Win7 update error 80070013 Hell!

[fugue]

Hi all,

Need help here. Was trying to fix win7 update error 80070013, and pasted some commands into cmd shell from a webpage that I cannot now find to reverse the process. End result is that neither my quick launch icons, my desktop icons nor any of my start menu items will open any programs. All the icons are blank. The only way i can start a program is to go to the networking icon in control panel, and navigate to program.exe files on my c: drive to start anything.

I have tried everything-rebuilding icon lists, restarting explorer.exe, etc. etc. and no luck. Feeling pretty stupid here.......

any help appreciated,

Fugue

 

[PimpleMaze]

try a system restore

 

[fugue]

Not a possibility. Not turned on.

 

[torchwood]

Suggest you get rid of the counterfiet install.(yours was a vista)
It was probobly a corrupted download, backed up by your earlier posts
Roy

 

[fugue]

Torchwood,

For a Senior Member and a "Guru", your response is both presumptive and disappointing. I am not running Vista, but genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. The laptop listed is not the one I currently use: that one of my earlier posts has long since been retired.

The initial problem I ran into was update paralysis brought on by Microsoft's bullying windows 10 upgrade tactics which I didn't want. After finding a way to remove the constant nag reminders that bogged down my system, I could not get windows update to work properly.

In an effort to get updates going again, I followed the instructions on this page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/971058

That's when everything went south, and I lost my desktop icons and quick start icons. Interestingly, when I check the properties of the desktop icons, the correct location is listed. In addition, I am able to see the icon graphics as well. But they are blank and will not function. Same for my entire Program start menu. My mistake was disabling system restore to save drive space.

Maybe somebody else with some more thoughtful consideration and more humble expertise could help.

BTW PimpleMaze, you've made me feel young again-I haven't been called a boy in 40 years...

Fugue

 

[SIW2]

Do you have hives larger than 0 bytes in Windows\system32\config\regback?

If so, you can try copying those into system32\config. first rename the hives in system32\config to default.bak, software.bak, system.bak.

You will need to do it from a boot disk of some kind.

You can borrow mine:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkcyDjKJJ6Kwhi5LuKnBkr6E_MFL

 

[fugue]

Thanks for the advice. Tried the solution and it didn't work....

Best,

Fugue

 

[Brds7t7]

Hi Fugue,

I assume you don't have any backups or system images you can restore from?

What were the commands you used that screwed up your system?

You can try the solution below to (possibly) get your windows update working again. However, I don't think this is going to solve the other issues you're having, think that will take more looking into.

Try this for Windows Update:

Download the April 2015 servicing stack update https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3020369

Also download the July 2016 update rollup https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3172605

Disconnect your internet connection.

Open Windows Update, click 'Change settings' and change it to 'Never check for updates'. Click 'OK' and exit out of Control Panel.

Open the start menu and type services.msc in the search bar.

Scroll down to the Windows Update service -> right click -> select Properties. Change startup type to 'Manual' and then stop the service. Click 'OK'.

Reboot the PC.

Install the April 2015 servicing stack update (KB3020369) first.

Then install the July 2016 update rollup (KB3172605).

Reboot the PC again once installed.

Go back into Services and change Windows Update service back to 'Automatic (Delayed Start)' and then restart the service. Click 'OK' and exit out of Services.

Reconnect your internet.

Open Windows Update and select 'Check for updates but let me choose'. Click 'OK'.

Check for updates and it should hopefully pick them up within 5 - 10 minutes (depending on your connection).

 

[fugue]

Thanks for the suggestion-will give that a shot.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/971058

I followed the instructions on this Microsoft support page-after going through all the steps my desktop, quick start and start menu icons were all blanked out. Furthermore, all the locations/icons exist when I look at the properties of any of them. I have to manually load every program through its .exe file by navigating to the appropriate folder. I have tried all the suggestions members of the forum have provided me, as well as all the "standard" ones for restoring icons/shortcuts.

No backups/restore points to draw on. Sucks.

Fugue

 

[fugue]

Is This Significant?

Dont know if this will shed any light on possible soltions, but I just tried to manually create a desktop shortcut by right clicking on a program .exe files and choosing "send to desktop" as a shortcut. The shortcut appeared (again with location/icon visible in Properties), but it too is blank and doesn't work like all the others......
\
Fugue

 

[Brds7t7]

Is it just the shortcuts on the desktop affected? Or all shortcuts?

You could try to do a repair install as a last resort. It's basically doing an "in-place upgrade" without actually upgrading. Much easier than doing a clean install and fixes most issues. I just did it on one of my systems a few weeks ago. It preserves your accounts, personal files and programs.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[fugue]

Thanks for the suggestion-it's all shortcuts: Desktop, Quick Start and my entire Start menu program list.

Fugue

 

[PimpleMaze]

BTW PimpleMaze, you've made me feel young again-I haven't been called a boy in 40 years...

though i meant every word, i deleted that post because i felt is was inappropriate.
I wasn't actually calling you a boy, but i was speaking in a more general way.
If i made you feel young i am happy i achieved at least one good thing.

 

[SIW2]

You cloud try creating a new user and see if evrything works under that new user account. Repair install will likely do the job, as previously suggested.