Think I've screwed myself

Hi, all.

I have an Asus, running Windows 10, which I'm starting to hate more with every passing day. I have very little on it, have deleted all the useless apps which came with it (like sports, weather, games) if it gave me an option to uninstall. I do not use most of the Microsoft versions of things, like browsers, anti-virus or Office. My browser is Google, anti-virus is AVG (paid version) and word-processing is Corel. I do not allow that "Live update by unknown publisher" to make changes, and my size setting is at 175% so I can actually read the screen.

I bought and downloaded Corel Office, which worked just fine for the first bit. A few weeks ago, I re-downloaded a music notation program I've been using for years, which, again, works fine, and the Audible manager for audiobooks. Those three programs are really all I use the computer for.

Now, all of a sudden, my Corel program won't save anything. It won't even autosave. My "file explorer" and recycle bin refused to open.

Googling around I discovered that both those things apparently give problems if you set the screen to 175%. I changed the settings to 150 and they both opened without problems, but when I try to send, say, a deleted file back to Corel from the recycle bin, it refuses to acknowledge the file exists. It will let me print a letter without saving, but won't save it.

I'm going to try uninstalling Corel and reinstalling it from the cd in a day or so when I have the time, but have I inadvertantly screwed things up by deleting useless apps or refusing to let that Live Update thing make changes? I had heard it was mostly for third-party apps and advertising.

I can't take my computer into the shop until the end of February, when I'll have the time and money, not to mention a vehicle to transport the tower rather than lugging it on the bus. At the same time, I have forms and entry requirements I need to download, save and access before the end of February for a regional quartet singing contest.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Cliff Face: Unfortunately, while I can see the file sitting there, when I try to open it, it just says the command doesn't work. I can only print something I have on the screen, but not open anything. But I do appreciate the help.

Blacbird: You're quite right. At present I have a grand total of 4 documents, all forms, on my computer. I printed them out, but did not back up the digital file. I really should know better.

PostHuman: Hadn't thought of Open Office, thank you. If the re-install doesn't work, I will give it a try.

Your replies are all very much appreciated.

Matera the Mad: Please don't go to all that trouble. If the re-install doesn't work, I'll take it down to someone who actually knows what they're doing (as opposed to me, who would probably make things worse by fiddling). Thank you for the very kind offer.

I don't suppose Linux makes an affordable desktop for the "don't know, don't care, just hit it with a stick until it works" kind of user?

Thank you Jamesaritchie. I didn't think the computer itself was the problem, as it worked fine for the first little while, and Corel worked fine for the first little while. I did wonder if I was the problem by not allowing the Liveupdate thing.

I'll let it do its thing when it asks and see if that resolves the conflicts.

Again, thank you.

Perhaps I should have gone to Vista instead of grimly sticking with XP (which worked!) until forced to go with 10. Might have prepared me. I've always let it do its regular Microsoft updates, just wasn't letting it do the updates from "LiveUpdate - Unknown Publisher." I'm not usually keen on any unknown publisher making changes to my operating system. Thanks for the good wishes, Stormie. We'll have to wait and see, I guess, or it's off to the repairman next week, like it or not.

Oh, PeteMC, I hope I don't end up having to ditch Corel. I LIKE Wordperfect.

It'll be a few weeks before I can do much of anything, what with work and other obligations interfering. If and when I get it fixed (one way or the other), I'll let everyone know. Many thanks.