I would like to refer to this old thread. This unusual and very rare issue never died out, as it seems. Just a month ago, everything worked. Major things I did between the time it still worked, and the time when I noticed the issues the first time: Installed AMD Adrenalin/Driver Updates v24.7.1 and I installed monthly cumulative updates for Windows (August 2024).
A description of the issues:
- I always used UAC on highest level. But eventually I noticed I can't uninstall some softwares anymore from the classic Software list (the windows 7 list, not the Windows 10 app list). It gave me an error, saying the software might have been uninstalled already.
- When some softwares were updated, their shortcuts disappeared from the Window Search bar (they were present as ghost-shortcuts but without any destination)
- I use multuple keyboard languages. Clicking on it on bottom right to change language, the names are turned into "@Winlangdb.dll - ####" (with the language ID number). I checked registry and the IDs they belong to, indeed STILL had the original language names, so, registry entry was fine and right, but windows explorer decided not to show the names, but the IDs.
- Power Plan options disappeared. I mean completely disappeared. They are still working (atleast the one which is active), but they are non-existing in the list.
- I cant delete or change some System folders anymore, getting the following error: "cant open access control editor the activation requires a display name to be present under the CLSID Key" - I cant change user password or UAC settings anymore. Most buttons dont do anything anymore. I could work aorund that, by disabling "enableLUA" in registry. This disables UAC. So, I assume whatever happened, is related to my User Profile and UAC. (after disabling "enableLUA", the softwares I couldnt uninstall anymore, I could uninstall them again btw).
- So, this means the UAC prevented me from deleting/changing files in c:/ or Windows system folder, and also accessing certain setting, where the exe of those settings was inside of Windows system32, for example - which explains why many sytsem option buttons didn't do anything anymore. After I disabled "enableLUA", I know was able to use powercfg commands in cmd again, so I made them list ( -L). The poiwer plans were only IDs, no names anymore, so I changed their names with "powercfg /changename". That added them again, but editing them, there were no options in them anymore, only the option of "AMD - optimal, power, battery saving mode" etc. Anything else was not existing in the editing list anymore. (to be fair, before I changed the names, I actually used "powercfg -restoredefaultschemes" not sure if this resetted everything to literally below zero)
Another reason I had in mind, is, because my Windows installation is really old. Like, really old. If I rememebr right, it is back then from Windows 10 v1903. I updated to 1909. And when support ended, eventually on one day, I upgraded it to 21H1, then 21H2. And when suppot ended again, I went to 22H2. Even then everything worked fine (with minor beauty issues I would say). But yeah, I suppose those hevay issues started with the last month.
I know this sounds like a bunch of issues, but all of them are connected to each other (I highly assume). Anyone has a clue how this issue is caused? I assume I have to do a fresh install, but I also want to absolutely avoid this issue in future. This issue feels so rare, I could barely find any information about it. So, my priority here is to collect information from users, who experienced similar issues after certain actions/installations/uninstallations. I want to avoid this rare issue in future, and in the best case, we can find out the root of this rare issue. I highly doubt it is a virus btw (already ran scans, too, just to be safe, although I knew it wouldnt be a virus anyways). I know everyone defines "experience" differently, but I would say I am an experienced and safe user. One thing where I wished I had more experience, is, in reading and understanding the Windows 10 Event log. I assume I could get hints there, but I don't really know which events are connected to my issue, and what section I actually should look into.
A description of the issues:
- I always used UAC on highest level. But eventually I noticed I can't uninstall some softwares anymore from the classic Software list (the windows 7 list, not the Windows 10 app list). It gave me an error, saying the software might have been uninstalled already.
- When some softwares were updated, their shortcuts disappeared from the Window Search bar (they were present as ghost-shortcuts but without any destination)
- I use multuple keyboard languages. Clicking on it on bottom right to change language, the names are turned into "@Winlangdb.dll - ####" (with the language ID number). I checked registry and the IDs they belong to, indeed STILL had the original language names, so, registry entry was fine and right, but windows explorer decided not to show the names, but the IDs.
- Power Plan options disappeared. I mean completely disappeared. They are still working (atleast the one which is active), but they are non-existing in the list.
- I cant delete or change some System folders anymore, getting the following error: "cant open access control editor the activation requires a display name to be present under the CLSID Key" - I cant change user password or UAC settings anymore. Most buttons dont do anything anymore. I could work aorund that, by disabling "enableLUA" in registry. This disables UAC. So, I assume whatever happened, is related to my User Profile and UAC. (after disabling "enableLUA", the softwares I couldnt uninstall anymore, I could uninstall them again btw).
- So, this means the UAC prevented me from deleting/changing files in c:/ or Windows system folder, and also accessing certain setting, where the exe of those settings was inside of Windows system32, for example - which explains why many sytsem option buttons didn't do anything anymore. After I disabled "enableLUA", I know was able to use powercfg commands in cmd again, so I made them list ( -L). The poiwer plans were only IDs, no names anymore, so I changed their names with "powercfg /changename". That added them again, but editing them, there were no options in them anymore, only the option of "AMD - optimal, power, battery saving mode" etc. Anything else was not existing in the editing list anymore. (to be fair, before I changed the names, I actually used "powercfg -restoredefaultschemes" not sure if this resetted everything to literally below zero)
Another reason I had in mind, is, because my Windows installation is really old. Like, really old. If I rememebr right, it is back then from Windows 10 v1903. I updated to 1909. And when support ended, eventually on one day, I upgraded it to 21H1, then 21H2. And when suppot ended again, I went to 22H2. Even then everything worked fine (with minor beauty issues I would say). But yeah, I suppose those hevay issues started with the last month.
I know this sounds like a bunch of issues, but all of them are connected to each other (I highly assume). Anyone has a clue how this issue is caused? I assume I have to do a fresh install, but I also want to absolutely avoid this issue in future. This issue feels so rare, I could barely find any information about it. So, my priority here is to collect information from users, who experienced similar issues after certain actions/installations/uninstallations. I want to avoid this rare issue in future, and in the best case, we can find out the root of this rare issue. I highly doubt it is a virus btw (already ran scans, too, just to be safe, although I knew it wouldnt be a virus anyways). I know everyone defines "experience" differently, but I would say I am an experienced and safe user. One thing where I wished I had more experience, is, in reading and understanding the Windows 10 Event log. I assume I could get hints there, but I don't really know which events are connected to my issue, and what section I actually should look into.
Last edited:
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