btm02sf
asked on
Windows 10 - Apps removed while refrehsing your PC
I am just stunned by Windows 10. One of my clients, a Dental office, called me at noon, to tell me that their first Windows 10 Pro system is missing all the programs that they have been using since October, when I have setup the PC.
I am just looking at this PC, and everything is gone. I mean EVERYTHING - All programs installed back in October (MS Office 2016, two dental programs, APC PowerChute, Epson, Symantec End Point Security, Chrome, Firefox, Epson scanner software, Acrobat Reader, Acronis True Image 2017 etc). Zero programs left on the PC. Program and features is clean as the system was when I got it, with today's date of the installation of several programs (such as Intel, Cyberlink, Realtek, Dell Assist, etc). The other programs left in here have the date of September 23, when this Dell image has proably been built.
I have a Windows.old folder on Drive C, with today's date. Also, in Program Files and Program Files x 86, all folders of the missing applications are gone. I have left on the desktop a few empty shortcuts, of office, and one other program that had a shortcut on the desktop.
When checking EventViewer Logs, everything prior to 10.30am this morning is gone, across all logs. So, unfortunately, I have no way of finding out what happened prior to this point in time.
When I logged into the Local Admin account, I got the dreadded Windows 10 message: "Hi we have just updated your PC".... Then it said "Getting things ready...." followed by "These updates help protect you in an online world".
The staff in the office told me that they didn't do anything to trigger this situation, and that the system has worked just fine last night.
I found on the desktop an htmp file called RemovedApps.html - see attached screenshot. Opened with IE, and found "Apps removed while refrehsing your PC"!!!! The list is not even complete, as more programs where removed, besides what is shown here.
The system is a Dell Optiplex 7040, and it is joined to a Windows 2012 program. Back in October, when I setup the Win10 system, I made sure to disable through Group Policy the automatic updates.
Somehow, it seems to me that Windows decided to either go back to the initial image, or a new major windows update downloaded and installed itself, and wiped everything away.
I will try to use the Acronis True Image backup that I did when I set up the system at the end of October, hoping that I can just bring it back to where it was at that point in time. If this doesn't work, I will simply have to wipe the system off and re-install everything from scratch.
At this point, I am just letting everyone know what happened, as a notice of what Windows 10 could do to you. I know that sometimes in 2015, Windows 10 was un-installing programs at will, but I couldn't find anything similar with a recent date. I found a post with a similar situation ( https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-update/internet-explorer-apps-removed-while-refreshing-pc/7d9bf5f7-d8e6-4555-91c9-c835c37fdfcb?page=3) but since I have not been present during the ordeal of this Windows 10 PC, I cannot say that my situation is identical with the one presented here.
I am curious to find out if anyone could tell why Windows 10 would trigger out of the blue a refresh like this, in case you have seen it before.
I will see what happens, and will keep everyone posted on the progress with restoring the Acronis True Image 2017.
Thank you.
Windows10_AppsRemovedWhileRefreshing.jpg
I am just looking at this PC, and everything is gone. I mean EVERYTHING - All programs installed back in October (MS Office 2016, two dental programs, APC PowerChute, Epson, Symantec End Point Security, Chrome, Firefox, Epson scanner software, Acrobat Reader, Acronis True Image 2017 etc). Zero programs left on the PC. Program and features is clean as the system was when I got it, with today's date of the installation of several programs (such as Intel, Cyberlink, Realtek, Dell Assist, etc). The other programs left in here have the date of September 23, when this Dell image has proably been built.
I have a Windows.old folder on Drive C, with today's date. Also, in Program Files and Program Files x 86, all folders of the missing applications are gone. I have left on the desktop a few empty shortcuts, of office, and one other program that had a shortcut on the desktop.
When checking EventViewer Logs, everything prior to 10.30am this morning is gone, across all logs. So, unfortunately, I have no way of finding out what happened prior to this point in time.
When I logged into the Local Admin account, I got the dreadded Windows 10 message: "Hi we have just updated your PC".... Then it said "Getting things ready...." followed by "These updates help protect you in an online world".
The staff in the office told me that they didn't do anything to trigger this situation, and that the system has worked just fine last night.
I found on the desktop an htmp file called RemovedApps.html - see attached screenshot. Opened with IE, and found "Apps removed while refrehsing your PC"!!!! The list is not even complete, as more programs where removed, besides what is shown here.
The system is a Dell Optiplex 7040, and it is joined to a Windows 2012 program. Back in October, when I setup the Win10 system, I made sure to disable through Group Policy the automatic updates.
Somehow, it seems to me that Windows decided to either go back to the initial image, or a new major windows update downloaded and installed itself, and wiped everything away.
I will try to use the Acronis True Image backup that I did when I set up the system at the end of October, hoping that I can just bring it back to where it was at that point in time. If this doesn't work, I will simply have to wipe the system off and re-install everything from scratch.
At this point, I am just letting everyone know what happened, as a notice of what Windows 10 could do to you. I know that sometimes in 2015, Windows 10 was un-installing programs at will, but I couldn't find anything similar with a recent date. I found a post with a similar situation ( https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-update/internet-explorer-apps-removed-while-refreshing-pc/7d9bf5f7-d8e6-4555-91c9-c835c37fdfcb?page=3) but since I have not been present during the ordeal of this Windows 10 PC, I cannot say that my situation is identical with the one presented here.
I am curious to find out if anyone could tell why Windows 10 would trigger out of the blue a refresh like this, in case you have seen it before.
I will see what happens, and will keep everyone posted on the progress with restoring the Acronis True Image 2017.
Thank you.
Windows10_AppsRemovedWhileRefreshing.jpg
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
We do not let clients run Windows 10 Reinstall (new build say) on their own. We schedule these things and do it for them.
Thank you and good luck going forward.
"Yes. They clicked the option "Keep Nothing" Otherwise Windows 10 does not do this."
A refresh should not be confused with an inplace upgrade. A refresh never keeps anything, you have no choice.
A refresh should not be confused with an inplace upgrade. A refresh never keeps anything, you have no choice.
ASKER