Windows 10: Start menu, settings and notification area won't open.

When I click on the start button, nothing happens.
It highlights when I hover over it, but doesn't react to being clicked.
The same is true for the notification area.

I can right click on the start button and it provides the normal options.
Again the same is true of the notification button.

I have the settings app pinned to the taskbar, but the icon is not visible.
I know that it is still recognised as being there, as it highlights when I hover over it, and it holds its place like any visible icon would.
Right clicking it does nothing.

At first, the start menu was the only thing not responding. The notification panel was working, as I remember changing to 'tablet mode' to try to resolve it.

I restarted the computer, but that was when I discovered that notification panel was no longer working. I don't know the state of the settings icon before I restarted.

I have also restarted into safe mode, but the problem still occurs.
I have not downloaded any new software since it started occurring.

I have checked the task manager and there appears to be no change in performance.

Any assistance would be appreciated, as this is getting really frustrating!
Thank you in advance *Biggrin
Lucas

:)

 

Build 10240 An No Settings Menu

Install was quick and painless but now I can't open the all settings menu. Clicking the all settings box in the notification area makes a quick flash of something across the screen but no menu window opens. Clicking the settings icon in the start menu
produces the same result. I can't get to the settings menu to check settings or check for updates.

 

Missing Notification area Icon in Windows 10 control Panel

1. From the Windows 10 desktop, right-click on the Taskbar, then select Properties to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties box.

2) In the Taskbar tab, left-click the "Customize" button on the right of 'Notification area to open the Settings/SYSTEM/Notifications & actions window.

From there you can choose what notification you would like to turn on and off.

 

Try this.................

Right click at it > click Command Prompt (Admin) > type powershell > press Enter key.
At the flashing prompt, copy and paste this command line ( to avoid typo it's best to apply Copy/paste method)......

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

> press Enter.

 

If that does not solve any or all your problems, consider doing a repair install.................
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

 

Before I type that in . . . what does it do?

 

excerpt :
Source
Some users who upgraded to Windows 10 are finding out that their Start Menu does not open or Start Button is not working. If you are facing this issue, here are a few troubleshooting steps you may want to try out.

 

Thank you for the source, davidhk, but unfortunately that particular excerpt hasn't done anything. Do you think I need to restart before I see any changes?

 

Restart ...... why not.
In my last reply, I included a link. ( click the word Source )
The link consists of a list of suggestions.
Give the list a try, one at a time.

 

I'll get back to you when I've done just that.
Thanks again *Biggrin

 

This DOES require a restart in order to complete the repair . If you are using 'Edge', don't be surprised if it needs to be reset.

 

Sorry it's been an age.
I've tried all the options and then some, one at a time with restarts, to no avail.
I accessed the control panel via the right click menu of the start button and created a new account, which works perfectly.
I contacted a Microsoft technician, who remote accessed my PC (and went through mostly the same processes) and eventually told me "that specific account is completely corrupted and irreparable within reason. It would be easier to copy your files over to the new account and start afresh."
So that's what I'm doing, piece by piece :/

 

When a left click on the Windows start menu icon will not work, just right click on it and open Task Manger, then click on "Windows Explorer" and hit "restart".

No need to reboot Windows. Works every time.

 

Probably your best option to fix that would have been
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

assuming no 3rd party program conflict..

 

I had tried restarting windows explorer several times - Oddly windows explorer worked (slow and intermittently) after restarting it, but the start menu didn't (which I thought was part of windows explorer?).