Windows 10: Start menu has quit searching

I don't use Cortina, I have a search icon on the task bar, I used to hit the Windows key and start typing to search for a program, now nothing happens, clicking the search icon does nothing, is this new to windows or do I have a problem?

:)

 

my start menu has quit - says critical error-how do I get it back?

my start menu has quit - says critical error-how do I get it back?

 

my start menu has quit - says critical error-how do I get it back?

Hi Susan,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand the inconvenience caused. I will be glad to assist you with this.

I would suggest you to refer to the suggestion provided by Ravinath P in the link below and check if it helps:

“Critical
Error – Start menu and Cortana aren’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in.”


Do get back to us with the result. We will be glad to help if you need further assistance.

 

Hi, you have a (relatively commonly reported) problem.
Feel free to search the forum for possible solutions.

Please confirm whether the Start Menu is responding or not, and what happens if you rt click on the taskbar.
I understand you have disabled Cortana.

What is your Windows build?
Windows key + R, winver

1. Do you have a system restore point you can use?
Else
2. To discriminate between a user profile related problem and Windows corruption please
- create a new user for test purposes
- report if you see the same problem when logged in as that user.

If you do, I suggest an in-place upgrade repair install which keeps all programs, data and most settings.

 

Using the keyboard type:
1) win + x (simultaneously)
2) a
3) alt + y (simultaneously)
In the administrative command prompt box type of copy and paste:
4) sfc /scannow
5) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
6) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
7) net user test /add
8) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread
9) shutdown /r
10) When the computer has rebooted sign on with the new user named test
11) Use the start menu and task bar > sign off > sign on with the regular user
12) Compare the use of the start menu , start menu search, and task bar with each user > report the results into the thread
13) Download and install: Everything search
voidtools
14) Everything search can be set to launch on boot or whenever you need it.
It will index everything on internal and external drives.
As you type a character it will display instantaneous results.
This tool can be used in the future as needed and at this time it can be used to find any program on the computer. Then with the applicable link the software program can be launched.

 

Start Menu responds, just doesn't search. Rt click taskbar:




Windows build 1709 (16299.248)

1. no
2. already have a test user, same problem exists

will try upgrade repair if nothing else helps

 

Some ideas here:
Fix Windows 10 Start Menu Search Not Working

You may even try re-registering Cortana, and see what happens: you can always disable it again:
Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

(Personally I never use Cortana- I just leave it alone- at mos it costs some 40Mb RAM or so).

 

1 - 8:Windows PowerShellCopyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> yy : The term 'y' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check thespelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.At line:1 char:1+ y+ ~ + CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (y:String) [], CommandNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundExceptionPS C:\WINDOWS\system32> sfc /scannowBeginning system scan. This process will take some time.Beginning verification phase of system scan.Verification 100% complete.Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealthDeployment Image Servicing and Management toolVersion: 10.0.16299.15Image Version: 10.0.16299.248[==========================100.0%==========================] No component store corruption detected.The operation completed successfully.PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealthDeployment Image Servicing and Management toolVersion: 10.0.16299.15Image Version: 10.0.16299.248[==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.The operation completed successfully.PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> netuser test /addnetuser : The term 'netuser' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.At line:1 char:1+ netuser test /add+ ~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (netuser:String) [], CommandNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundExceptionPS C:\WINDOWS\system32> net user test /addThe command completed successfully.PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Alt+y didn't do anything but place a y on the PS

9 - 12:

Interesting, user test clicking on the start menu did nothing, I used alt-ctrl-del to log off test and log back into me.

nothing has changed in terms of search on the start menu, or search icon, tried the search box with the same results as the icon.

Everything sounds like an interesting program, may give it a try.

 

I am having much the same problem. Win + X doesn't work; can't access battery level from task bar. Winkey doesn't bring on menu. I have fixed this problem, but it keeps coming back. This will be my fourth time if . use the Windows repair tool. However this time I'm going to use my Acronis True Image and revert to and earlier date. I'm not confident though that the problem won't return. My Windows 10 is Version 1709 (OS Build 16299.64) Another thing Microsoft Edge won't open. The only way I can reboot is to do the Ctrl Alt Del. There's probably other inconsistencies, but that's all I can think of for now.

 

For the windows upgrades the administrative command prompt was changed to administrative power shell.
Many have changed the powershell back to command prompt:
Show Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell on Win+X menu in Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

So all of the commands in the prior post were for administrative command prompt.

If you can open administrative command prompt:
10 Ways to Open the Command Prompt in Windows 10

Run the commands again and this time create a different new user: for example: retest
net user retest /add

An in place upgrade repair has little if any downside.
Please run it using a fresh Windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
This will eliminate some confounding factors.
If the problem persists after the in place upgrade repair then the problem is more likely in the registry.
Make sure that you never click install and always look in the left lower corner to click repair your computer.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Tutorials

 

@rhoppy - As you reported the problem occurred with 2 users (it is best to create a new user to try to check whether it's Windows corruption or sthg specific to a user's configuration after a problem has occurred) it was very unlikely that SFC or DISM would help, hence I did not suggest them.

An in-place upgrade repair install also ensures basic services are running correctly and will return some registry settings to a default state. It will not repair everything, in particular where user specific issues are the cause.

It disables System Restore, so I suggest you enable that.

@allan P: it is not the norm that this type of problem recurs, suggesting perhaps a disk problem, or more likely something installed or somehow configured as a cause. I would again suggest you try creating a new user, and seeing if you have the same problem. If so, again, an in-place upgrade repair install. Look carefully at what you have installed and running - uninstall any unusual or less reputable programs.

Then use disk imaging to preserve your working state, and keep a record of changes made- a simple log, and at fairly short intervals update your disk image (create a differential or incremental image). When the problem occurs again, restore your latest image, and try to identify what's causing the problem.

 

Well I have restored to Feb 26 and it's fine right now, so I can do backup now and see how it goes. I'll refrain from making any changes for a while. I have a Dell Inspiron 15-5578. Using Bitdefender Total security, plus MalwareBytes Pro.
Thanks for your help.

 

Performed a repair install and that fixed it, thanks! I also created a System restore point. Didn't that used to be automatic?

 

That's great news.
The restore points unfortunately over time may not work or may not be available when needed.
The best option is to create a backup image:
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect Windows 10 Tutorials
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free
Use Macrium Reflect Rescue Media to Fix Windows Boot Issues Windows 10 Tutorials

 

Good- it's unfortunate we usually don't know the cause of such things. My view is - fiddle 'under the hood' as little as possible. One benefit of Win 10's distribution pattern is that every 6 months or so we get a new build- an automatic 'refresh'. Trouble is, they keep changing the spec- so introduce new issues too.

System restore points are not generated consistently. I have one scheduled to be created each day (see the Tutorial section on how to do that e.g.); I happen to have one generated when I installed a program. Not all program installations trigger a restore point.

Nor can you rely on system restore when you wish to use a restore point to be successful.

So as we've said, belt and braces- disk imaging. It's essential protection against anything from disk failure onwards, with the disadvantage that data on the partitions restored is also restored to the date of the image. (Hence keep data off C: as far as possible).