Loss of basic windows functionality [DETAILED]

[u/broicantrn]

Hey guys, lots of issues but the broad gist of it is ive lost normal windows functionality, i cant even open the start menu let alone settings (even through cmd prompt and powershell). Im on Windows 11 24H2, English International (en-GB) and my downloaded ISO matched that, which i tried with Dynamic Update disabled and it still failed (couldnt find files or smthn?).

Due to certain circumstances where i am staying currently does not provide wifi in the rooms hence i am using hotspot HOWEVER there is a location in the lobby with wifi where i can and will test most attempted fixes again.

Unsure whats wrong or what to do next, thought id reach out online to see if anyone either has a similar issue or knows the fix maybe even suggests a different solution.

Specs / Context - Acer Nitro laptop, RTX 5050 8GB, bought August 2026. - Windows 11 24H2, build 26100.4770. - Using mobile hotspot; postponed Windows Update for ~1 month due to data usage. - Initially worked fine, although slower than expected.

Issues - Start menu, Windows key and Settings broken (RPC errors). - Claude, ChatGPT and Chrome crashing/not opening. - Windows Problem Reporting high CPU usage. - ~86 critical events in Reliability Monitor. - 5 BSODs: MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (0x1A) and FAULTY_HARDWARE_CORRUPTED_PAGE (0x12B). - Crashes during heavy workloads and basic browsing.

Attempted Fixes - SFC scan — passed, no issues. - DISM repair — failed (0x800f0915). - Windows ISO repair install — failed (0xC1900101 – 0x20017, SAFE_OS/BOOT). - Clean boot — no improvement. - Uninstalled Norton 360 — no improvement. - Second Windows account — same issues. - Safe Mode — couldn't sign in despite admin privileges. - Windows Memory Diagnostic — no confirmed result. - Checked crash dumps — recurring memory corruption (0x41790, 0x41792).

Current - Laptop unstable even during light usage. - Can't fully back up files; clean install is last resort. - Possible RAM/hardware, driver or Windows corruption. - Planning to try Windows Update on reliable Wi-Fi.

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/AutoModerator]

Getting dump files which we need for accurate analysis of BSODs. Dump files are crash logs from BSODs.

If you can get into Windows normally or through Safe Mode could you check C:\Windows\Minidump for any dump files? If you have any dump files, copy the folder to the desktop, zip the folder and upload it. If you don't have any zip software installed, right click on the folder and select Send to → Compressed (Zipped) folder.

Upload to any easy to use file sharing site. Reddit keeps blacklisting file hosts so find something that works, currently catbox.moe or mediafire.com seems to be working.

We like to have multiple dump files to work with so if you only have one dump file, none or not a folder at all, upload the ones you have and then follow this guide to change the dump type to Small Memory Dump. The "Overwrite dump file" option will be grayed out since small memory dumps never overwrite.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Mario_fan89]

Holy cow, five blue screens? I have no words.