I need to speak to an agent my search and setting are not working on my Surface Pro

Question

I need to speak to an agent my search and setting are not working on my Surface Pro

Deborah Renfroe 0

I cannot use my search, or my setting options they have stopped working please advise how to correct, I cannot get Word to open for a new document because I cannot use search or setting to troubleshoot

Ash Ramgoolam 0 Reputation points

2026-10-22T15:10:39.4633333+00:00

My settings, control panel, and taskbar manager are inaccessible, and I am getting a restrictions error and asked to contact an administrator even though it is a personal PC and I am set up as an admin. I am unable to reset the PC or reinstall Windows. Please let me know if any of you have had similar issues and possibly a fix that can help me. Many thanks

1 answer

Your answer

Ash Ramgoolam 0 Reputation points

2026-10-22T15:10:39.4633333+00:00

My settings, control panel, and taskbar manager are inaccessible, and I am getting a restrictions error and asked to contact an administrator even though it is a personal PC and I am set up as an admin. I am unable to reset the PC or reinstall Windows. Please let me know if any of you have had similar issues and possibly a fix that can help me. Many thanks

Answer 1

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart.

Test Search (Windows key + S) and Settings (Windows key + I).

A Surface force restart also helps- hold the power button for 20 seconds until the logo appears, release, then power on again.

Open Command Prompt as Admin and run these commands:

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Create a new local user account (netplwiz from the Run box, or Computer Management) and test whether Search and Settings work there. If they do, your profile is damaged and you can move your files across.