Every time I reboot, I get a "Preparing Windows" screen. Then all my desktop files and software settings are gone, Windows 10.

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Community, we understand your concern and we will try our best to help you resolve the issue.

I would suggest that you try the methods that are mentioned below to narrow down the cause of the issue.

Method 1:

Place your computer in Safe Mode and check if the same issue persist when you restart the computer when placed in Safe Mode.

1. Open Run Command (Windows button +R)

2. A dialog box will open type “msconfig”

3. Locate and select the Boot tab and select Safe with Minimal as option.

4. Restart Computer

Note: Follow the same procedure to undo Safe Mode, uncheck the Safe option and restart your system.

Method 2: If the issue still persist in Safe Mode, I would suggest that you run Startup Repair and check if the issue reoccurs.

• Go to the “Lock Screen” and press and hold the shift key and click on the power icon located on the bottom right corner of the screen.
• You will have to restart your computer, you will be prompted to click on “Restart Anyway”.
• Then you select “Troubleshoot” and click on “Advance Option” and locate and select “Startup Repair”.

Hi,

Thank you for the update.

If the issue does not persists in Safe mode, then you may try the same in Clean boot and check the status of the issue.

A clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update or when you run a program in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista. You may also troubleshoot or determine what conflict is causing the problem by performing a clean boot.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Applies to Windows 10

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps from section “How to reset the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting” to reset the computer to start as usual.

If the issue still persists, then you may perform the startup repair as suggested by Vanessa Sohtun from the previous post.

Hope the information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance. We will be happy to help.

Thank you.

I tried making my setup be the deault on the computer....  I copied the profile to the default users folder...  It didnt make any of the acounts show up with my carefully crafted environment...  Could this be part of the reason my account is messed up?

I wanted taskbar classic shell and mouse settings to be default for all users on this pc... Tapping to click is like sticking a needle in the eye...  So i tried the most logical thing...

I didnt happen with other accounts.

How does windows repair handle an account related problem?

I solved this problem. Hope this helps other people.

The problem of the disappearing user settings was happening to my Domain user, not the local PC user. For some reason, the domain user was being treated as a guest after the update to Windows 10. 

Our network admin set up a new user for me, and that was basically all that had to be done. I had to reconnect a few things, and what was lost remained lost, but going forward, this issue was solved.

Brief* it. What is that?