unable to acces certain control panels from admin account

[eyeland]

I am not sure when this issue occurred, but I noticed it today

Problem:
I am unable to acces certain CP from the admin account. These CP include "advanced system settings" and "remote setings". When clicked, nothing happens. So far all the unresponsive CP I have identified are "admin CP" (they have the little multicolored circle next to them) Odly, I AM able to acces SOME admin CP, ie. "device manager".
I have tried creating a new admin user from which all the CP works fine.
I have scanned for virus with AVIR to no avail.
I have scanned registry etc with Tuneup utilities, also to no avail.
Recently I seem to have lost a few fonts, like Times new Roman (missing from all users), no idea if the 2 issues are related.
Problems remains on safeboot.

Could this have to do with permissions? I have recently changed the UAC levels back and forth. (EDIT: just tried all four UAC settings. On the highset security level, UAC prompts me when I press the unresponsive CP, after I press ok, nothing happens. On the 3 lower levels nothing happens whatsoever...)
Just tried copying my user to a new user but gave it up as a reinstall seems more sensible.. gonna keep trying for a few more days though as I'd like to know what the cause of the issue is..


I am running win 7ultimate - 64 - slightly tweaked services and such, but nothing that I can immaginbe to cause this issue.
EDIT:
Upgraded to authentic windows yesterday, could this be the cause?
Service tweaks:
NET STOP "Adaptive Brightness"
sc config SensrSvc start= demand
NET STOP "TPM Base Services"
sc config TBS start= demand
NET STOP "Windows Biometric Service"
sc config WbioSrvc start= demand
NET STOP "CardSpace"
sc config idsvc start= demand
NET STOP "Windows Defender"
sc config WinDefend start= demand
NET STOP "Windows Media Center Receiver Service"
sc config ehRecvr start= demand
NET STOP "Smart Card"
sc config SCardSvr start= demand
NET STOP "Smart Card Removal Policy"
sc config SCPolicySvc start= demand
NET STOP "Offline Files"
sc config CscService start= demand
NET STOP "Parental Controls"
sc config WPCSvc start= demand
NET STOP "Distributed Link Tracking Client"
sc config TrkWks start= demand

+ several tweaks from programs like tuneup utilities and similar

 

[Ztruker]

Where do you see these CP items? They do not appear in my Control Panel at all. Are you talking about System Properties?

 

[mitchell65]

+ several tweaks from programs like tuneup utilities and similar

Hm!!!!! This could be the cause. Throw the tune up utilities away and try first a sfc /scannow. If that's no good have you got an iso back to before the problem started or look for a System Restore point before the problem!
Ztrucker
The items concerned are here:

 

[eyeland]

yes, I am sorry about my terminological confusion, the problem is excately as you describe it appart form the fact that it conscerns several other "links" than the 2 you have circled
I will try uninstalling tuneup and scanning
Cheers

 

[eyeland]

also "took ownership" over my systemdrive, fixed 239 problems with registrybooster to no avail

 

[eyeland]

doing sfc /scannow now, while waiting, I remembered that I also use "enhance my se7en" - another tweak app, should I get rid of that as well (and registrybooster?) before doing the sfc /scannow?
Tried doing a repair-install but for some reason windows claims that the disc I use is uncompatible (I am 99% sure that this is the USBstick I used for the install as I lost the disc when moving)
.. and unfortunately I am the kind of guy who turns off restorepoint and only do backup of his projectfolders..-...

 

[eyeland]

darnet, windows did not find any violations and the CP still doesn't work

 

[Ztruker]

Right click on My COmputer and select Properties. Does that get you there? Should look like the image I posted, which is where the links mitchell65 posted take you.

 

[mitchell65]

doing sfc /scannow now, while waiting, I remembered that I also use "enhance my se7en" - another tweak app, should I get rid of that as well (and registrybooster?) before doing the sfc /scannow?
Tried doing a repair-install but for some reason windows claims that the disc I use is uncompatible (I am 99% sure that this is the USBstick I used for the install as I lost the disc when moving)
.. and unfortunately I am the kind of guy who turns off restorepoint and only do backup of his projectfolders..-...

Definitely, Definitely, Definitely get rid of ALL these tweaking and cleaning prog. They do no good at all. At best they do nothing at worst they cause the sort of problems you are having. Why did you think you needed them in the first place? Reg cleaners are not needed at all in Windows 7 as 7 treats the registry in a totally different and better way that any of the previous MS OP's.
Why did you turn off System Restore?
I think you have gone so far down the tweaking road that nothing short of a complete clean re-install of Windows 7 ill solve all the problems you have and those lurking round the corner. That's my view but you may like to wait for comments from others before taking that route!

 

[eyeland]

yearh, you're probably right..
RIght-clicking "computer" brings up the normal contextmenu, yet it is missing "properties"... list simply ends after "rename"... I guess a clean wipe is in order.
I have several reasons for running the tweakprograms.
1. habit These programs have enabled me to truly save systems that seemed beyond repair (xp and vista, didn't know that 7 was fundamentally different in relation to reg)
2. styling/tweaking. Some of these apps allow me to personalize certain features easily rather than having to use regedit (like changing logonscreen, adding "take ownership" and such. I have been using these apps for years without ever running into any issues of this sort.
I guress I'll do a clean install when I have time..

 

[James Colbert]

yearh, you're probably right..
RIght-clicking "computer" brings up the normal contextmenu, yet it is missing "properties"... list simply ends after "rename"... I guess a clean wipe is in order.
I have several reasons for running the tweakprograms.
1. habit These programs have enabled me to truly save systems that seemed beyond repair (xp and vista, didn't know that 7 was fundamentally different in relation to reg)
2. styling/tweaking. Some of these apps allow me to personalize certain features easily rather than having to use regedit (like changing logonscreen, adding "take ownership" and such. I have been using these apps for years without ever running into any issues of this sort.
I guress I'll do a clean install when I have time..

Have you tried creating a new admin account, then trying to access those items from the new account? I would turn off all tweak software first (not referring to reputable reg edits like takeownership, logon screen, etc).

Also, you may want to download and run malwarebytes just to cover the bases.

James

 

[eyeland]

as expected, logging on with the "hidden" admin account, "properties" is NOT missing

 

[eyeland]

James: "Have you tried creating a new admin account, then trying to access those items from the new account?"

OP: "I have tried creating a new admin user from which all the CP works fine."

Sorry, not much of a forumgeek, didn't take time to learn the proper way of quoting will do

 

[James Colbert]

"Have you tried creating a new admin account, then trying to access those items from the new account?"

"I have tried creating a new admin user from which all the CP works fine."

Oh, I missed that. That being the case, after a malwarebytes scan (the missing fonts sounds suspicious...), i would try a clean boot troubleshoot:

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

If that doesn't resolve the problem, I would then create a new account, either rebuilding it or using Easy Transfer to selectively transfer settings. If you are willing to put the time in, you could also use this as a troubleshooting method of sorts, i.e., selective E.T. until the problem is resolved.

You could also do a repair install, which you could create from within Win7 (assuming the system you're posting from is Win7) or via a download, both procedures outlined here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html?ltr=S

Apologies if you've tried these already and/or I've missed something more in your posts.

James

 

[eyeland]

Thanks James, will look into your suggestions and get back to you.
I am sure that I reinstall would be the easies, I just wanted to fix the issue to learn
I really want an Ubuntu/seven dualsetup anyways
Just updated my profile to reflect my current setup, seven 64 OEM

 

[eyeland]

SOLVED:
MBAM found this reg key which turned out to be the problem:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoPropertiesMyComputer
Yay
god knows where it came from

 

[James Colbert]

SOLVED:
MBAM found this reg key which turned out to be the problem:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoPropertiesMyComputer
Yay
god knows where it came from

 

[eyeland]

btw, this was the ONLY thing it found.. any idea as to its origin?
tweakapp or malware/virus?
seems like a rather useless feature for a virus to blockseeing as no changes where made to DEP or the likes whereas it COULD be handy for some admins to deny "lowlvl" users the option of changing these features?
regardless, a day "well spend"... "live2learn2live etc"
Now on with the show gonna start playing around with the new Ubuntu
Hugz and non-homo-erotic kisses to the guys who helped getting me on the right track

 

[James Colbert]

btw, this was the ONLY thing it found.. any idea as to its origin?
tweakapp or malware/virus?

I'd guess a tweak.

James