Is There A Way To Roll-back To A Time Prior To The Last Ms Auto Update?

In addition to losing my familiar onscreen keyboard, my entire GUI has been changed leaving me totally lost, frustrated and confused.

System Restore doesn't rollback, I already tried that.

@Eldon, thanks for your gift and lifeline but I am totally lost amid the new GUI. I have since changed my auto-update settings in an attempt to prevent a recurrence of this dilemma.

 

Unfortunately I don't use Windows 10.
Have you tried Comfort On-Screen Keyboard Pro?
Here are some tutorials.
https://www.comfort-software.com/on-screen-keyboard/help/

 

Don, if things have changed that much it sounds as if Win 10 has upgraded itself to the latest 'feature update', Win 10 version 1809. When this happens you get 10 days to go back to the previous version which you can find in Settings > Update and Recovery. Check whether you have that option. Without a suitable system image there isn't any other way back I'm afraid.

 

Earthling,

In trying (unsuccessfully) to follow your welcome instructions, I discovered this in Microsoft Help;

"After installing this update, some users cannot pin a web link on the Start menu or the taskbar. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release."

Apparently, I'm not alone in my misery.

The auto update is dated 1/8/19 so I might be out of luck. A fresh reinstall of Windows 10 is beyond my physical and mental ability and I am paralyzed and have very limited dexterity. I'm forced to struggle along with a confusing GUI and going into Settings to launch the OSK.

I sincerely appreciate you folks' trying to help me.

 

Doesn't sound like you have just acquired 1809. Can you click the start icon and type winver. That will tell us which version and build you are on.

 

Version 1803 Dated 6/19/2018

Looks like I am missing a lot of updates if 1809 is the current version. Should I go and d/l the missing updates?

BTW, I followed your suggestion and removed the latest updates I had without any change. Now we know why! lol

 

That's not what I expected at all. You are on a superseded build for which AFAIK there have not been any recent system updates, just routine security updates and the like - nothing that would completely change your gui. Would you be able to go through the requirements of the malware forum, starting with the Read and Run Me First sticky?

https://forums.majorgeeks.com/forums/malware-help-mg-a-specialist-will-reply.35/

 

With Win 10 it is not a good idea to force updates. Wait until WU offers them and if they are not offered it means there is something about your system that WU is not happy about. You should have been offered 1809 back in October so it seems there is something about your system that does need seeing to. Ensuring it is malware free is the first step.

 

I'm curious to know if Dell is aware of this problem and possibly has a fix. I've scoured the web without much success. However, I did discover one tangentially related suggestion. It seems benign and harmless so I will try it later.

The instructions for a reinstall of Windows 10 tend to overwhelm and intimidate me since I don't have anyone to help. If I should botch it, I'm dead in your proverbial deep aqua. The internet is my only means of communication with my wife so I am extra cautious.

I've gotten pretty fast at launching the OSK so I should should be okay until Ms prepares the promised update, if that still applies to me and my machine.

 

You've probably covered this but in Control Panel Ease of Access Center there is a link to use the computer without a mouse or keyboard, and in there is a checkbox to Use the On-screen keyboard which starts the osk at boot.

 

Got that. It runs on startup but I must close it to see the text it's covering then go to Settings to restart it. Before this started, I had a keyboard icon in the taskbar. Nothing that I try will allow me to drag the keyboard to the taskbar now. That is the same same problem that was discussed in MS Help and promised to be addressed in a future update. Now I'm concerned that my computer will not receive future updates, as discussed earlier.

 

When I run the osk I can minimise it to the taskbar with the minimise button. Doesn't that work then?

 

Go to C:\Windows\System32 and find the file osk.
Drag it to the Taskbar.

 

Minimize does zilch, nada, zero!

 

Eldon,

You may have solved it! "File not found!"

I presume that I will have to find the file and copy it to System32?

 

If you search for C:\Windows\System32\osk.exe and you don't see a result, run the System File Checker and upload the log.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/sfc_utility.html

 

Seems like a lot of corruption at the end.

I haven't a clue what to do next.

 

Don, you said earlier that you had tried system restore but it wouldn't roll back. Were there system restore points to choose from or no restore points at all? If the former, and now with osk.exe gone AWOL, these might be indications of malware aboard, but you have not responded to my question in #7 about getting the system checked for malware.

 

The only corruption relates to OneDrive. (You have had this before)
I do not believe this has led to the Onscreen Keyboard disappearing.

What happens when you search for osk from the Start Menu?

 

A horizontal slide switch appears. I turn it on but nothing appears (no keyboard icon) in the taskbar. I must reload the osk each time.

 

Do you not see something similar to this when you right-click osk?

 

S O L V E D !

Somehow, I got into Airplane Mode (which I have never used). Changed that setting and
wallah, everything is back to normal and I have a keyboard icon back in my taskbar. Knowing that I hadn't monkeyed with that setting, I never would have thought to check it.

You folks are the absolute tops!

 

plodr,

I certainly had a lot of great help.

I am reminded of Edison when asked if he was making any progress on the incandescent light. He is said to have gotten indignant and retorted: "Progress? Progress? Yes, we now know thousands of things that WON'T work!"

Even our failures count and have value to the wise.

 

Computers eh! How the heck can airplane mode, which just disables wireless comms, disable osk! ?Bluetooth I guess.

 

Not at all sure, but I'm back in bidness and that's all that matters.

Thanks loads for your help.

(BTW, My cut/paste is intermittent and I must try many, many times to get it to paste the buffer contents. Should I start a new thread?)

 

Don, have you tried Comfort On-Screen Keyboard Pro?
Surely it's superior than what's included with Windows?

 

I haven't yet but I have the key. I'm back to where I was so I am not anxious to rock the canoe, but I thank you for sending it. After a badly needed 'breather' I will tinker with it.

BTW, I just wrote a tribute to the late Scotty Moore, Elvis' original guitarist from Sun Studio days. You are welcome to share it.

https://app.box.com/s/e6nc4pz7gpopdv00ab4fxc4xihwpz121

Highest regards,

Don

 

Thanks Don!

FWIW
I contacted Comfort Software and the publisher sent Don a free key for their Pro software.
So everything is aboveboard.

 

Color or colour me elated! (But please try to stay within the lines!)
You wonderful folks are the bestest on the planet, the galaxy maybe even.

 

Universe?

 

LOL, definitely the Milky Way!

 

If only I could borrow the Hubble Telescope for awhile, I would locate the vast (or half vast) limits of MajorGeeks influence or confluence.