lost apps after freezing

My tablet was stuck on the startup screen for a good 20 minutes so powered off an when switched on it started as a first time use explaining how to use. After this apps had dissapeard including Google play. Tablet has remembered the Google accounts for the tablet and when i installed Google play all accounts were also there. The apps are obviously still on the tablet somewhere as 11gb of storage is used and only have 5 apps. Have tried most of the settings as well as cache clearing from boot menu.

No all apps dissapeard from the play store and app manager. All accounts have remained but it's as if all icons have gone as memory used is still high and icons on the home screen have changed to android robot and say app not installed.

Had to download app store as it dissapeard with the rest. It remembered the Google accounts. In my apps there is nothing other than all apps I have had so can't uninstall any. Any I have reinstalled have kept accounts and downloads still there. It's a medion lifetab E7318 as far as I can see it is based on lenovos media two mt65 series.

Thanks for your help. Tried safe mode not much more apps there than when not in safe mode from the look of the storage it's as if the apps are there but not accessible. Will probably reset it. Is there a way to get files that are on it onto an external backup before I do this or will I have to root?