Wifi and start bar issues after updating BIOS and drivers - extremely annoying!

[inov8ive]

Hi there, please can you help?

I foolishly thought it would be a good idea to apply a bunch of recommended updates from the 'HP Support Assistant' (never again!). This included updating my BIOS and other recommended updates to drivers.... it was a *really bad* idea 😞

My PC is now struggling with the following issues

1. wifi does not work at all

2. start bar does not open

3. start bar search does not work

4. file explorer seach does not work, that window hangs

5. HP Support Assistant no longer opens

6. when I plug in USB storage drive  I can't view the files as the error says "Access is denied", if I try and share the folder I get 'Access Denied'

I *really* don't want to do a clean install of windows as I have lots of software configured how I want it.

Please can anyone help with the following questions?

The most important issue is the Wifi, I've noticed that I can only turn on Wifi if I unplug my Ethernet cable (this was never the case before) and then if I try and manually connect to my router's SSID this message pops up in the Event viewer :

The server {2593F8B9-4EAF-457C-B68A-50F6B8EA6B54} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Qu 1: is this what's stopping me connecting to wifi?

Qu 2: if so, how can I fix it - if not, what do you suggest?

The next priority is the Start bar for convenience, in the Event viewer/Application errors I can see this error with a timestamp of when I click the Start button, it mentions the Security control panel but I can't find any issues there.

The program StartMenuExperienceHost.exe version 0.0.0.0 stopped interacting with Windows and was closed. To see if more information about the problem is available, check the problem history in the Security and Maintenance control panel.
Process ID: 4c6c
Start Time: 01d7c520379e2066
Termination Time: 4294967295
Application Path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
Report Id: c7454bad-baae-4d94-895c-1be6d82048f4
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_10.0.19041.1023_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: App
Hang type: Cross-thread

For background I use Avast anti virus but this wasn't causing any issues before I updated my BIOS and drivers.

Thanks in advance for any help

Dave

System details:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> systeminfo

Host Name: DESKTOP-4176LLI
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
OS Version: 10.0.19043 N/A Build 19043
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner: HP ZBook
Registered Organization: HP Inc.
Product ID: xxxxxxxxx
Original Install Date: 15/03/2021, 22:22:47
System Boot Time: 19/10/2021, 20:29:49
System Manufacturer: HP
System Model: HP ZBook Studio G5
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 158 Stepping 10 GenuineIntel ~2592 Mhz
BIOS Version: HP Q71 Ver. 01.17.00, 05/08/2021
Windows Directory: C:\WINDOWS
System Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume3
System Locale: en-gb;English (United Kingdom)
Input Locale: en-gb;English (United Kingdom)
Time Zone: (UTC+00:00) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
Total Physical Memory: 32,094 MB
Available Physical Memory: 23,524 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 36,958 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 27,091 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 9,867 MB
Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys
Domain: WORKGROUP
Logon Server: \\DESKTOP-4176LLI
Hotfix(s): 8 Hotfix(s) Installed.
[01]: KB5005539
[02]: KB4562830
[03]: KB4577586
[04]: KB4580325
[05]: KB4589212
[06]: KB5000736
[07]: KB5006670
[08]: KB5005699
Network Card(s): 2 NIC(s) Installed.
[01]: Realtek USB GbE Family Controller
Connection Name: Ethernet
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 192.168.68.1
IP address(es)
[01]: 192.168.68.102
[02]: fe80::b92b:90b8:501e:47ef
[02]: Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9560 160MHz
Connection Name: WiFi
Status: Media disconnected
Hyper-V Requirements: VM Monitor Mode Extensions: Yes
Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: Yes
Second Level Address Translation: Yes
Data Execution Prevention Available: Yes

---

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-ComputerInfo

WindowsBuildLabEx : 19041.1.amd64fre.vb_release.191206-1406
WindowsCurrentVersion : 6.3
WindowsEditionId : Professional
WindowsInstallationType : Client
WindowsInstallDateFromRegistry : 15/03/2021 22:22:47
WindowsProductId : 00330-51758-95968-AAOEM
WindowsProductName : Windows 10 Pro
WindowsRegisteredOrganization : HP Inc.
WindowsRegisteredOwner : HP ZBook
WindowsSystemRoot : C:\WINDOWS
WindowsVersion : 2009
BiosCharacteristics : {7, 8, 11, 12...}
BiosBIOSVersion : {HPQOEM - 0, Q71 Ver. 01.17.00, HP - 11100}
BiosBuildNumber :
BiosCaption : Q71 Ver. 01.17.00
BiosCodeSet :
BiosCurrentLanguage : enUS
BiosDescription : Q71 Ver. 01.17.00
BiosEmbeddedControllerMajorVersion : 22
BiosEmbeddedControllerMinorVersion : 77
BiosFirmwareType : Uefi
BiosIdentificationCode :
BiosInstallableLanguages : 15
BiosInstallDate :
BiosLanguageEdition :
BiosListOfLanguages : {enUS, deDE, esES, itIT...}
BiosManufacturer : HP
BiosName : Q71 Ver. 01.17.00
BiosOtherTargetOS :
BiosPrimaryBIOS : True
BiosReleaseDate : 05/08/2021 01:00:00
BiosSeralNumber : 5CD9055NWX
BiosSMBIOSBIOSVersion : Q71 Ver. 01.17.00
BiosSMBIOSMajorVersion : 3
BiosSMBIOSMinorVersion : 1
BiosSMBIOSPresent : True
BiosSoftwareElementState : Running
BiosStatus : OK
BiosSystemBiosMajorVersion : 17
BiosSystemBiosMinorVersion : 0
BiosTargetOperatingSystem : 0
BiosVersion : HPQOEM - 0
CsAdminPasswordStatus : Disabled
CsAutomaticManagedPagefile : True
CsAutomaticResetBootOption : True
CsAutomaticResetCapability : True
CsBootOptionOnLimit :
CsBootOptionOnWatchDog :
CsBootROMSupported : True
CsBootStatus : {0, 0, 0, 11...}
CsBootupState : Normal boot
CsCaption : DESKTOP-4176LLI
CsChassisBootupState : Safe
CsChassisSKUNumber :
CsCurrentTimeZone : 60
CsDaylightInEffect : True
CsDescription : AT/AT COMPATIBLE
CsDNSHostName : DESKTOP-4176LLI
CsDomain : WORKGROUP
CsDomainRole : StandaloneWorkstation
CsEnableDaylightSavingsTime : True
CsFrontPanelResetStatus : Disabled
CsHypervisorPresent : False
CsInfraredSupported : False
CsInitialLoadInfo :
CsInstallDate :
CsKeyboardPasswordStatus : Disabled
CsLastLoadInfo :
CsManufacturer : HP
CsModel : HP ZBook Studio G5
CsName : DESKTOP-4176LLI
CsNetworkAdapters : {Ethernet, WiFi}
CsNetworkServerModeEnabled : True
CsNumberOfLogicalProcessors : 12
CsNumberOfProcessors : 1
CsProcessors : {Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8850H CPU @ 2.60GHz}
CsOEMStringArray : {FBYTE#3X476J6S6b7B7M7Q7U7W7m7saBaEapaqauawbUbhcAdUdpdqgdhKhZ
jh.F, BUILDID#18WWZICT601#SABU#DABU;, EDK2_1, Buff=2...}
CsPartOfDomain : False
CsPauseAfterReset : -1
CsPCSystemType : Mobile
CsPCSystemTypeEx : Mobile
CsPowerManagementCapabilities :
CsPowerManagementSupported :
CsPowerOnPasswordStatus : Disabled
CsPowerState : Unknown
CsPowerSupplyState : Safe
CsPrimaryOwnerContact :
CsPrimaryOwnerName : HP ZBook
CsResetCapability : Other
CsResetCount : -1
CsResetLimit : -1
CsRoles : {LM_Workstation, LM_Server, NT}
CsStatus : OK
CsSupportContactDescription :
CsSystemFamily : 103C_5336AN HP ZBook Studio
CsSystemSKUNumber : 5LY86UC#ABU
CsSystemType : x64-based PC
CsThermalState : Safe
CsTotalPhysicalMemory : 33653100544
CsPhyicallyInstalledMemory : 33554432
CsUserName : DESKTOP-4176LLI\HP ZBook
CsWakeUpType : PowerSwitch
CsWorkgroup : WORKGROUP
OsName : Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
OsType : WINNT
OsOperatingSystemSKU : 48
OsVersion : 10.0.19043
OsCSDVersion :
OsBuildNumber : 19043
OsHotFixes : {KB5005539, KB4562830, KB4577586, KB4580325...}
OsBootDevice : \Device\HarddiskVolume3
OsSystemDevice : \Device\HarddiskVolume5
OsSystemDirectory : C:\WINDOWS\system32
OsSystemDrive : C:
OsWindowsDirectory : C:\WINDOWS
OsCountryCode : 44
OsCurrentTimeZone : 60
OsLocaleID : 0809
OsLocale : en-GB
OsLocalDateTime : 19/10/2021 21:26:53
OsLastBootUpTime : 19/10/2021 20:29:49
OsUptime : 00:57:04.0495538
OsBuildType : Multiprocessor Free
OsCodeSet : 1252
OsDataExecutionPreventionAvailable : True
OsDataExecutionPrevention32BitApplications : True
OsDataExecutionPreventionDrivers : True
OsDataExecutionPreventionSupportPolicy : OptIn
OsDebug : False
OsDistributed : False
OsEncryptionLevel : 256
OsForegroundApplicationBoost : Maximum
OsTotalVisibleMemorySize : 32864356
OsFreePhysicalMemory : 23336660
OsTotalVirtualMemorySize : 37845092
OsFreeVirtualMemory : 26858220
OsInUseVirtualMemory : 10986872
OsTotalSwapSpaceSize :
OsSizeStoredInPagingFiles : 4980736
OsFreeSpaceInPagingFiles : 4980736
OsPagingFiles : {C:\pagefile.sys}
OsHardwareAbstractionLayer : 10.0.19041.1151
OsInstallDate : 15/03/2021 22:22:47
OsManufacturer : Microsoft Corporation
OsMaxNumberOfProcesses : 4294967295
OsMaxProcessMemorySize : 137438953344
OsMuiLanguages : {en-GB}
OsNumberOfLicensedUsers : 0
OsNumberOfProcesses : 306
OsNumberOfUsers : 2
OsOrganization : HP Inc.
OsArchitecture : 64-bit
OsLanguage : en-GB
OsProductSuites : {TerminalServicesSingleSession}
OsOtherTypeDescription :
OsPAEEnabled :
OsPortableOperatingSystem : False
OsPrimary : True
OsProductType : WorkStation
OsRegisteredUser : HP ZBook
OsSerialNumber : 00330-51758-95968-AAOEM
OsServicePackMajorVersion : 0
OsServicePackMinorVersion : 0
OsStatus : OK
OsSuites : {TerminalServices, TerminalServicesSingleSession}
OsServerLevel :
KeyboardLayout : en-GB
TimeZone : (UTC+00:00) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
LogonServer : \\DESKTOP-4176LLI
PowerPlatformRole : Mobile
HyperVisorPresent : False
HyperVRequirementDataExecutionPreventionAvailable : True
HyperVRequirementSecondLevelAddressTranslation : True
HyperVRequirementVirtualizationFirmwareEnabled : True
HyperVRequirementVMMonitorModeExtensions : True
DeviceGuardSmartStatus : Off
DeviceGuardRequiredSecurityProperties :
DeviceGuardAvailableSecurityProperties :
DeviceGuardSecurityServicesConfigured :
DeviceGuardSecurityServicesRunning :
DeviceGuardCodeIntegrityPolicyEnforcementStatus :
DeviceGuardUserModeCodeIntegrityPolicyEnforcementStatus :