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

Since we've tried just about everything we could think of, this may be my best alternative.

Oh, but here is this problem. I will still have to activate windows again because that version had the window logo at the bottom right so I did the activation (to remove the watermark) and that started this headache.

wuser said:

I will still have to activate windows again because that version had the window logo at the bottom right so I did the activation (to remove the watermark) and that started this headache.

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It would have been helpful had we known that. Most of Chuwi tablets are Android. All the The Windows ones Chuwi makes appear to be Windows Home version. You now say the problem started when you activated it. I'm confused because what I can't understand is how did Enterprise get on the tablet and how did you activate the Enterprise version because the embedded key more than likely is for Home.?.

glasskuter said:

It would have been helpful had we known that. Most of Chuwi tablets are Android. All the The Windows ones Chuwi makes appear to be Windows Home version. You now say the problem started when you activated it. I'm confused because what I can't understand is how did Enterprise get on the tablet and how did you activate the Enterprise version because the embedded key more than likely is for Home.?.

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From what I know, some Chuwi models have Android, Windows, and Android & Windows w/dual boot. I chose this model because it was the cheapest and I wanted a tablet with Windows. That's all I know. At the time, I didn't know I would have problems, and I did not know that Chuwi had poor support, etc..

I wrote in my first post on page 1, the following:

However, about a week ago, I activated windows and it performed various updates, it then performed a major windows 10 upgrade to 22H2...

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glasskuter said:

. . .
I'm confused because what I can't understand is how did Enterprise get on the tablet and how did you activate the Enterprise version because the embedded key more than likely is for Home.?.

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Yeah, I'm confused too, because when I first started using the tablet, I thought it was Windows 10 Home. I mean, I assume it was 10 Home.

All I know and remember is that after I activated it, it began doing updates and then an upgrade.

Now that I think of it, at some point after using it a few times it would crash on me, so I decided to take pictures of the screen so I could see the codes and search Google for what they meant in case I could fix the issue of it crashing on my own. But then after seeing it make updates, I started to take pictures of them as well, so I got into the habit of doing that. I'm sure I have a picture or two of some of the activation process, whatever I could catch at the time because sometimes I would get lazy and miss a few. Anyway. Let me see what I can find.

Here is an image of the activation and preparing for upgrade process. I had just caught it wherever in the process it was at the time.

I guess you used a Windows 11 Enterprise ISO to upgrade and this changed the version from Home to Enterprise. The text at the bottom most likely was to remind you that Windows need activation. You must disconnect from the internet and then change the key to a valid Windows 7/8/10/11 Home key to downgrade to Home. You can also use the generic Windows 10/11 Home key, Google that, I don't have it handy now to copy-paste in this post. Once you downgrade to the Home version successfully connect to the internet to activate automatically using your existing digital license.

I'm trying to understand the chain of events going by what you have posted and I see a another possible activation problem you might run into with a downgrade.
These observations are based on what you have posted.

You said: All I know and remember is that after I activated it, it began doing updates and then an upgrade.
Per Microsoft direct quote: The Windows activation system is designed to use the product key that's injected into the firmware of the computer during manufacturing. It automatically activates the device when the device first comes online
My observation: I have set up many new devices. Not once have I seen an activation window and have to manually activate. New devices automatically activate the version of Windows associated with the key the manufacturer stored in the UEFI firmware. Did you manually enter a key when you saw the activation window? If so, where did you get the key? If you did not enter a key, that means the manufacturer embedded key was used to activate and is an Enterprise key. That be the case, the tablet was sold illegally as Enterprise is to be sold to Volume License users only, not the general public. These are corporations who have purchased a volume license.

Here's kicker #1. You can not downgrade to Home or Pro without purchasing a Home or Pro license key.

Kicker #2. If in fact the embedded key is for Enterprise, you can repair or clean install ONLY using an Enterprise iso. One can not be obtained through the media creation tool nor is there one on UUP Dump as far as I can find. Only volume license owners have access to Enterprise iso downloads.
I did find this MS site but I can not attest this iso will work to solve your problem since it is an evaluation iso and not a release one. IMO I seriously doubt it. Windows 10 Enterprise | Microsoft Evaluation Center

You can however purchase a cheap Pro license and clean install using this license.(Possibly? Probably? downgrade to Pro as well using this license) Once a device is digitally activated using this license, isos for Pro will always be readily available to you.

The evaluation ISO should be able to activate the full product using a valid Windows 11 Enterprise key. That's what happens with the regular Windows 11 ISO. If you don't enter a key (and no key is detected in BIOS) it gives a list with almost all Windows 11 versions, including Education and Pro for Workstations. You can install any version you like and evaluate for 30 days before having to activate with a valid key for that version. So I can install Windows 11 Pro for Workstations to try it and then downgrade to regular Windows 11 Pro using my valid key and activate. I have done it. The only bug is that any attempt to downgrade fails if you stay online. Disconnect from the internet before changing the key. That works.

You said: All I know and remember is that after I activated it, it began doing updates and then an upgrade.

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@glasskuter - I am trying as best to remember the steps that occurred before, during, and after, in these Windows processes.

To the best of my knowledge, almost every time I boot up the table from shutdown to start, it goes through updates, so I've seen them a lot and may have confused these Windows processes.

Here is a listing of the events started from last week in one day, it was night for me, I just got back from work around 2:30am:

There was an update (2:40am) before I activated the table. A few hours later (around 4:38am) I initiated the Activation process, and then it began an Upgrade (around 4:40am), and then it did an Update (4:46am). The tablet Restarted multiple times, and then finally, I saw a small message at the bottom right saying, "Success! You're all done and your PC is ready to go.".

Since the time of the issue with the Settings app, I have been searching, trying, and failing to get Settings to work again.

And, whether it's Home, Pro, or Enterprise, I could care less. It's all the same to me, Windows.

If you have the Windows.old folder, hold SHIFT and restart. Select Troubleshoot and then select to restore your previous Windows version (not remember the exact description).

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@spapakons - Its not working for me. There is no option to Restore windows. I'm pretty sure I used to see it in previous attempts while debugging this issue at least a few days ago.

If you don't see this option, probably you don't have Windows.old folder or it is corrupted and cannot be used to go back to the earlier version.

@wuser There us no option to restore windows if 10 days has passed since the upgrade.
I'm very curious about something. Do you mind sharing where you purchased this tablet. There is something strange about this whole Enterprise thing. On the Chuwi support page I see the following screen. Go to that page and enter your serial number to see what, if any, information that support page provides.

@glasskuter - its been a long aggravating and now depressing experience over this tablet. It was purchased off ebay. I did not know i would have to activate it at first when i got it. Then i delayed working it until recently and only to find out these things. I believe the key i received was in error. But it should have come with one already. I overlooked it plus the amount of time that past since i purchased it.

I have an image on a flash somewhere. But the usb to c cable does not fit snuggly enough and causes problems if I'm not careful. I will keep trying until it works, or i will look for another similar tablet, and make sure it comes activateed or with a key.

Sorry for waisting you guys time with all this.

I am going to look for another tablet. It has to be a tablet.

I have a Fujitsu Stylistic Q702 which is a 11.5" tablet with a docking station. The docking station has a keyboard and a touchpad essentially converting it to a laptop, so I have both. You may want to buy something similar, unless 11.5" is too large for you. This one supports both UEFI and legacy BIOS modes, so you can choose whichever suits your needs.

wuser said:

Sorry for waisting you guys time with all this.

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Never think that. If we didn't want to help where we can, we wouldn't be here.

I've had quite a bit of experience buying off of ebay dating back a number of years, mostly systems to rebuild. I'm not saying there are not reputable sellers. There are. But there are just as many that are shady. It used to not be as bad as it is now. Over time I learned the ones that gave accurate descriptions and stood behind what they sold. It's a shame you waited to use the tablet. Though it's like pulling teeth, you would have had a valid case to get your money back through ebay buyer protection if the tablet was advertised as being valid Windows.

If you go that route to purchase another one, ask the seller direct questions first. If a seller doesn't respond, pass him by. Having messages in the ebay database is proof if any transaction turns bad. Be sure and read a seller's feedback and don't buy from one who doesn't have a LOT of feedback. And you might want to buy something other than Chuwi. Best of luck finding something that will work for you.

I have some good news. After 6 hours of restoring agony... It was Windows 10 Home.

Also, Settings is working as normal !!

Before trying anything else make sure you take a full backup of your system. You can even clone the whole internal storage on a adequately large USB flash drive or external USB hard disk. Then whatever happens you can restore back in about half an hour.