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You can probably use diskpart to clean the drive, then format as anything you’d like
Be careful – selecting the wrong drive to clean will wipe everything out!!!

Also, try running systeminfo.exe from an elevated Command Prompt

I use the Windows automated backup along with an automated backup by Acronis True Image Home 2014 – both backup to my Western Digital Cloud device on my LAN
I also use SyncBackSE (the pay-for version) and a Task Scheduler copy task to save things at my wife’s office (to external USB drives).
I used to use an FTP server to backup the stuff from the wife’s office – but that attracted to many unknowns trying to get into my systems, so I stopped that.

Frankly, I posted the link because I’ve had similar problems and have used the techniques to fix things.
In my case it was a faulty installation of Kaspersky Internet Security (although I’ve seen similar symptoms from a faulty installation of Trend Micro Internet Security).
I removed the Kaspersky and the problem went away.

Now for the caveats. I’m not an expert with this tool, only having used it once or twice.
I do recall an issue where the command line tool wasn’t available – but I was able to use the GUI in order to work my way through the problems.
It seems to me that I wasn’t able to identify specific times that the problem occurred – but I was still able to fix my problem
My suspicion/assumption here is that the problem that occurs during boot may also be occurring afterwards – so the symptoms may show up in the DPC Latency tools.

You can get another hard drive (for the laptop) and attempt to restore to that.
You can attempt to restore the backup to an OS inside of a Virtual Machine

Other than that, I don’t know of any way just to test the file.
Presumably the built in error detecting/correcting mechanisms have found the image to be intact.

The best thing that I’ve found is to put the computer in a common area where what they’re doing is visible (without them being spy’d upon)
Then when you see them doing something that they shouldn’t be – that’s the time for creating consequences for their actions!

Children will find a way around everything that you try to do.
As for virus’ – I told them that it’ll cost them what it costs my customers ($200 US for a virus removal w/hardware diags).
I was going to give them a break on earning it ($50 credit for mowing the lawn, etc)
The older boy decided to stop using the computer :0)
The younger boy researched things and started removing his own virus’ :0)

You might want to try this also (DPC delays): http://www.sysnative.com/forums/windows-7-|-windows-vista-tutorials/5721-how-to-diagnose-and-fix-high-dpc-latency-issues-with-wpa-windows-windows-vista-7-8-a.html

Again just FYI – but the lack of errors usually results in a blank text file in Startup Repair.
I don’t know if this carries over to other Windows functions, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

Just a note – I’ve assumed that the Windows Update flash player updates are for IE only.
At work we have a Win8.1U1 PC with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari also installed and will sometimes see Adobe prompting to update.
Any thoughts on this?

Just FYI – Disk Management snapin is that which loads when you run “diskmgmt.msc” (without the quotes)
The MMC (Microsoft Management Console – mmc.exe) loads first, then it loads the Disk Management Snap In (diskmgmt.msc)

You can also access it by pressing the Windows Key and the X key at the same time – then press K when the menu pops up (English US instructions – your language may vary).

Mine works without issue (I used this site: http://www.itma.vt.edu/tech/shockwave.htm )
It has 2 UAC prompts before the movie loads and displays.

Just saw this on CNET: http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-1-update-2-reportedly-will-land-august-12/
Says it’s gonna be released on 12 August

Windows can do this (I can’t recall the exact fix – but I was using the “Ctrl” key to fix it with IE a long time ago)
The issue here is that others can adjust this behavior – and if a developer changes this for their program, then they have to adjust it only for their program – not for all programs.
The ShellFolderFix is a good program that resets these values.

I have to question the accuracy of this article – it states that a Microsoft rep has posted in EightForums

The link to EightForums ( http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/48214-what-we-know-so-far-about-upcoming-windows-8-1-update-3.html#post393232 ) is from a user who alleges that a Microsoft TechSupport person told him that it was due then.