e2e regression test fixes

Created by: uwedeportivo

changes made to regression e2e tests to help them pass during the 3.18 release.

notes:

• core, config-settings and external-services pass with these changes, extensions code cov test doesn't find the codecov button to hit, once you hit manually the test continues.
• forgive the dilettante coding, this was done by a ts novice for the sole purpose of getting the release out