Windows 10: Cortana Missing Windows 10

Yes there are thousands of threads like this, but none that seem to match my specific issue.

I was having trouble accessing my start menu and cortana, I did some searching and found the issue was typical, so I downloaded the official trouble shooter for the start menu, Needless to say, the trouble shooter couldn't solve my issue, I figured maybe just a restart after the trouble shooter would help, since its possible the trouble shooter was a catalyst and I just needed to restart to solve it, and done, the start menu was working flawlessly, HOWEVER, the spot on the start menu cortana occupied was now empty, obviously I noticed immediately as I only have a few apps present on my start menu. So I did some checking and couldn't find her anywhere on my computer... Now, I know what you're thinking, 'you have to enable her in your 'locations' settings, because cortana needs to utilize your location....' Well, one step ahead of you, I checked my location settings and the cortana app is no where to be found... numerous searches show shes no where on my computer any longer.... I tried downloading her from the Microsoft website but all I get is a document explaining cortanas functions... please someone help, quickly, I use her often and I really need her particularly right now. which is why its so irritating all these problems happened right at this time...

:)

 

Cortana Missing

It didn’t help. As I told you in the previous mail there is no microphone sign and no Cortana circle on the search bar. I was thinking to uninstall updates and reinstall them. Before the factory reset Cortana was there and was working . Please suggest
something else.

 

Cortana Missing

I recently factory reset my laptop and freshly installed windows 10.Now my windows is updated to the latest version but there is no cortana. Although the settings show cortana and search settings.In the screenshots it can be seen cortana settings are there
but the assistant is not there.I thhink ive accidently disabled cortana.Please help.Please tell how to setup the cortana?

 

You can try running following command in POWERSHELL as administrator Code: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}[/quote] and see if it helps. Otherwise you can hold down shift key as you press restart, go to advanced startup options, and do system restore. If none of these work, you can reinstall Windows 10 as an upgrade over top of itself, reset Windows 10 keeping all your stuff, or just do a reinstall.

 

Ok I tried the powershell thing, and I got this

Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073D02, The package could not be installed because resources it
modifies are currently in use. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80073D02)
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] aaba9efb-b56a-0002-c8cc-baaa6ab5d101 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppxLog -ActivityID aaba9efb-b56a-0002-c8cc-baaa6ab5d101
At line:1 char:38
+ ... | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.I ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (C:\Windows\Syst...ppXManifest.xml:String) [Add-AppxPackage], Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

 

You may need to restart.

 

[Fix] Problem in Windows 10 - AskVG

 

Thanks granddy, but that didnt help either. the powershell thing gave me another failed result error.

 

Did you launch the Powershell window in admin mode?
(If you really want to find Cortana related files, use e.g. a tool called Everything by void tools, let it index (fast) and then it will find as you type- I get many results).

Make sure Cortana is enabled:
Cortana - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

A last resort would be an in-place upgrade install (see Tutorial section) - keeps all your programs.

 

Did you look at this

[Guide] How to Reinstall All Default Built-in Apps in Windows 10 - AskVG

 

Also look at this

Apps - Reinstall and Re-register in Windows 8 and 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Why not just simply do a Repair Install instead of messing around with possible fixes ?
The time you folks spent on searching and trying out tutorials, would be more than enough to do a repair install.

 

How does one accomplish a repair install, and will it effect any of my files or programs?

 

Repair install allows you to keep files, settings and apps.
No product key is required.
Activation is automatic.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

 

Precede it with this in case sthg has happened to your file system:

From an admin command prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Make sure the result is clear or fixed.
Post back the result, which will be on the screen briefly.
Otherwise you can get the result as follows:
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!

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

For this you need an installation medium with the same base build as you have installed.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

This will refresh Windows, after the manner of a Windows installation.
- all/most associations will be unchanged
- all your programs will be left installed
- 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.

Recommendation:
Before you perform this major repair procedure, do create a disk image.

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.