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All text on the desktop, on the taskbar and Start Menu is gone.

Mike Marks 0 Reputation points
2023-05-15T17:42:04.8033333+00:00

Regarding Windows Server 2019 Std. Last week after a reboot (I suspect it was Windows Updates), the server came up showing desktop icons only. All the text on the desktop, on the taskbar and Start Menu is gone. If I try to go to a command prompt to run a scan disk, It opens all black and I can't run anything. The only thing that opens halfway normal is the Settings window. This also happens in Safe Mode.

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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  1. Karlie Weng 16,431 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2023-05-16T02:00:44.9933333+00:00

    Hello Mike @ Mike Marks 

    If the desktop shell issue persists even in Safe Mode, it's possible that the issue is caused by a more serious system-level problem. Here are a few more troubleshooting steps you can try:

    1.    Run chkdsk C: /f /r to scan and repairs errors on the file system.

    2.    Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the system image.

    3.    Rollback Windows updates

    4.    If you have a restore point , perform a system restore

    5.    Reset Windows: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider resetting Windows to its default settings.

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  2. Mike Marks 0 Reputation points
    2023-05-16T13:30:53.66+00:00

    The first four options are not possible. I cannot open a command prompt or powershell, and I don't have a restore point.

    Since this is a Domain Controller, what will happen to Active Directory if I do a "Windows Reset"?

    I am also considering doing an upgrade from Server Std 2019 to 2022 and hope that will fix whatever is broken.

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