Windows 7 to windows 8 Upgrade problems

I upgraded my wife's laptop from win 7 to win 8 and ran into all kind of issues. Then I saw the Windows 8.1 upgrade available so I figured "In for a penny, In for a pound" and did the windows 8.1 upgrade. This seems to have corrected a lot of the issues except the link to does not work, either from the settings Via the right side of the screen or the pop up Via right clicking the start button at the lower left of the screen.
I've tried starting the laptop in safe mode and the links work. I've also done the "sfc/scannow" under command prompt as administrator and nothing shows up in the log file.
Anyone have any ideas ?

Welcome to Windows EightForums, Jim tj.

Which link are you referring to?

Duhhhh .... just the most important part of the question ... the link for control panel. Sorry.

I'm new to all this as i'm sure you guessed .. I'll try again. And thanks for the welcome

You're welcome.

There's a link for CP in File Explorer (was Windows Explorer). Does that open it?

I wasn't aware that link existed, It does indeed work HippsieGypsie. So at least I have a way in. I wonder why the other links wont work ?

Try WinKey/X. Does that work to open the menu?

That link in File Explorer didn't get moved by any chance did it?

I'm wondering what exactly those links in the Advanced Context Menu (Power User Task Menu) really are.

All the rest work?

WinKey/X > arrow up to CP > Enter?

I was considering running a registry cleaner, perhaps CCleaner ?

Jim tj said:

I was considering running a registry cleaner, perhaps CCleaner ?

Click to expand...

Yes. That might work. I use it weekly. I ran it right after 8.1 upgrade. Some stuff left behind. Make sure you use the backup option.

All the other links work?

Hi HippsieGypsie. So far the only way I have been able to open control panel is via file manager, (thanks for your help there) nothing else works.
I ran CCleaner after first backing up the registry with Regedit. This has made a noticeable difference to how fast Windows opens but didn't help with my problem.
As I said earlier all the links work in safe mode so I'm guessing something that's opening/running in the background is inhibiting the links. Any thoughts on this ? Any easy way to turn off everything that opens on start-up ??

Well, at least we made some progress on your speed!

What you're saying makes sense for sure, but it could be a service as well, not just a program? It's getting a little bit beyond my knowledge, but startup programs would be in system configuration > Startup tab I believe. I'm on my phone now and can't check.

Also on my phone (nice app BTW) and at work so I'll check it out when I get home and get back to you. Thanks for your help so far.

Well, more progress, of sorts. I turned off everything that runs at start up, and the links work. Then I turned them back on 6 at a time and rebooted each time until the links stopped working again, then I worked backward turning them off two at a time. Frustrating as all hell, I ended up with them all turned off and the darn links didn't come back .. Sighhhhhh
So, I've just come to accept that the only way I have (I should say my wife has) into control panel is through file explorer, at least its a way ...
Thanks for your help HippsieGypsie ... I give up ! .. lol

Yes, you gave it your all I see. Software is finicky. Who knows, someday it may just simply start working.

Good luck to you and your wife and happy computing.

Thanks again HippsieGypsie. If I do figure it out I'll be sure to let know.

You're welcome. Please do let me know. It bugs me not to know the bugs.