Windows 10: Problems with Windows start button

Since last update I have not been able to use the Windows start button. It stays gray/black all the time. Only able to right click, but does not open with normal click.

I have tried all the normal things to restart windows, checked upgrades etc. Nothing has changed my problem

:)

 

Start Button displaying but not working


The start button was working until there was a forced reboot (power failure). Then left click (normal click) over the start button does absolutely nothing. Right click brings up a menu but "programs" and also "settings" are missing and not included on this list. Search or Task View buttons do not work either with "normal" click. Does anyone have any suggestion or fixes?
Thank you in advance *Huh
Sue

 

Start Button Not Working?


What steps should be taken to diagnose a Windows 10 start button not working?

 

Change the start button picture AKA How to screw Windows up: The Complicated Way

This should (in theory) change the start button, but here goes anyways. I did (or didn't, whatever you want to call it) do this on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Step 1: Get artsy
Make a sweet picture of a nuclear trefoil from the Duke Nukem website.

Step 2: Rambo, I choose you!
Grab ResEdit x64, attempt to assume control of C:\Windows, and Explorer.exe - I apparently had trouble doing this right. Plan B: Copy Explorer.exe elsewhere.

Step 3: Take the safety off
Open new Explorer.exe with ResEdit, delete pictures 6801, 6805, and 6809, add the sweet trefoil 3 times (interesting...), rename one picture to 6801, the next to 6805, the last to 6809 (making sure that each of them are "English (United States)"). Save. Don't attempt to run the new Explorer.exe to see if it works.

Step 4: Pop a few shots
Attempt to write over the original Explorer.exe.

Step 5: Miss
Windows says I have to get permission to do that.

Step 6: Grab a bigger gun
Pop into Linux, teach Windows a thing or two.

Step 7: Complain about the giant hole in your forehead
Start Windows, around this time you should be greeted by a black screen and a message that says that Explorer.exe has crashed; if not, you are unlucky *Smile

Step 8: Grab a band-aid
Curse like a sailor. Pop back into Linux, notice that there are Explorer.exe.1 and Explorer.exe.2 in the Windows folder. Delete FUBARed Explorer.exe, rename Explorer.exe.2 to Explorer.exe.

All in all, nothing was lost. If anybody knows how to do it correctly, do tell.