Solved My Windows 10 tablet will no longer load the Settings app

wuser · Nov 22, 2023

Hi, I joined in hopes of finding a solution to this problem. I am a Windows 7 and 10 user, but will eventually own a windows 11 on some of my devices.

I purchased a Windows 10 tablet a couple of months ago. I only just started using it last week. Since that time, I have been letting it go through numerous updates since. However, about a week ago, I activated windows and it performed various updates, it then performed a major windows 10 upgrade to 22H2 and right after that, when it was all finished and restored, I performed my usual screen resolution check by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Display Settings. Then the usual blue window (with the gear in it) popped up but then it closed and showed an error message dialog box:

ms-settings:display

This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an
app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.

My previous Windows build before all this trouble began, was [version 10.0.19045.3570].

This upgrade to Windows 10 22H2 [ver 10.0.19045.3693] seems to have displaced my Settings app somehow. So anything I do that requires the Settings app, I am unable to complete because it just shuts down... sometimes with an error message, and sometimes without.

I have been searching for nearly a week and tried many things, but nothing seems to work. Surely this is solvable!

I've read that this has affected some Windows 11 users as well.

I would be very grateful if someone could please help me get back my Settings app on my tablet.

Thank you in advance!

glasskuter · Nov 22, 2023

Welcome to the forum. This forum is for WIndows 11 users. This thread should have been posted in our sister forum Ten Forums - Windows 10 Help and Support Forum

Since you're here, I would make sure all my personal data is backed up to external media (just to be on the safe side) and then try a repair install.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

www.tenforums.com

If that doesn't work I would do a clean install. Clean Install Windows 10

One huge word of advice, Chuwi support is horrible (almost non-existant) at providing drivers. I advise you to backup your working drivers to external media before doing anything.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

glasskuter · Nov 22, 2023

I thought of something else. Is your display driver installed or is it defaulting to MS driver?
Can you reach ANY settings window or nothing in settings at all?

FreeBooter · Nov 23, 2023

Open the Command Prompt with admin rights and execute below command to re-register Settings app.

Code:

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *immersivecontrolpanel*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

If the above command won't work, open the PowerShell with admin rights and, reset Settings app with the following command.

Code:

Get-AppxPackage *windows.immersivecontrolpanel* | Reset-AppxPackage

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

@ glasskutter - I will look into that resource.

And, I have made a system image of this tablet. I also have a Restore point created. It got me out of a recent jam the other day when I could not get the image restored from an endless Restart loop that I had a few days ago. But I did manage to get a Restore point working from a dos prompt by luck--it was not what I was looking for nor trying to do from a dos command prompt--I didn't know it was an option.

Ghot · Nov 23, 2023

Hello @wuser and welcome to ElevenForum.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to un-check "Automatically restart", see below...

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

@ FreeBooter -

1. in your first suggestion, I am stuck. It is asking for a Path. I have no idea what path it wants. Full details below, with screenshots.

Code:

cmdlet Add-AppxPackage at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
Path:

2. and, in your 2nd suggestion, there is an issue I don't understand regarding 'reset-appxpackage'. See screenshot below.

Thanks.

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Open the Command Prompt with admin rights and execute below command to re-register Settings app.

Code:

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *immersivecontrolpanel*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

If the above command won't work, open the PowerShell with admin rights and, reset Settings app with the following command.

Code:

Get-AppxPackage *windows.immersivecontrolpanel* | Reset-AppxPackage

I was reading this thread just in case I could help. Thank you for sharing these commands. I added them at a text file just in case I even need them.

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
@ FreeBooter -

1. in your first suggestion, I am stuck. It is asking for a Path. I have no idea what path it wants. Full details below, with screenshots.

Code:

cmdlet Add-AppxPackage at command pipeline position 1 Supply values for the following parameters: Path:

View attachment 78835

2. and, in your 2nd suggestion, there is an issue I don't understand regarding 'reset-appxpackage'. See screenshot below.

View attachment 78836

Thanks.

How about the good old sfc and dism commands to repair your system files? Try them and if you still have a problem do an in-place upgrade/repair as suggested.

Code:

dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
sfc /scannow
dism/Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

glasskuter said:
I thought of something else. Is your display driver installed or is it defaulting to MS driver?
Can you reach ANY settings window or nothing in settings at all?

No Settings. It opens and then closes immediately. I wish there was a way to do a screen-video of it happening in motion. Anyway. I can't get into any Settings what-so-ever. And I need it for various things that I change or need indirectly during my daily use of this tablet.

Also, I don't know about the display vs MS driver. What are the steps to find out what I have?

(OT: I am planning to use this tablet for the intel quicksync encoder, among other things, but Rigaya's latest QSVEnc v7.54 app does not work in windows 10, anything after v7.49 just closes in the command prompt. But that is another topic--was just sharing one of my planned intended uses for this tablet).

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

Ghot said:
Hello @wuser and welcome to ElevenForum.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to un-check "Automatically restart", see below...
.
.

Hello Ghot. I can't. Anything that requires the Settings app will fail. I only get a blue dialog box with the gear in it and then it closes.

Ghot · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
Hello Ghot. I can't. Anything that requires the Settings app will fail. I only get a blue dialog box with the gear in it and then it closes.

I just meant that when you can get into settings, you should un-check that box.
In most cases, that will prevent the dreaded "restart loop".

When you add an @ symbol before someone's account name, there shouldn't be a space between the two.
If there's a space it won't light up their notification bell (top right)

As @glasskuter mentioned... a repair install with an In-Place Upgrade, may be what you need.

For Windows 11...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)

Get the Windows 11 ISO (Option #2), and save it to your desktop...

Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

Ghot, I did not know it was a feature.. thanks.

Ghot · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
Ghot, I did not know it was a feature.. thanks.

When you quote someone or add an @ symbol in front of their account name... it adds a little number to the notification bell at the top right of the forum. We help so many people, that without that notification bell, we wouldn't be able to keep track of who we were talking to.

FreeBooter · Nov 23, 2023

spapakons said:
I was reading this thread just in case I could help. Thank you for sharing these commands. I added them at a text file just in case I even need them.

You are very welcome!

spapakons · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
No Settings. It opens and then closes immediately. I wish there was a way to do a screen-video of it happening in motion. Anyway. I can't get into any Settings what-so-ever. And I need it for various things that I change or need indirectly during my daily use of this tablet.

Also, I don't know about the display vs MS driver. What are the steps to find out what I have?

(OT: I am planning to use this tablet for the intel quicksync encoder, among other things, but Rigaya's latest QSVEnc v7.54 app does not work in windows 10, anything after v7.49 just closes in the command prompt. But that is another topic--was just sharing one of my planned intended uses for this tablet).

I think if you had generic Microsoft display drivers the touch feature wouldn't work. You can verify by searching for Device Manager and load it. Expand the Display adapters section and see if it reads "Intel..." or "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter". Even if it reads "Intel..." watch for "Microsoft" at the description which means it is a generic driver from Windows Update. The official Intel driver could have better performance, give you access to Graphics Properties and of course make the touch work.

FreeBooter · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
@ FreeBooter -

1. in your first suggestion, I am stuck. It is asking for a Path. I have no idea what path it wants. Full details below, with screenshots.

Code:

cmdlet Add-AppxPackage at command pipeline position 1 Supply values for the following parameters: Path:

View attachment 78835

2. and, in your 2nd suggestion, there is an issue I don't understand regarding 'reset-appxpackage'. See screenshot below.

View attachment 78836

Thanks.

Both command works for me you did not follow my instruction carefully you will need to execute first command from Command Prompt type cmd.exe into start menu right click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.

Second command works only with Windows 11.

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

spapakons said:
I think if you had generic Microsoft display drivers the touch feature wouldn't work. You can verify by searching for Device Manager and load it. Expand the Display adapters section and see if it reads "Intel..." or "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter". Even if it reads "Intel..." watch for "Microsoft" at the description which means it is a generic driver from Windows Update. The official Intel driver could have better performance, give you access to Graphics Properties and of course make the touch work.

@spapakons - I don't know if this is good or bad, but here is what device mgr says:

wuser · Nov 23, 2023

Regarding the screenshots that I've posted in this topic, I do apologize that they are larger than usual. I don't know why. Maybe becaus they are coming from my 1920x1600 tablet? On the tablet, they look like they do on my Dell laptop's 1366x768 screen.

In case it matters to anyone...

How to take pictures from my tablet:
1. I press Ctrl+Alt+PrtSc, (or Screen Snip and select the current window)
2. save as .png to mem stick
3. open mem stick on my Dell laptop and insert-image in the forum topic

If there is a way to equalize (for lack of a better word) the image for my laptop's screen and forum topic(s), please do let me know how.

Ghot · Nov 23, 2023

wuser said:
Regarding the screenshots that I've posted in this topic

To post a screenshot on this forum...

1. Take the screenshot, edit it as desired, save to your desktop as .png or .jpg (max. size = 2MB)
2. Left click in your post, where you want to place the screenshot.
3. Click the Attach Files button at lower left, browse to your pic and click Insert.
4. After clicking Insert, I usually choose the Thumbnail (smaller) option, or the Full Image (larger) option.

You can also just drag & drop an image into your post. That will show up very small, like a true thumbnail.

The above is just part of my "new folks forum guide"...

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com