Wiindows doesn't open Windows tools

[oli356]

Hi all,

Bit of a weird issue at the moment. My PC is working fine (Windows 7 desktop) however I'm having issues with build in Windows tools.

For example if I right click computer and click manage nothing happens - if I go into "System" and click "Device Manager" it will open for 1 second and then close immediately.

The same happens with event viewer, I open it - it either doesn't open or closes immediately.

I don't fancy re-installing over this issue but not having access to device manager is annoying..

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[oli356]

Might be worth checking if you have the Windows update detailed below installed. One of the behaviours can be similar to what you describe.

There is a later update that can be applied to fix or you can remove the problem update manually (see article for details).

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/12/microsoft-withdraws-bad-windows-7-update-that-broke-future-windows-7-updates/

Can't even open up the file I downloaded..

Have you tried doing a system restore to an earlier date ?

This normally fixes these kinds of problems..

I open up system restore and it just closes down like everything else lol.


I think I'm just going to have to clean install soon, its annoying because generally most things on the PC are working as expected, its just Windows build in things that aren't. With the exception of Flash, I can't install the new version - it gets to like 70% and then says "Failed to launch application" in the installation box - not sure what that is all about.

 

[oli356]

It was hopeless in Safe mode, couldn't open up device mgr etc still.

Going for the reinstall, as you said it doesn't take long (just many many many updates) but with data on different drives its fairly painful.

 

[oli356]

try and check the windows system files

in CMD do the following

sfc /scannow

will check all windows files to see if any are corrupt

Didn't think of that.

Bit of a silly question perhaps but are you sure you don't have a virus/malware on your system?

I went and did some scans and removed stuff a couple of days ago but obviously didn't help.

I'm up and running again now - just going through the millions of Windows updates and installing software again. A clean install is always nice

 

[oli356]

Yeah I used Malwarebytes, it did find several things but possibly irrelevant to the issue.

A few strange issue!

 

[oli356]

Just the 1 to be honest, will remember that for next time though thanks