Windows 10 not showing programs even though they launch

[KrunkDeBlastoise]

Hi guys,

I ran into a surprising conundrum tonight after booting up my PC, but first the system specs and background:

Windows 10 Pro version 1607 (Downgraded from Windows 7 Enterprise)
OS Build 14393.693

4 Drives:
(C: ) - OCZ-Vertex3 150 GB SSD (Primary)
(E: ) - ST31000524AS 1 TB HDD (Storage and Steam)
(F: ) - WDC WD10JPVX-75JC3T0 - 1 TB SSD (Backup and file-share)
(G: ) - Samsung 850 EVO SSD - 500 GB SSD (Main installed program repository)

The problem:

Applications that are on my C: drive are perfectly fine, however, programs that have been installed on my E:\ Drive and my G:\ Drive - Applications that have been there for months (or in the case of steam - years) - all of a sudden do not show up in Add/remove programs, Ccleaner, or Iobit Uninstaller, or start menu search - it is as if my computer does not recognize them as applications.

However, they exist as desktop shortcuts and launch without problems, even when I launch the exe from the file folder location - applications open just fine without any errors. When I uninstall and reinstall the application from the file-folder - it does show up again in search, iobit, ccleaner, etc...

I cannot for the life of me figure out what happened or why my system decided it would not recognize my programs. I've scoured the internet, cleaned and adjusted registry settings, but can't find a resolution.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Colif]

Have you tried rebuilding the index? https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/how-to-solve-windows-search-issues-index-rebuild/

 

[KrunkDeBlastoise]

I have tried to rebuild the index and have performed an sfc check. SFC check comes out good, 100% integrity verification - for the rebuilding index, i've even added folders and drive letters that are normally not indexed (E: ) and (G: ) - the files show up in search (For example if I search for "Steam") but they do not appear as programs.

Here are some screenshots of the issue - I am using steam as an example but this applies to at least 40 programs that have been on my system for a long time (again this does not affect recently installed applications):

Steam login - http://imgur.com/ooXQZYI
Steam running in TM - http://imgur.com/E0fXLjh
Steam desktop location - http://imgur.com/RhoOYTv
Steam file location - http://imgur.com/4F7hAPX
Steam indexed - http://imgur.com/Jzly3Ig
Search for steam... http://imgur.com/oZ2o4Q3
Appwiz.cpl, no steam - http://imgur.com/x44DfMw
Steam start menu - http://imgur.com/J3pCeJq

Steam directory also does not appear in "ProgramData"

I have no idea what is going on or how this happened - I ran the latest MS updates last week and that was it.

 

[Colif]

try making a new local user, make it admin & copy the folders of current user in c/users/username onto new one and see if same thing happens to it

try doing a clean boot and see if maybe its one of your start up programs causing it

just fishing

 

[KrunkDeBlastoise]

That's a great idea, I'll give that a shot and see if that works.