Solved What is going on?

[Templarware]

Briefly explain your current issue(s)

mouse won't connect and programs disappeared

Steps taken to resolve, but have been unsuccessful

uninstalled DefenderUI, tried a different usb port.

So today on both of my computers, some programs disappeared from start menu and desktop shortcuts, my mouse doesn't connect, I kept getting ""your admin blocked this action" warnings in action center. Already set DefenderUI to default and uninstalled it, but still not fixed. Anyone having problems with windows today?

 

[kC77]

MS defender updated caused ASR to delete files.....
not sure why your mouse is affected.... but for sure .lnk (shortcut filese were removed by a dodgy defender signature

update your signatures....
Set "block win32 API calls from office Macros" ASR rule to audit for now.....
mount a recent backup and restore your shortcuts manually or robocopy by extension

see

Microsoft Defender ASR rules remove icons and apps shortcuts from Taskbar

Techies are reporting that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint attack surface reduction (ASR) rules have gone haywire and are removing icons and applications shortcuts from the Taskbar and Start Menu. The problems were first noted early today, Friday 13th, by multiple IT folk and many seem to be...

malwaretips.com

 

[upnorth]

Tech News - Microsoft Defender ASR rules remove icons and apps shortcuts from Taskbar

Techies are reporting that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint attack surface reduction (ASR) rules have gone haywire and are removing icons and applications shortcuts from the Taskbar and Start Menu. The problems were first noted early today, Friday 13th, by multiple IT folk and many seem to be...

malwaretips.com

Possible related.

 

[Templarware]

Hm.. What about the dead mouse? Thuf Gaming M3, could it be affected by it?

 

[ForgottenSeer 97327]

So today on both of my computers, some programs disappeared from start menu and desktop shortcuts, my mouse doesn't connect, I kept getting ""your admin blocked this action" warnings in action center. Already set DefenderUI to default and uninstalled it, but still not fixed. Anyone having problems with windows today?

this is the cause Tech News - Microsoft Defender ASR rules remove icons and apps shortcuts from Taskbar
workaround disable the "block win32 API calls from office Macro" ASR Rule

 

[kC77]

Hm.. What about the dead mouse? Thuf Gaming M3, could it be affected by it?

maybe try to uninstall/reinstall the latest driver?

 

[Templarware]

maybe try to uninstall/reinstall the latest driver?

It should light up and work without the driver.
I'll have to try that later.

 

[danb]

Yeah, the ASR issue broke my mouse too... to fix it I restarted the computer and unplugged and replugged the mouse once Windows came up.

 

[Templarware]

Yeah, the ASR issue broke my mouse too... to fix it I restarted the computer and unplugged and replugged the mouse once Windows came up.

Already did that, mouse still dead even in other usb ports.

 

[kC77]

Do you have another mouse you can try?
Do other USB devices work?
Check in device manager if any exclamation marks ..

Maybe try dism / SFC scans

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

 

[Templarware]

I turned off the PSU and waited a while, the mouse is now back alive.

 

[kC77]

if in doubt turn it off & on again good news your back on

 

[Templarware]

Friday the 13th and Microsoft decided to team up.