How to Fix a Kernel32.DLL Error? : Apps disappeared from Start screen [Solved]

Apps disappeared from Start screen

One day I woke up and most of my apps disappeared from my Start screen.

The apps that disappeared are all the native apps except IE, store and desktop.
Installed apps such as Skype, except my Office and Adobe suites (thankfully!!), also vanished without a trace.
The disappeared apps don't show up in the "all apps" tab and App
Store still thinks that I own those apps, so I can't reinstall them.
Even I updated those no-show apps, they don't come back up on the Start screen.
Any thought or idea how to retrieve them MANUALLY?

Keys to the Problem Apps disappeared from Start screen

Download SmartPCFixer to Fix It (Free)

HI Kooster,

Please provide us with the following information in order to assist you better.

1.
Have you made any recent changes to the computer?
2.
Have you performed a “Refresh” on the computer?

I would like to inform you that if you have performed a “refresh” the apps that came with your PC or you installed from Windows Store will be reinstalled, but any apps you installed from other websites and DVDs will be
removed.
Windows puts a list of the removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

I suggest you to perform the following troubleshooting steps if you haven’t performed a reset or refresh

Method 1:

I would suggest you to perform a system restore if you haven’t performed a “refresh” and check if it helps.

You can follow the link mentioned below to perform a system restopre (Don’t perform “refresh and reset”)
How to restore, refresh, or reset your PC

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

Note:When you use System Restore to restore the computer to a previous state, programs and updates that you installed are removed.

Method 2:
Let's run System File Checker scan and check:
Follow the steps to run System File Scan:

a.
Press Windows + X key and click Command Prompt (Admin).
b.
Type the command: sfc /scannow and press Enter.
c.
Restart the computer and check.
Method 3:
You can refer to the link mentioned below and check if it helps.

What happened to the apps on my PC?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/what-happened-apps-pc

Method 4:

If the issue still persists you can check in a different user account.

You can refer to the article mentioned below to create a new user account.
Create a user account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-user-account

Hope this helps.
For further queries you can always come back.

Access the files on your computer via MY COMPUTER
Under the C: drive, access the WINDOWS folder
Select the SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION folder, followed by the DOWNLOAD folder.
Delete any files within this download folder.
If you are unable to delete these files, open the command prompt (CMD) as the administrator, and type "net stop wuauserv" into the CMD prompt window. Press ENTER. This should allow you to delete the files from step 4.
Once the files are deleted, open and run the CMD as the administrator and type "wuauclt.exe /updatenow". Press ENTER.

Another Safe way to Repair the Problem: Apps disappeared from Start screen:

How to Fix Apps disappeared from Start screen with SmartPCFixer?

1. Click the button to download SmartPCFixer . Install it on your system. Run it, and it will scan your computer. The errors will be shown in the list.