Windows 10: Critcal Error: Your Start Menu Isn't Working

Here is the screenshot. Notice the C Cleaner and Photoshop icons look like a blank piece of paper.

 

I just posted a screenshot showing the icon issue. I will be out most of the day, but will check back in tonight for sure. Thank you again for all your help!

 

Do they still work when you click on them?

Is this happening only with desktop apps and not Windows apps (modern apps from Store)?

Is it only with a few desktop apps or all of them?

If so, here's a couple of things to try:

• Rebuild icon cache.
• Download and merge the .reg file for the listed lnk (LNK) option. It'll restore the default associations and registry entries for shortcuts.

 

I can't access anything on the start menu. When I click on the windows icon I get this error message: Critical Error: Your start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in. I spent about an hour on the phone with tech support and they were unable to fix the problem and told me I would have to uninstall and reinstall Windows 10. Then tried to sell me an external hard drive and a Windows 10 usb.

 

In that case, it may be best to bite the bullet and clean install Windows 10. *Sad

 

I am in the same boat as LeafDesigner (the OP). Just a few days after a Win10 (build 10240) upgrade from Win7, I click on the Start button and get the dreaded "Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" A box says "Sign out now". Clicking on it, signs out, restarts, and clicking on the Start button repeats the same message.

I installed all the Windows updates. I powered the computer on and off, several times. I uninstalled some apps I no longer needed. I ran sfc/scannow, and that told me some files were fixed but others were not fixable. They are in a file CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.Log. That file is miles long.

My Win10 upgrade did not go well. I had a blinking screen and no sound, but got those fixed. I am not a computer whiz, even if I did build the machine. It is sounding like I need to wipe the hard drive and do a complete reinstall. Is that really the only good course of action to take? I am not sure I am qualified to do this.

Thank you.

Phil

 

Is the "Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" something new? I have been having a useless start menu in the bottom corner that does absolutely nothing whatsoever when I click it for over a week now without getting that message once.

Since the new user accounts I make work perfectly, I guess I am in the same boat as you guys with corrupted user account. I think we have to patiently wait for it to get fixed before we make new accounts, as this is my 3rd time on a new account (after fresh install every time). The issues with completely useless star menu, horrible shortcut times (Win+E for example) and other useless windows functions always comes back.

The only thing that seems to help is doing a fresh install, or creating new users every time it happens. I just hope it can be hotfixed, so I wont have to reinstall windows / create account # 4 in 3 weeks *Sad

 

Stigus,

Yes, the Start Menu not working and the error message appeared at the same time this morning. These two behaviors always appear together and NOT independently.

I will try to create a new user account and see what that does. I don't know how to do that, but will find out. Can a created user account be deleted later on?

Phil

 

@Phil3,

Here you go to help. *Smile

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

 

Thank you. I went with Option 3 and the error message (Your Start menu isn't working...), does NOT appear! But, it still does for the original user profile that was always on the computer. Can I create another account, make that an admin account, and delete the original account that is causing problems? How can I tell what is an admin account?

Phil

 

Yeah, it's pretty weird that making new accounts keep working. Just remember to move all the files from users/OLDACCOUNT/documents and pictures etc to the new one. You can make the new user admin in group settings, I have no time to explain right now, but googling "make win 10 admin user" or somehting had me up and running on new admin account pretty fast *Smile

 

Here you go: *Smile

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6...dows-10-a.html

 

Thanks, Brink. I will try those options. The icons do work...they just look generic.

It seems to be a mixed bag as to which ones are generic. For example, the Hightail icon (online ftp service) is fine, but all the Adobe products are generic.

 

If that doesn't help, then see if reinstalling one of the affected programs may sort it.

 

Hi Brink

Unfortunately, rebuilding the icon cache didn't help. I also uninstalled/reinstalled one of the affected programs, but the icon for that one was still generic-looking after the reinstall.