Windows 10: Several System Apps Freezing File Explorer, Start Menu, Task Manager, Windows Defender....

I can't remember in what order and how frequently, but all I remember is that over the past week, starting with the Start Menu and now ending with Start Menu, Task Manager, File Explorer and Windows Defender, apps freeze regularly, requiring forced PC restarts.In addition, there have been isolated events like:- Desktop being only 1/4th of the screen while taskbar is original size Likely related to File Explorer freeze- Wave Link and that mouse detector thing not starting Also File Explorer freeze- Search Indexing being turnt off somehow And I have found no actual ways to fix that so if I

:)

 

No Start Menu and Problems with Task Icons

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.



I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue

• 
  Clicking on the start menu icon (left click) does nothing, Right click brings up a simple function list
  
  
  
  
  
  You can try these steps:
  

• • Open the Task manager. Here’s a tip: Press CTRL+Shift+ESC.
  • Click File > Run New Task
  • Make sure you have a check mark beside “Create this task with administrative privileges”
  • Type Powershell
  • Type the following in the Powershell prompt:
    
    $manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest
  • Close the Powershell window
  • Reboot

• 
  Clicking on the File Explorer icon (task bar) does nothing. Right click does nothing.
  
• 
  Right clicking on any task bar icon, including open apps, does nothing
  

For these issues you can try these steps:



Method 1: I suggest you to run the SFC scan and check if it helps.

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files: (Windows Logo Key + X and then click on Command Prompt).

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

• 
  Several apps (Mozilla Thunderbird, Norton 360 specifically, have not been able to have been updated or re-installed. Norton support, using remote desktop app, gave up after 4+ hours of work today.
  

For this issue I would suggest you to run the app in compatibility mode





I would request to refer this link



http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility



Hope it helps. Keep us posted if you face any issues related to Windows in future. We will be glad to help you.

Thank you

 

Windows 10 Defender - How to make it default to task bar?

Using Windows 10 and currently I am using Defender for anti virus. For whatever reason Windows Defender does not show up in the task bar unless I search for the program or right click and scan a file/folder. Is there a way to force Defender to show up in the task bar at start up?

 

Blank window in File Explorer and Task Manager after installing Anniversary Update on Windows 10

Hi Lily,

Do let us know if you are able to see any error message/ error code while trying to access File Explorer and Task Manager?

[*]Let us try the below troubleshooting steps and check if it helps.
[*]
Step 1: End the Windows Explorer process and create the new one.

• Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, under Process
  tab, search for Windows Explorer.
• Right click on it and click on End task.
• Click on File in the Task Manager
  at top left corner of the window and select Run new task.
• Type explorer.exe and click on Ok.

Step 2: Run SFC scan.

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. If a
Windows Resource Protection (WRP) file is missing or is corrupted, Windows may not behave as expected.

Follow the below steps:

• 
  Right click on the Start button, click on
  Command Prompt (Admin).
  
• 
  Type “sfc /scannow” without the quotes and hit
  Enter.
  
• 
  After the scan, restart the computer and check for the issue.
  

Step 3: Run Memory Diagnostic Tool.

Follow the below steps:

• Press Windows key and type
  Memory Diagnostic.
• Select Windows Memory Diagnostics
  and click on Restart now and check for problems.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

Hope it helps. Kindly update the status of accessing File Explorer and Task Manager for further assistance.

Thank you.