Windows 10: Windows 10 Update causes my programs to spontaneously disappear and re-appear

I don't even know how to explain this succinctly, so here goes:


My computer was getting bogged down, so I rebooted. Suddenly, I get the ol' "Hold on while we get things ready". There was no indication that I was going to be updating, but I figured I'd let it go. When it came back, my computer was updated to the most recent version of Windows, with the revised Start menu and all that. Also, all of my programs were missing. Every single program. It was like a brand new installation of Windows. Fortunately, I keep my data on different drives, otherwise, I would have really been losing my mind. However, I also noted that it wouldn't recognize or mount my external drives, and seemed sluggish to populate the explorer with the contents of my internal drives.


I tried doing a system restore, but got an error message. So, aggravated, but needing to get things done, I began the laborious process of re-installing all my software. During one of these installations, I rebooted again. When it came back up, my computer was reset to the original settings, as if nothing had ever happened. All my software was there, all my settings, even my background wallpaper was all unchanged and the way it was supposed to be. So, happy day, right?


Until I rebooted again. Once again, Windows tried updating, and when it came back up, I was back to the "new" installation, and the only programs that were on there were the ones I had managed to get installed earlier. So, I thought I'd see what happened if I rebooted again. This time, it went back to the way it's supposed to be.


I thought maybe it was creating a new user account and somehow logging me into that, but according to the login page, it's all one account. The one thing that is different is that if the login screen asks me for a password, I know everything will be fine. But if it asks for a PIN, I know it's going to be the "new" installation missing all the software. Weirdly, if I choose to switch the login method from PIN to password at that screen, I get a message saying "incorrect password."


On top of all this, I noticed that where I used to have separate user and admin accounts, I now have only one user account that is also the admin. Which doesn't bother me, I just wonder why it changed.


I don't have the faintest idea what would cause this, but it's really messing with my productivity.

:)

 

Windows Updated(16299.309).KB4088776 Restart is required to complete.


Hi dalchina. Good news, I followed your suggestion and reinstalled the update and now it appears as "installed correctly" *Biggrin Maybe it was not necessary to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter or maybe if necessary. But using it I do not think it could have worsened something. The installation was very fast, unlike the first time it showed step 1 and step 2 completed.

Thanks for the suggestions and for the time to respond Best regards.


And thanks for the tip of that program, I'll have it on my list.

 

Windows updates causing lockup

Hi guys.

No, I cant even get the update screen. I cant find a answer on the internet.

Start -> all programs --> windows update --> check for updates.

10 seconds later, complete system lock up requiring a hard reboot. If I try to install a printer that needs to check windows update, same thing.

I even tried the windows update troubleshooter http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter

Then that program 'checks for solutions online', and then hard lock again. VERY frustrating. What would be causing this?

 

Why did the startup window get cleared?

I didn't missed any step, the list was gone and gone , even after using lot of programs the programs were not listed in that list.