Multiple problems on Win7 Pro64

[oran]

I don't know if this is a hardware or software issue.

SYSTEM:
Win7 Pro64
Tweaking v4.5.4 (Both free & PRO versions)

PROBLEMS:   
1 "Windows Help & Support can't start"
2 Cannot repair even a single option in Tweaking: message "The current repair has failed to start 4 times   Something is keeping the repair from running"
3 Unable to update to latest version of Tweaking
4 After several bouts of trying to update, the PRO version disappeared
5 Restore doen't work


ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS:
Ran everything in SAFE Mode, then repeated in SAFE + Networking
Ran MalwareBytes Anti-Rootkit : found no malware
Ran TSSSKiller : found no malware
Turned off my antivirus MsMpEng.exe & retried everything; still no help
Performed multiple restarts and at least 3 total power downs.
Tried 3 different Restore files; all failed
Tried installing Tweaking version from downloaded file "These files can't be opened. Your internet security settings prevented 1 or more files from being read."
Ran ChkDsk option \f ; nothing of interest

[Boggin]

This seems to be caused by a security program and as you have turned Windows Defender off then it must be Windows Firewall, although while not unheard of, it has been known to occasionally block.

In Safe Mode w/o Networking Windows Firewall becomes/remains active to replace any 3rd party antivirus program which is isolated in that mode.

Scroll to the Win 7 section in this article in how to whitelist www.tweaking.com

https://buffered.com/tutorials/how-to-whitelist-programs-in-windows-firewall/

[oran]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for your response.
I checked the firewall as suggested & found that tweaking.com was already whitelisted (in both private & public networks). Curiously, the private network is listed as 'Not connected'.
But that should not be relevant, since tweaking,com was whitelisted in both.

[Boggin]

If it is set as Public or Work then that could in some circumstances cause a problem.

Right click on your WiFi icon and select Open Network and Sharing Center.

There you'll see what it is set at which could be Public or Work.

To change that to Home, click on Public or Work and that will open a pane where you can click on Home.

I cancel the bits about Home group as I don't want to create one.