Thanks guys. I don't know if it was a bug or what (considering all the anti-everything I have on this computer). But I went to a website which showed how to use F8 and command prompt with the following file:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
That alone did not help because I use SpinRite6 and it pops up a window (at F8) and no matter which you select, the system goes on to start-up.
But I managed to go into "search" and type the above file into it. When it came up, I launched it.
It worked.
There's obviously several ways to skin a cat.
But I would still love to know what the hell changed my settings.