Script is broken with Preview Update (KB5120998) (26200.9278) - Microsoft.AIFabric.CBS Appx Package Removal Reverts File Explorer Ribbon to Win10

[Intoxicus]

Since Preview Update (KB5120998) (26200.9278) & .NET Framework Preview Update (KB5122385) I've lost the Windows 11 tabbed file explorer. I now have the Win 10 explorer.

Also Windows Defender seems effected. I think part of the problem is perhaps with the Defender AI being removed?

After needing to do a restore to make it work again. It's running the AI Removal Script that broke it back to how it was before.

I am unsure what exactly is going on here. I can only say for certain that it after I ran your script with everything checked that this happened again.

I'm going to try again, but without removing the Windows Defender AI components. That seems like an obvious thing to try being that it seems like the AI Removal is giving it issues after this update.

[Intoxicus]

Ironically I'm using a Jippity to help me figure this out and it gave me this output:

"Because Microsoft's August 2026 update (KB5120998) bundles critical visual shell improvements with its AI architecture, the script treats the update like a threat and blocks its installation halfway through. This leaves your File Explorer in a broken, tabless "limbo" state and locks out DISM commands."

I don't blindly trust any Jippity. But yeah, if this is the case this is all MicroSlop's fault yet again.

I opted out of Preview Updates ffs. I still get them even though I turned it off years ago. I shouldn't have even been served the Preview Update in the first place.

Hopefully you can get this figured out and flanged up.

Thank You & Respect

Edit:

The missing File Explorer tabs are specifically broken by three deep modifications made by the [zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI](https://github.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI) script: [1]

1. The Block on the CBS Store (Component-Based Servicing)

The script installs a custom package blocker into your system's CBS store to keep Windows from secretly reinstalling AI apps. However, in recent versions of Windows 11, Microsoft bundled major File Explorer improvements into the same core service architecture. Because the CBS store is frozen by the script, the recent update couldn't deploy its updated layout files properly, leaving the File Explorer shell stranded in a broken, half-installed state. [1, 2, 3]

2. Modifying IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json

To fully deactivate background triggers like Windows Copilot and Recall, the script changes system behavior policies inside this JSON file. Because File Explorer relies on these exact same regional policy frameworks to dynamically determine which desktop interface features to toggle on or off, editing this file frequently forces the File Explorer layout to crash or fall back to the basic Windows 10 look. [1]

3. Removal of "Nonremovable" AppX Packages & WindowsWorkload

The script forces the removal of critical background framework packages (like WindowsWorkload packages) that Microsoft classifies as core dependencies. When these underlying platforms are deleted, the modern [WinUI 3](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/winui/winui3/) interface components—which control visual elements like top navigation bars, desktop tabs, and sidebars—fail to load, wiping out your tabs completely. [1, 2]

[zoicware]

unfortunately basically everything that ai told you is made up bs... none of this is true and btw ive yet to see anyone effectively use ai to properly explain a bug with this script its just beyond the scope of what a general llm chat is going to know

with that being said i did some debugging and it seems the new Microsoft.AIFabric.CBS appx package is now somehow a dependency of the file explorer ribbon...

since this is a preview update there are many bugs especially with this particular one, if you do a quick google youll see other weird things happening like mouse cursor being reset and in my experience using this build on a vm its total dog shit lol

so for right now ill leave this open and see what happens with the stable release and hopefully if this persists i can find a way to prevent this dependency... (i might have some tricks up my sleeve 😉)

[Intoxicus]

This is not off topic.

with that being said i did some debugging and it seems the new Microsoft.AIFabric.CBS appx package is now somehow a dependency of the file explorer ribbon...
seems congruent with:

1. The Block on the CBS Store (Component-Based Servicing)
   The script installs a custom package blocker into your system's CBS store to keep Windows from secretly reinstalling AI apps. However, in recent versions of Windows 11, Microsoft bundled major File Explorer improvements into the same core service architecture. Because the CBS store is frozen by the script, the recent update couldn't deploy its updated layout files properly, leaving the File Explorer shell stranded in a broken, half-installed state. [1, 2, 3]

What it describes is accurate except it was very broad instead of identifying a specific package. From what you said the CBS store/app that's a dependency now seems to be the issue here.

Anyway I had to fully reinstall windows. I literally don't have time for this. It's a long ass story. I was supposed to be doing stuff to make me money today. I'm on disability, I just don't have enough income. It was absolutely critical for me to get that other stuff done today. Not spend literally all day on this.

It's not your fault what Microslop did here and all that. But this whole affair is a huge problem for me because of it consuming all of my time and energy for the day. I want to save others from this bullshit. This is one that really fucks everything up real bad if it goes wrong like it did for me. Please save other people from being fucked by this unexpectedly.

https://youtu.be/kWeQ6LWWl1s?si=trkIq7eNhwCMIjvi - that's me crashing out over it. I sent that to various microsoft accounts, etc.

Let me know when you have fixed this issue so I can use your script again.

[zoicware]

this is off topic and adds nothing to the issue you are just rambling... your ai is wrong as i already stated