O/S (Windows 10) is corrupted, need one on one help please

[S-Young]

I've spent over 10 days and 50 hours since the latest updates on 4/14 and cannot get my O/S working properly again. Can someone please walk me through a recovery? My files are there, I just want to restore the O/S or, failing that, reinstall the O/S without reformatting the hard drive. I have a recovery disk. I've reached the end of my rope - please, someone, help me. Who likes a challenge? You're my only hope, Obi-wan. Seriously. End. Of. Rope.


Current state

• Windows 10 Home Ver 10.0.18362.720
• Asus N550J 8GB RAM 500MB storage 64 bit
• I keep my files on D:\username, they're all still there, and I was able to back them up to an external drive right after this mess started.

Current symptoms:

• Windows cannot find ms-settings
• Shift-restart will not reboot into safe mode - only offers the option to shut down (I can use msconfig to get into safe mode)
• Troubleshooter fails
• Recovery disk will boot but troubleshooting and uninstall fail
• Uninstalling updates on 4/14 fail
  • KB4551762 windows update - tried uninstalling this one, even in safe mode, and it fails every time
  • KB4552152 security update - no option to uninstall
• 6 temporary profiles and cannot log into my real profile
• Reliability report is at about a 2.
  • Shows errors and problems since 4/14.
  • Shows for today a failed install 4 times in the last 5 hours (and I have NEVER played this game): Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80073D23: 9NBLGGH18846-KING.COM.CANDYCRUSHSAGA.
• Cannot find or get to any kind of reset option.
• Only one restore point ever shows, and it's always today's.

What I've tried in the last 10 days

• Recovery disk
• Troubleshooter
• sfc
• DISM
• regedit
• safe mode
• memory tests
• chkdsk

Tonight's efforts

• Contacted MS support
• Followed instructions to turn windows updater back on (I turned it off yesterday, but it was on automatic before that).
• Started Maintenance and then rebooted, repeated 3 times.
• Still can't find ms-settings
• sfc /scannow still errors out
• I just re-ran this, but the last time I tried the /online repair, it got stuck after 100% for 48 hours, so I'm reluctant to beat my head against that wall again.
  • Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.720]
    (c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
  • C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
  • Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 10.0.18362.1
  • Image Version: 10.0.18362.720
  • The component store is repairable.
    The operation completed successfully.
  • C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
  • Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 10.0.18362.1
  • Image Version: 10.0.18362.720
  • [==========================100.0%==========================] The component store is repairable.
    The operation completed successfully.
  • C:\WINDOWS\system32>

At first I thought I might have a bad hard drive. Now I think it's a Windows corruption issue. I'm willing to re-run any test but I ask that one person please work 1-1 with me to walk me through what needs to be done in the correct sequence. I'm done researching and trying - I need answers!!!! Thank you for your help.

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