Reset Windows SETTINGS to defaults

CountMike · Oct 20, 2022

While trying to solve some sound related problems i found that error "Can't connect to RPC service" is partly related to DCOM Server Process Launcher As i can't do anything with it (all options are locked can't even restart service) I thought to maybe reset all windows settings to defaults. As far as I know, In Place Upgrade can just refresh system files but can't reset without loosing programs/APPs and files.
In mean time I (temporarily) did clean install on another disk and updated it fully to same version and everything works there like it should so this problem must be caused by some customization I did but just have no idea what caused this problem so I could reverse it.
Normally I would just do another clean install or restore from backup but in mean time I invested too much time and work and would also have to re download some 100GB of games and programs.
So I need help either with RPC/DCOM problem or system reset to defaults.
PS. Sound control problem I could live with but this problem may affect other things.

FreeBooter · Oct 20, 2022

In this video, i will guide you on how to fix DistributedCOM Event ID 10016 error in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

CountMike · Oct 20, 2022

FreeBooter said:
In this video, i will guide you on how to fix DistributedCOM Event ID 10016 error in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Can't understand almost anything he is saying and subtitles are of no use.

FreeBooter · Oct 20, 2022

CountMike said:
Can't understand almost anything he is saying and subtitles are of no use.

You are the only one.

Winuser · Oct 20, 2022

FreeBooter said:
You are the only one.

Sorry but I have to agree with @CountMike. It's not the video, it's me. With the type of my hearing loss I have, I don't always hear the words that are actually being said.

FreeBooter · Oct 20, 2022

Winuser said:
Sorry but I have to agree with @CountMike. It's not the video, it's me. With the type of my hearing loss I have, I don't always hear the words that are actually being said.

1,629 views you two only one cannot understand English language.

CountMike · Oct 20, 2022

FreeBooter said:
1,629 views you two only one cannot understand English language.

Sorry but that's lousy English, I have worked with many Indian and Pakistani people but their English was much better.

Winuser · Oct 20, 2022

CountMike said:
While trying to solve some sound related problems i found that error "Can't connect to RPC service"

IMHO, there is no damn reason that anyone should have to go through all this to get their sound working. If my motherboard didn't come with an onboard Realtek soundcard, I wouldn't even bother trying to get it to work. If push comes to shove, I do have an alternative sound solution. My USB sound adapter works great. I bought a Sabrent USB sound adapter in case my sound dies completely. I also found my USB SoundWave 7.1 adapter I bought years ago. I bought it so long ago that I forgot that I had it.

Winuser · Oct 20, 2022

FreeBooter said:
1,629 views you two only one cannot understand English language.

I can't understand the English with their accent. I told you it's my hearing loss that is causing the problem. If you have a problem with people that have any type of hearing loss than I don't know what to tell you.

CountMike · Oct 20, 2022

Winuser said:
I can't understand the English with their accent. I told you it's my hearing loss that is causing the problem. If you have a problem with people that have any type of hearing loss than I don't know what to tell you.

My hearing is bad too, right ear doesn't work at all but I can understand all kinds of English even those from Newfoundland and Jamaica but this kind of accent is really bad, even automatically generated titles come out rubbish. Besides, that it's not a problem I'm having.

CountMike · Oct 26, 2022

I'm still with same problem, Tried many fixes but nothing. There was no problem with also clean installation on another drive, works fine there.
Wonder if it's something with administrative permissions. All is greyed out, can't change or go further with it.

I that second installation I have only this

TairikuOkami · Oct 26, 2022

CountMike said:
I'm still with same problem, Tried many fixes but nothing.

Have you tried creating a new user account to see, if the problem persists there? To see, if it is a system's issue or user's.

Ghot · Oct 26, 2022

RPC and Dcom are Windows things. Just the kinds of things an In-Place upgrade will fix.
And... you can save all your programs and files with an In-Place upgrade.

Now an In-Place won't fix 3rd party problems like programs, drivers, etc.

CountMike · Oct 26, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
Have you tried creating a new user account to see, if the problem persists there? To see, if it is a system's issue or user's.

I tried booting with that other "Administrator" account but then there was only few of installed programs working and everything else looked like first installation but still problem with DCOM and drivers.
Finally got rid of that account but still same problem. For now I just installed HD audio drivers for W10 because drivers for W11 are just UAD:
That solves audio driver and control problem but I'm not sure if there will be other problems with same cause.

CountMike · Oct 26, 2022

Ghot said:
RPC and Dcom are Windows things. Just the kinds of things an In-Place upgrade will fix.
And... you can save all your programs and files with an In-Place upgrade.

Now an In-Place won't fix 3rd party problems like programs, drivers, etc.

Tried that between first attempts but didn't help as it kept all settings form before that.

Ghot · Oct 26, 2022

CountMike said:
Tried that between first attempts but didn't help as it kept all settings form before that.

I understand.
@TairikuOkami 's suggestion is another option.
If the problem is IN your user account, creating a new account, may solve the problem.

Add Local User Account in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

www.elevenforum.com

A new User account is sort of like "resetting Windows to defaults". The User account is where all your settings are stored.

A clean install (like in your OP), might be the best option.
If you go that route... make sure to make a fresh backup, after the clean install, before you do too much tweaking.

Once you have a regular backup system in place... there are very few things that you can't easily recover from.