Windows Unavailable

[Tilly2]

Turned on my laptop this morning and can only get a blank screen with a message saying C:\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop is unavailable.

Can anyone help?

[Buenchico]

>>> Buen, it says no such thing...where would I find that?

Use the alternative method I offered you. (Press the Windows key and space bar together).

[Tilly2]

I have and nothing happens, Buen.

[Buenchico]

It looks like your laptop has forgotten that it should have an alternative to the default (US) keyboard available to you. Follow these instructions to add the UK keyboard layout:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-your-keyboard-layout-windows-10
(Once you've got the UK layout available you should then be able to switch between the US one and the UK one. Alternatively, by following the info in the same link, you can simply remove the US one anyway).l

[Togo]

First off Tills I was going to advise a "Full" shutdown and then switch back on again.
You can do a full switch down by clicking the window logo(bottom left) then you click the power button icon and then you press and hold down the "shift" key and click shutdown. This forces the pc to utilise all drivers and files when it is next switched on.
Then I was going to suggest a safe boot by pressing f12 when you switch on, and from there a recovery path depending on what you had available. Now I am struggling with both those first choice options possibly negated. I am thinking hard on your behalf. :))

[Tilly2]

Togo, thanks for trying to help but when I click on the Windows icon, nothing happens. I do not get a power button option. I get zilch! Just the occasional egg timer... :-(

I'm grateful for the help though. :-)

[Togo]

Went to bed early Tills reading a good book. Does anything happen when you right click?

[Tilly2]

Morning, Togo.

Right click, left click, double click...Windows not responding.

However, my local repair shop are offering a collection and delivery service and someone is coming today to pick it up.

The chap I spoke to says it sounds as though Windows is corrupted.

Thanks again for trying to help.

[Togo]

When you get it back Tills get yourself an 8gb usb stick and copy the operating system. Remember the old days when we all got discs with an operating system on it with every pc? I even still have w7 and wxp discs from then. With w10 there are few discs issued with a machine so it is wise to get the stick and copy your operating system onto it just for events such as this. I upgrade mine every couple of months when I am happy that any upgrade is good and stable. The "guy from the computer shop" will tell you it is not necessary, but he will have just that to do a re-install and charge you.

[Togo]

Did you try the safe boot option Tills? Switch off, and wait a minute or so, switch back on and keep pressing F12 to see if it gives you safe boot options.

[Tilly2]

I will do that Togo, but I might need a bit of help...:-)

[Tilly2]

...get a USB stick, I mean.

No, I didn't do a safe boot because I didn't know how to. Why do I not know these important things?