Solved My Windows 10 tablet will no longer load the Settings app

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
@spapakons - I don't know if this is good or bad, but here is what device mgr says:

View attachment 78840

Looks like the official Intel driver.

Regarding your issue with Settings, it might be that you may have not full access to Windows apps for some reason. You can re-register the apps to your Microsoft account to grant you full access by executing this command in PowerShell as Administrator:

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

If this gives error you might not have proper access rights to the folder where the Windows apps are (yes, I have seen this bug). You must enable hidden folders and then go to C:\Program Files and find the hidden folder WindowsApps Right-click on that folder and then go to Properties and then Security. Click on the Advanced button. Click to change the owner and type Administrators Make sure to take ownership for this folder and all subfolders and files by checking the respective box. Then change Permissions and give full access to Administrators group. Try the commands to fix Settings and re-register apps again. Now they should work.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

@spa

spapakons said:
How about the good old sfc and dism commands to repair your system files? Try them and if you still have a problem do an in-place upgrade/repair as suggested.

Code:

dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup sfc /scannow dism/Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth sfc /scannow

@spapakons - I am just reporting back from post #9, 1st page, the results.

I ran these routines you suggested, on the tablet, and the screenshots (for documentation/trail purposes) are below. But unfortunately, (after I Restart) this did not fix the Settings issue. It still closes immediately.

I will look at your latest post.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

spapakons said:
.
.
If this gives error you might not have proper access rights to the folder where the Windows apps are (yes, I have seen this bug). You must enable hidden folders and then go to C:\Program Files and find the hidden folder WindowsApps Right-click on that folder and then go to Properties and then Security. Click on the Advanced button. Click to change the owner and type Administrators Make sure to take ownership for this folder and all subfolders and files by checking the respective box. Then change Permissions and give full access to Administrators group. Try the commands to fix Settings and re-register apps again. Now they should work.

** Part 1 **

@spapakons - I believe you are correct. For instance, if I enter at a command prompt window the following:

..\system32\>start ms-settings:display

I will get the usual blue windows (with gear in the center) Settings app pop up, then close, and issue an error message dialog box this entry and 'File system error (-2147219196). And when I close that dialog box, the command prompt windows shows 'Access is denied'.

and

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

Been there done that. Part of my job as Computer Technician is to be first to face all these bugs and solve them, so I know what to do when a customer has the same issue. Of course I gladly share my knowledge in this forum to help other fellows.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

spapakons said:
.
.
If this gives error you might not have proper access rights to the folder where the Windows apps are (yes, I have seen this bug). You must enable hidden folders and then go to C:\Program Files and find the hidden folder WindowsApps Right-click on that folder and then go to Properties and then Security. Click on the Advanced button. Click to change the owner and type Administrators Make sure to take ownership for this folder and all subfolders and files by checking the respective box. Then change Permissions and give full access to Administrators group. Try the commands to fix Settings and re-register apps again. Now they should work.

** Part 2 **

@spapakons - I have the properties window open for the folder WindosApps, but after clicking on the [Advanced] button, I am lost.

1. At the top it shows my Administrator (computer name\Administrator) Change
2. There are three tabs: Permissions = 8 selections, Auditing, and Effective Access.

And from there I am stuck on what next to do.

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

You should see Owner: TrustedInstaller, change that to Administrators so you are allowed to view and change permissions. Then in Permissions you should see that Administrators have Read Only or Read & Write permissions. Change that so they have Full Access (all boxes checked).

Tight-click on the WindowsApps folder. Click on Security Tab, then Advanced. Change the Owner to Administrators. Then on Permissions click on Administrators group and then Change Permissions. Check the Full Access box, all other boxes will be checked. Proceed.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

It took some doing but I figured it out before reading your post. So I was finally able to updated the folder and be able to open it, but entering Administrator would not allow me in. I had to enter my windows sign-on name, and then (after it processed all the files) it allowed me into the folder.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

Okay. So I re-ran your powershell script:
Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

But it is still giving me the error message(s) (in red) as in the first run. Not sure if I did anything wrong. If there was a log I would post that, but I don't see any way to do that.

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

Not the build-in user Administrator, I was referring to the Administrators (plural) group.

FreeBooter · Nov 23, 2023

Looks like you don't want to follow my instructions so i'm out helping you good luck.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Both command works for me you did not follow my instruction carefully you will need to execute first command from Command Prompt type cmd.exe into start menu right click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.

Second command works only with Windows 11.

from post #17

@FreeBooter - I see. I did not realize it should have been cmd.

When I attempted it the correct way via cmd+admin, the output was in pink at the top and flashed by in 1/2 sec. It is a string of 'oooooooo', is what it looks like to me. I tried capturing it via prt-sc but it goes by too quickly.

I don't know what I am to look for when running that. But I can confirm that Settings still opens/closes immediately after that.

re your post #30

Sorry about that. I was juggling multiple computers, posts, and other things here and maybe lost track. I'm also under pressure to go to work. I work the night shift and I get very little sleep. It's terrible. But I squeeze in as much time to problems like this as much as possible.

spapakons · Nov 24, 2023

The string of oooo appears when downloading or repairing a Windows Store app. It shows the progress. As soon as it is not red indicating some errors it's OK.

FreeBooter · Nov 24, 2023

Use the attached batch script to re-register Settings App in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

wuser · Nov 24, 2023

Thanks, will check it out after work.

wuser · Nov 24, 2023

@FreeBooter - I'm back and will try your .bat script.

FreeBooter · Nov 24, 2023

wuser said:
@FreeBooter - I'm back and will try your .bat script.

What is the result?

wuser · Nov 24, 2023

I was detained for a while and couldn't write back.

The result was two command prompt windows opened and closed immediately. Also, I have internet wifi on.

The first command prompt opened/closed in a blink of an eye.

The second one opened and displayed the blue background, yellow text area, and the long string of 'oooo's, something like what's shown below for about a second, and closed.

processing
[ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ]

FreeBooter · Nov 24, 2023

You must have more than one time double-click the batch script when you double-click it batch script will re-register Settings app, and you will see processing [ooooo] now after executing batch script reboot your computer and try opening the Settings app and let us know the result.

wuser · Nov 24, 2023

Okay, I will restart the tablet now.

wuser · Nov 24, 2023

And the results are the same.

1. If I open Settings on its own, it opens the blue window with the gear in the center for a few seconds and then closes.
2. If I right-click the desktop to open the context menu and select 'Display settings', the same thing happens, it opens, waits, then closes and then pops up the dialog box in post first post, "This file does not have an app associated with it for. . . "

At least this time, the Settings window opens BUT stays opened longer and then closes. There are no text or controls or anything. The window is a blank blue area with the gear in the center--same as in my first post.

Solved My Windows 10 tablet will no longer load the Settings app

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