Serious Problem "services.msc" (and all the .msc) have disappeared

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Serious Problem "services.msc" (and all the .msc) have disappeared


Hi

I have a serious problem with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Notebook.

Sorry for long-winded explanation - but I need to let you know what has happened.

I have been having a number of issues, one that it seems I have managed to solve after
computer was constantly running out of memory.

After running CHKDSK (with repair) three times it came out with clean bill of health
and Sfc /scannow a few days ago – the memory problem hasn't happened since.

But when I checked Task Manager/Resource Monitor my hard drive (one with two partitions)
is constantly spiking (blue colour) what seems like every fraction of a second.

So I tried to run Avast (free) but after it upgraded itself a few days ago, there seems to be a
problem because after I left it just scanning for viruses (nothing else) for over two hours it
had only completed one percent.

At that point I should have deleted the upgraded Avast and reinstalled the previous version
that was working okay.

But what I did instead was to try and open up Windows Defender that I hadn’t used for ages,
only to find that it was blocked.

It was at this point where all the trouble started.

I read online that to get Defender running again I need to enable Group Policy Editor

So from this site it explained how to do this;

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-enable-...rter-editions/

I followed instructions to the letter - that included downloading a file with name;
Install-Group-Policy-Editor-in-Windows-10-Home-Edition.zip

and also copying from C:\Windows\SysWOW64\GroupPolicy
and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\GroupPolicyUsers [folder was empty]

and drop into C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy
C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicyUsers [folder was empty]

And then try to run gpedit.msc . . . gpedit.msc failed

When it failed I followed the instructions between the lines below.
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When I ran gpedit.msc I received;

"MMC could not create the snap-in" error message.

I followed the steps to correct this (but it didn't work)

1. Run the installer and leave it at the last step (do not click on the "Finish" button).

[INSTALLER: https://drudger.deviantart.com/art/A...msc-215792914]

2. Now go to C:\Windows\Temp\gpedit\ folder.

3. If you are running 32-bit (x86) edition of Windows 7, right-click on x86.bat file and choose
"Open With -> Notepad" option.

If you are running 64-bit (x64) edition of Windows 7, right-click on x64.bat file and choose
"Open With -> Notepad" option.

4. You'll find a total of 6 lines containing the following string in the file:

I changed the 6 lines on Notepad;

From: icacls %WinDir%\SysWOW64\gpedit.dll /grant:r %username%:f
To: icacls %WinDir%\SysWOW64\gpedit.dll /grant:r "%username%":f

This didn't work.

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This morning I went back to delete the changes I had made to
C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy but couldn’t find them.

For instance I searched for: gpedit.dll

But no results.

Although I just remembered I did use Notepad+ + instead of regular Notepad
but I can’t see that would make a difference.


Then I thought I hadn't tried looking at Services.

I couldn’t remember if Defender is listed, but if it is maybe I had turned Defender off there.

TO MY HORROR - when I tried to open it all I received was "services.msc" running as NOTEPAD.
I tried eventvwr.msc - the same, would only run as Notepad.

No problem I thought, I'll do a System Restore, that I had created the other day before I ran
CHKDSK

There were 4 restore points. I selected the last - the one I created the other day.

It ran for a long-time - but finally failed with Catastrophic failure (0x8000FFFF)

So I ran one of the other restore points.

This also took a long time with regular message . . . . System Restore is Initializing.

After around 90 minutes and nothing had changed - I bit the bullet and held power off
for 10 seconds to stop it restarting straight into continuing with System Restore is Initializing.

I started in Safe Mode and I had read I should select Last Good Configuration.

This started Windows proper - but where I had left off, in other words
nothing had changed.

I still could not open any .msc

So before I do anything else could some one help with getting "services.msc" to open normally.

I’ve had this ASUS for around 8 years and never had a problem like this.

Thank you very much in advance.

Stephen

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Thank you S1W2.

Sorry for the delay I have only just got back.

If it's okay I'll contact you again in a few days.

I haven't heard of this tool - but it sounds good.

Soon . . . .Ta!

Stephen

I have just tried to download the ISO - we have rubbish broadband here, it failed with just 7% to go.

If/when I get to try this - if it helps/works I'll get back to you to thank you.

If not - thank you anyway.

S.

Unfortunately iso kept failing - we have a really bad broadband rate, but I always manage to get downloads to complete.

Since last night I have tried the iso 7 times.

Each time just before the end of download I recive a No File Found message.

Bit of a bugger - but thanks for trying.

Stephen