PC settings - Fix and Restore in Windows 8.1

How to Fix and Restore PC settings and "Change PC settings" in Windows 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to restore PC settings on the Apps screen, and fix the "Change PC settings" link in the Settings charm winkey: + I) in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: "Change PC settings" in Settings charm and PC settings on Apps screen

​

​

​

​

Here's How:

1. Double check to make sure that access to PC settings has not been disabled.

​

How to Enable or Disable Access to Control Panel and PC settings in Windows 8 and 8.1​

2. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, copy and paste the path below into Run, and click/tap on OK.

​

%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs​

3. Check to see if you have the PC settings (aka: Immersive Control Panel) shortcut. (see screenshot below)

​

​

4. Do step 5 or 6 below depending on if you already have the PC settings shortcut.


5. If you do have the PC settings shortcut, then go to step 7 below.

6. If you do not have the PC settings shortcut, then click/tap on the download button below to download the PC_settings.zip file below for a clean copy.

​

​

​

​

​

A) Save the .zip file to your desktop.​

​

B) Open the .zip file, extract (drag and drop) the Immersive Control Panel (aka: PC settings) shortcut to your desktop.​

​

C) Move the Immersive Control Panel (aka: PC settings) shortcut into the Programs folder in step 2. (see screenshot below step 3)​

​

D) If prompted, click/tap on Yes, Yes, Continue (UAC), Yes, and Yes to approve. (see screenshots below)​

​

​

​

​

​

E) Test to see if you are able to open PC settings now.​

​

F) If you are still not able to open PC settings, then go to step 7 below.​

​

G) If you are able to open PC settings now, then you're finished and can stop.​

7. Open an elevated command prompt.

​

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml

​

​

   Note

If you get the 0x8007064A error in quotes below, then it means that the Packages registry key below does not have System set as it's owner. For how, see step 3 in Option Four here. Afterwards, try again.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\[COLOR=#ff0000][B]Packages[/B][/COLOR]

error 0x8007064A: Cannot register the request because the following error was encountered while initializing the windows.repositoryExtension extension: The
configuration data for this product is corrupt. Contact your support personnel.

8. Test to see if you are able to open PC settings now.

9. If you are still not able to open PC settings, then see: Fix Store Apps and Tiles that are Not Working or Responding in Windows 8 and 8.1


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable Access to Control Panel and PC settings in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Fix Store Apps and Tiles that are Not Working or Responding in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Restore Missing "Desktop" Tile on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Restore Modern Internet Explorer on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Restore Missing "Store" Tile on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[ksio89]

I have lost the count of how many times either PC Settings or Modern titles/apps suffer from this issue where suddenly they do not open anymore in Win 8.1. MS should fix it in Win10 because it's a really annoying and frequent issue. But as as usual, this command does the job, thanks for the millionth time :thumb:

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Cássio. Hopefully, it will eventually sort itself for you.

 

[tbarr]

Thank you so very much! I have tried so many "fixes" its amazing my computers not totally fried. You made this very easy for the average user to follow and execute! I am very grateful I found this forum! You're the BEST! 4 STARS!:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
Thank you again!

~Tina

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Tina, and welcome to Eight Forums.

 

[Slakeon]

I tried the fix and it worked but the solution was not permanent. The first time I clicked on PC Settings right after executing the command line it worked perfectly but now it crashes everytime I go into PC Settings > PC and Devices > Devices. That particular options crashes me to the desktop and I also get this error

 

[Brink]

Hello Slakeon, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Please go through the steps again to see if they may help again.

 

[Slakeon]

Tried again, and now it works flawlessly. Thanks Brink!

 

[Brink]

Great news. Sometimes it can be a bit stubborn.

 

[grumps]

Thank you so much, fixed.

 

[fanserker]

Sir, i got this problem.. how to fix it??? :huh:

 

[Cliff S]

Sir, i got this problem.. how to fix it??? View attachment 64805:huh:

You didn't use an admin command prompt.

 

[Brink]

Hello Fanserker, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Did you try the command in the note box under step 7, and try step 7 again afterwards?

If so, then see if running a SFC /SCANNOW command to make sure that you don't have any corrupted files, then try again.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

 

[medlongsc]

Thank you!! Using the elevated command prompt (option1) restored the PC Settings Function. However, I am unable to use Family Safety from the Control Panel menu or from Settings. The only option that pops up is editing the user accounts or deleting user accounts

 

[Brink]

Hello Medlongsc, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I'm glad this tutorial was able to help with your PC Settings.

Please go ahead and create a new thread for your Family Safety issue to see if we may be able to help there with it.

 

[chaitt]

Step #7 not working

C:\windows\system32>powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -Di
sableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifes
t.xml

I tried the above command in cmd (Admin mode), but its giving below error in red:
Add-AppxPackage : The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled
or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has
no enabled devices associated with it.
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register
$Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveContr ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: ) [Add-AppxPackage], Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.Exception,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageM
anager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand


Does this mean there's some restriction in my laptop which should be removed first before I try this?? Please advise.

 

[Brink]

Hello Chaitt, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If this has recently started doing this, then you might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this started may help.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html

 

[suaveydavey]

Thank you so much, you really saved my bacon! I had visions of having to do a wipe.
Once I got to step 7, everything was fine. Thanks again!