Windows 10: Can't open settings + start menu not opening

Having issues opening my start menu/settings. Cannot use hotkeys to open them nor cmd prompts. Can still run task manager but I am having issues resolving this problem. I have tried creating a new user and switching to that account but no dice. Any help would be immensely appreciated.

:)

 

Can't open Start menu

i can't open the start menu for no reasons after booting up mhy computer but it still can use right click, also the search and settings cant open too.

 

No start menu & "This app can't open"

I recently upgraded my laptop from Windows 8.1 to windows 10. At first I was very pleased until I noticed that the start menu was not opening when I clicked on it. In fact the only way that I could even access any apps was if I told Cortana to open them
for me. This was my first problem. Next when I tried to open my settings to see if it could be fixed I got a message that said "This app can't open. your trial period for this app has expired, please visit the windows store to purchase the full version". However
you can't go to the store and buy the settings app for your computer. So now I'm stuck. I can't open my start menu and I can't open any of my settings. Can anyone help me?

 

You could try System Restore if it's recently started happening, sstem restore is enabled, and you have useful restore points.

Otherwise, suggest an in-place upgrade repair install which keeps all programs, data and most settings

 

I found that Microsoft came out with a troubleshoot shoot

Microsoft Community

 

That's quite old- so I wonder what your build is?
(Windows key + R, winver)

However, if it works, great...

 

I remember getting an error message when I attempted to do a restore. I also tried the troubleshooter and received a message saying "Problem Found - Required applications are not installed correctly. - Not Fixed". Seems that every solution I have tried is a dead end.

I also recently tried to do a sfc/ scannow command. It got to 52% and then an error message saying "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation".

 

The scannow result indicates that you likely have corruption of the operating system.

This may be able to be fixed using the dism commands:

Perform the following steps:
1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread
6) In case the above dism commands do not fix the operating system you can continue with the additional commands in this link:
Use DISM to Repair Windows 10 Image Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

If the dism commands fix the operating system then create a new user account and evaluate the start menu function. Compare the function of the new user to the other user accounts.

If the dism commands can not fix the operating system then proceed to the in place upgrade:
7) create a bootable windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
8) Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Hey Zbook, I tried doing what you said but when I got to number 4) (dism /online cleanup-image /restorehealth) i got the error message "DISM doesn't recognize the command-line option "cleanup-image".For more information, refer to the help by running DISM.exe /?.The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log".

 

Any typo can display that message.
Please post the results into the thread.
See the link for more information.

 

Look at the line for step 4 closely. Its missing the / in front of cleanup-image. Correct it to /cleanup-image and it will work. Probably just a typo/oversight on the part of zbook. It happens.

 

DISM: the tool in post #2 here makes this easier and more reliable.
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Otherwise, as I suggested in my post #2: an in-place upgrade repair install.
You could spend a lot of time trying things... or an hour or so doing that. Of course, no absolute guarantee either way..!

1. First check your disk:
Download and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) and make sure all disks are reported as good.
If not, do not continue, and post back .

2. Now check your file system:

From an admin command or powershell prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
or
How to read Event Viewer log for Chkdsk in Windows 10 [Tip] | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTechdotTech
or
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

3. An In-place upgrade repair install will fix many things, but not those where the settings are not changed by the procedure, or user account corruption.

For this you need an installation medium with the same base build as you have installed, and x64 if you have a 64 bits OS, else x86 (32 bits).

You should also make sure there's at least 500Mb of unallocated space on your system disk.

Recommendation:
Before you perform the following major repair procedure, do create a disk image (see below).

** If you have the Creator's build, use the current iso.
If you have the Anniversary build, use an Anniversary build boot disk or iso.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
- this includes a link from which you can obtain a Windows 10 iso file (" download a Windows 10 ISO"), or create a Win 10 bootable medium. However, this will be the latest build from MS, which may not be the build you have installed. You must use one for the same major build.

If your installed Windows is not the latest major build, please post back.

However, this will be the latest build from MS, which may not be the build you have installed. You must use one for the same major build.

If your installed Windows is not the latest major build, please post back.

I would recommend creating the bootable medium, as this can be used
- for any future in-place upgrade repair install
- to boot from and use its recovery options should Windows become unbootable.
- to clean install Windows

This will refresh Windows, after the manner of a Windows installation.
- you keep all your programs
- you keep all your personal data

However: if you have installed some universal apps on a 2nd drive, these must be uninstalled or reinstalled on C: - else you will get an obscure error message that you can not keep your apps because they are in an unsupported directory.

"You can't keep Windows settings, personal files and apps because your current version of Windows might be installed in an unsupported directory"

- all/most associations will be unchanged
- you will lose any custom fonts
- you will lose any customised system icons
- you may need to re-establish your Wi-Fi connection
- you will need to redo Windows updates subsequent to the build you have used for the repair install
- Windows.old will be created
- system restore will be turned off- you should turn it on again and I recommend you manually schedule a daily restore point.
- you will need to redo any language downloads including the display language if you changed that)
- inactive title bar colouring (if used) will be reset to default
- if Qttabbar is installed, you need to re-enable it in explorer (Options, check Qttabbar)
This is one of the better features of Win10: as each major build comes out, that's your updated reference build, and as updates are mostly cumulative, there will be few to do.


Please consider using disk imaging regularly. It's a brilliant way to
- preserve your system (and your sanity)
- back up your data
- restore your system to a previously working state in a relatively short time

Recommended: Macrium Reflect (free/commercial) + boot disk/device + large enough external storage medium.

 

After running dism /online cleanup-image /restorehealth



C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealthDeployment Image Servicing and Management toolVersion: 10.0.15063.0Image Version: 10.0.15063.0[==========================100.0%==========================]Error: 0x800f081fThe source files could not be found.Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see MSN.com - Hotmail, Outlook, Skype, Bing, Latest News, Photos Videos DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.logC:\WINDOWS\system32>

 

I did run Hard Disk Sentinel and it said my c: drive was in 'bad health'. this was the message

There are 206 bad sectors on the disk surface. The contents of these sectors were moved to the spare area.Based on the number of remapping operations, the health of the disk was decreased in different steps.There are 22 weak sectors found on the disk surface. They may be remapped any time in the later use of the disk.It is recommended to examine the log of the disk regularly. All new problems found will be logged there.

 

Back up important files so that you don't have to worry if there is boot failure or loss of the drive.
Look for a replacement drive.
For the drive for the operating system and applications look for a SSD drive.
Please post images of the test results:
Take Screenshot in Windows 10 Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials