Windows 10: Start menu doesn't work and apps won't open

hi all

my start menu doesn't work. clicking on task bar items does not work. (wifi, notifications)
opening apps doesn't work. WIN + I or trying to open update from Win + R doesn't work (message "the app didn't open")
clicking the search doesn't work. Clicking the windows (to the right of search) works.


Thoughts?

:)

 

Windows 10 Start Menu won't open.

Start menu won't open. Right-clicking Start menu icon to get options does not work.

Taskbar doesn't work properly (right clicking doesn't open menus for apps, taskbar settings won't open). Apps can still be opened from taskbar by left clicking, but the taskbar sits on top of applications that should be full-screen.

Win-X does not work. Win-R does, but ms-settings won't open.

Updates appear to be current, according to anti-virus, but Windows update settings won't open to confirm.

Restarting has been tried multiple times via Ctrl-Alt-Del, and appears to have no effect.

sfc/scannow has been run as per older threads on this topic and reports no faults.

dism...systemhealth scans and checks also run as per older threads on the same topic and report no faults.

Haven't been able to set up a new admin account because ms-settings won't open.

I am wary of starting a system reset as I do not wish to lose app data.

 

Start menu disappearing

When I click on Start, the menu will (usually) appear, but just briefly -- not long enough for me to click on an app that I want to open.

Or, if it does give me time to click on an app, half the time that app won't open.

OR, the start menu simply won't open at all (though I can right click to get to that menu).

This is relatively new behavior but, combined with the other Windows 10 issues I'm facing, it's made me extremely sorry I upgraded.

As a mostly non-techie person, is there a solution to this problem that doesn't involve a degree in IT?

ETA: So far, the only thing I've found that works is to reboot, which is a real PiTA.

 

Hi, an often reported issue- tho' yours has the added run box report.
As I don't know the history... as in 'did this ever work' 'is it a clean install or an upgrade' 'what did you do before this happened' etc I'll take a simple view.

I will assume you don't use disk imaging, else you would have restored an image you'd created prior to this happening. Highly recommended strategy to back up, preserve your PC and your sanity without tech help.

You could have conflicting 3rd party programs from an AV ovwards, so yuo could check whether these work
a. after clean boot
b. in safe mode

You could try the standard
chkdsk c: \F from an admin command prompt.
Then
sfc /scannow from the same.
Finally there is a DISM command you can run.

However, I would recommend you run chkdsk, then do an in place upgrade install, one of the really good things about Win 10.
This keeps most settings and all your progs.
(Note disk imaging can provide a much faster fix).
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

You can also search this forum, as there are many threads on this topic.
Good luck!

 

Yup - Windows not working correctly, exactly.
The only unusual thing on here is Super Anti-Spyware.
Another thing that was unusual was many, many services not running and not able to be started.
CMD would not run, update would not run. Tons of stuff. certain icons not working on the desktop.
Rebooted and tried multiple different things and it just started working again.

 

Glad to hear all is well. Do look into using disk imaging.. very strongly recommended as a great way to restore a PC to a previously working state in a short time, and give you a 2nd chance.

 

Same here. all fine when first installed. then update applied. start button would not work and other problems. then another update applied. All problems solved. But then yet another update applied and start won't work and I cant get to norton or other programs. This is soo fustrating. can't they get it right?? I've wasted too much time on this.

so Microsoft who pushed us all into 10, what is your solution"??

 

Hi, some people have these problems- many others don't. As far as I know, no-one here knows why.
- different hardware/different drivers?
- different mix of programs installed?
- effect of out of date programs? (One specific effect seems attributable to these).

That said, Win 10 certainly seems vulnerable in a number of ways. and traditionally it's been best to wait a year after release, and one can certainly make all sorts of cases for ways in which MS should have tested their software further and be more proactive and sensitive.

So what can you do?
A careful logical process of elimination of possible causes. This takes time. People want instant solutions- no one here knows one yet, I'm afraid- too many variables. This is the penalty for an architecture which inextricably intertwines user and OS, and for flexibility in installing programs and configuration.

Tools:
Clean Boot
Shellexview (Nirsoft, freeware) - shell extensions
Safe Mode (drivers)
Disk imaging
Daily scheduled system restore point

Then if using the above shows nothing:
Clean install - check all is well.
Keep a log.

Install some programs, check, update disk image, update log, repeat.

This is what I do- I have two stable PCs, very different, & I do frequently make changes.

It was (probably) your decision to upgrade- (some say their PC upgraded by itself).

 

thanks Dalchina. I appreciate your comments.

Guess what? no updates that I'm aware of but TODAY, everything fixed and working fine.

I'm a 70's computer system's engineer. Back in the day we never would have released anything without testing it and considered it bullet proof. Today it's the 80/20 rule. Sorry, I feel it's irresponsible

but I do understand each of your points... I think they should have thought of them in advance as well.

 

great..for now...(!) ..70's- about when I started with our firm's first up's... just pre-Intel 8086 days.. when our telephone exchanges won Guinness world records and the custom processors ran at 2MHz.

That's when regression testing could be done properly and methodically.

Part of MS's difficulty is clear- so many different environments. Plus a legacy operating system architecture where users and OS data and software are inextricably intertwined. But it does seem they have relied too heavily on user feedback to 'get it right' - and I'd guess they have gone for a statistical failure rate.. i.e. 'it'll work for 96% of people' or whatever it be.. (Should be much higher!!).

But their approach to the market and to customers is abysmal in terms of how they foist unwanted change on people that confers no functional advantage. E.g. basic GUI appearance and restrictions (part of aiming for a one-size fits all OS on all devices). And a worse than useless start menu for traditional hierarchical start menus.

 

I concur.
Fun to reminisce. I actually began in 1967, Wrote an entire bank mortgage program for a 360 MF in assembler language (bits and bytes) that was 64K. !!!
but all that is in rearview.
Again, thanks for your comments.