start menu or screen.
  
• 
  In the search box, enter Control Panel and then press Enter key to open the same.
  

Note: You can quickly access the search with the help of Windows + C hotkey.

Step 4: Create Control Panel shortcut on desktop.

• Right-click on desktop, click New, and then click Shortcut.
• In Type the location of the item box, type the following path.

explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder

• Click Next button.
• In the Type a name for this shortcut box, type Control Panel, and click Finish button. You can now double-click on the Control Panel icon on the desktop to quickly launch the same.

Step 5: Pin Control Panel to Start or taskbar.

• 
  In the Start search box, type Control Panel.
  
• 
  When you see search results, right-click on Control Panel entry and then click Pin to Start to pin it to the Start menu or screen.
  

Note: Clicking Pin to taskbar will pin the Control Panel to taskbar.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

windows 10 control panel

Yes all that will get you to the Control Panel if you have a memory (your human brain) that can handle all that info plus the other places you want to open.... So in the mean time where is this wonderful simple menu that lists 99% of all the places you want
to get to in Windows 10???? written in =text type= a simple list form that's made for all us

dummies. thank you Tom Cotton

PS: I am sorry but that menu Microsoft is bragging about giving us back is a sorry

peace of work.

 

windows 10 control panel

Step 2 does not work at all. Anything from File Explorer and above does not launch at all.