Windows 10 File system error

dollydowling

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2025
Messages
2
Hello,
Yesterday, I used the "Update and Shut Down" option to update my Windows. Today, I'm facing several issues: I can't click on anything in the taskbar (except for pinned apps), I can't access Windows Settings through Run or the Control Panel, and clicking the System icon has no effect. When I try to open ms-settings via Run, I receive the error: File system error (-2144927436).

Additionally, the Windows key doesn't open anything.

I ran the sfc /scannow command in CMD, which reported that it found corrupt files but couldn't fix some of them.

How can I resolve this issue or at least revert the Windows update?

Thanks!
 
Solution

Quick checklist before we start​

  • Which Windows are you on? (Windows 10 or Windows 11)
  • Can you open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)?
  • Do you have a System Restore point or backup?
    Answer those and I’ll tailor the steps. Meanwhile, try the prioritized fixes below.

Steps to try (in order)​

1) Restart Explorer and open an elevated shell
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
  • In Task Manager: File → Run new task → type cmd.exe and check “Create this task with administrative privileges” (or type powershell.exe).
  • In Task Manager you can also right‑click explorer.exe → End task, then File → Run new task → explorer.exe to restart the shell.
2) Repair the component store then run SFC
  • In the...
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Quick checklist before we start​

  • Which Windows are you on? (Windows 10 or Windows 11)
  • Can you open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)?
  • Do you have a System Restore point or backup?
    Answer those and I’ll tailor the steps. Meanwhile, try the prioritized fixes below.

Steps to try (in order)​

1) Restart Explorer and open an elevated shell
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
  • In Task Manager: File → Run new task → type cmd.exe and check “Create this task with administrative privileges” (or type powershell.exe).
  • In Task Manager you can also right‑click explorer.exe → End task, then File → Run new task → explorer.exe to restart the shell.
2) Repair the component store then run SFC
  • In the elevated CMD/PowerShell run (this can take 10–30+ minutes):
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    sfc /scannow
  • If DISM reports it repaired things, run sfc /scannow again. If SFC still reports unfixable files, save the SFC log:
    findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log > C:\sfclogs.txt
    (Attach C:\sfclogs.txt here if you want me to review.
3) Re-register Settings & system apps (PowerShell as Admin)
  • Open PowerShell (admin) and run:
    Get-AppxPackage windows.immersivecontrolpanel | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  • You can also re-register Start/modern apps (may print non‑fatal errors):
    Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  • After these, restart explorer or reboot.
4) If you want to identify/uninstall the update that caused it
  • List recent updates (in elevated CMD):
    wmic qfe list brief /format:table
    or (for feature/packages)
    dism /online /get-packages
  • To uninstall a Windows Update (replace KB####### with the KB from wmic):
    wusa /uninstall /kb:#######
    or to remove a package from DISM:
    dism /online /remove-package /PackageNameackage_for_KBxxxxx~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.1.2
  • If Settings are inaccessible, use WinRE to uninstall updates: Shift+Restart (from sign‑in screen or hold Shift while choosing Restart) → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates → “Uninstall latest quality update” or “Uninstall latest feature update”.
5) If the above doesn’t fix it: System Restore or Repair‑Install
  • In WinRE: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore (if you have a restore point).
  • If no restore point or it fails: do an in‑place repair/upgrade with the Windows Media Creation Tool (choose “Upgrade this PC now” and select keep files/apps). This usually fixes corruption and preserves programs/data.
6) Safe checks & backups
  • Run chkdsk to rule out drive errors (schedule and reboot if required):
    chkdsk C: /f /r
  • Back up important files before uninstalling updates or doing a repair install.

Notes about symptoms you described​

  • File system error (-2144927436) for ms-settings and Start/Windows key failures commonly indicate component-store or Settings package corruption; DISM → SFC → re-register apps often fixes it.
  • If you prefer, I can give exact commands tailored to Windows 10 vs Windows 11, or walk you step‑by‑step. If SFC still reports unfixable files, upload the sfclogs.txt (or paste the output) and I’ll inspect them.
Tell me: Windows version and whether Task Manager opens. Do you want to try the DISM+SFC steps now (I can list exact commands again)?
 
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Solution
Hi Dolly — sorry you hit this after an update. That File system error (-2144927436) and the Start/Settings / Windows-key failures strongly point to servicing/component-store or Settings-package corruption — the usual repair order is DISM → SFC → re-register Settings, then try rollback/uninstall if repair doesn’t help. Below are concise, ordered steps to try (with exact commands). Please tell me which Windows (10 or 11) you’re on, whether Task Manager opens (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), and whether you have a System Restore point or backup before we proceed.
Important: back up your important files before uninstalling updates or doing a repair install.
1) Restart Explorer & open an elevated shell (quick test)
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
  • In Task Manager: File → Run new task → type cmd.exe (check “Create this task with administrative privileges”).
  • In Task Manager you can also right‑click Windows Explorer → Restart.
    (If taskbar becomes clickable again, test Settings / Windows key. Restarting Explorer often restores UI responsiveness temporarily.
2) Run DISM checks then SFC (do these first)
Open the elevated Command Prompt you created and run these, in order:
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth — this can take 10–30+ minutes.
  • After DISM completes, run: sfc /scannow
If SFC still reports unfixable files, capture the SFC/CBS lines to a text file and attach it here:
  • findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log > C:\sfclogs.txt
    Then paste or attach C:\sfclogs.txt. The DISM→SFC workflow and why it’s used are standard first‑line fixes.
3) Re-register Settings (if SFC/DISM helped but UI still broken)
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
  • Get-AppxPackage windows.immersivecontrolpanel | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
    If you want a broader re-register (may print benign errors):
  • Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
4) If repair fails — identify & uninstall the offending update
A. List recent installed updates:
  • wmic qfe list brief /format:table (shows KB numbers)
    or to see package names:
  • dism /online /get-packages
B. Try uninstalling a specific KB (replace ####### with the KB number):
  • wusa /uninstall /kb:######
C. If the Settings app is unusable, use WinRE: Shift+Restart (from sign-in screen or hold Shift while choosing Restart) → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates → choose “Uninstall latest quality update” or “Uninstall latest feature update.” This WinRE uninstall flow is the fallback when UI is broken.
Note: not every KB is uninstallable; uninstalling security updates reduces protection, so treat as temporary mitigation.
5) Reset Windows Update components (if updates are stuck/corrupt)
From an elevated CMD run:
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptSvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver
  • ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptSvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
This forces re-download of update metadata/packages and often helps when the component store is inconsistent.
6) If everything above fails — System Restore / In-place repair / Recovery USB
  • Try System Restore from WinRE if you have a restore point (Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore).
  • If you don’t have a restore point or restore fails, do an in‑place repair (repair install) using Media Creation Tool / ISO: run setup.exe from mounted ISO and choose “Keep personal files and apps.” This often fixes deep servicing corruption while preserving apps/data.
  • If you need offline repair tools or can’t boot, create a recovery USB on another PC and boot it to access WinRE/repair options.
7) Disk check & drivers
  • Schedule chkdsk to rule out disk errors: chkdsk C: /f /r (reboot required).
  • After repairs, check Device Manager for driver issues; roll back or update GPU / storage drivers if they look suspicious. Driver conflicts sometimes surface after updates.
What I need from you next
  • Which Windows (10 or 11) and exact build (run winver and paste the result)?
  • Can you open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) now?
  • Run the DISM + SFC commands above and paste the final lines/summary of each (or attach C:\sfclogs.txt). If you hit errors while running any command, paste the error text exactly.
If you prefer, I can walk you step‑by‑step via the Task Manager method to open an elevated prompt and run the DISM commands. If SFC/DISM don’t fix it, I’ll give exact commands to find and uninstall the last installed update (or guide you through using WinRE to uninstall it).
If you attach the sfclogs or paste the DISM output here I’ll review the important lines and give the next precise action.
 
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Thanks for your suggestion. I got it.
 
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Got it, Dolly.
Just to confirm: do you mean the problem is now fixed, or that you understand the steps and are ready to try them? (Your original symptoms—taskbar not clickable, Windows key dead, and ms-settings failing with File system error (-2144927436)—are exactly the pattern we see with update-related component/app registration corruption. )

If it’s fixed now​

Please reply with which step solved it (DISM/SFC, app re-register, uninstall update, System Restore, etc.). I can then suggest the best “cleanup” to prevent it coming back (e.g., rerun sfc /scannow once more, and create a restore point).

If it’s not fixed yet (fastest path)​

1) Open an admin Command Prompt even if Start/Settings are broken
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Task Manager
  • File → Run new task → type cmd → tick Create this task with administrative privileges
2) Run (copy/paste) these in this order:
Code: 
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
3) If you mainly want to revert the update (since Settings won’t open)
From Task Manager → Run new task (admin), run:
shutdown /r /o /f /t 0
Then in the blue recovery menu:
Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates → Uninstall latest quality update
(If that doesn’t help, try “latest feature update”.)

What I need from you​

Reply with:
  • Windows version (10 or 11) + winver result
  • Did DISM /RestoreHealth complete successfully? (paste the last 10 lines)
  • After that, what does sfc /scannow say?
If you paste those outputs, I’ll tell you the exact next step (including the ISO “/Source” DISM method if Windows Update files can’t be pulled online).
 
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