Windows 10: Taskbar and Start Menu frequently not responding

I'm currently running Windows 10 Pro, up to date, on an Intel i5-6500 processor and Gigabyte H170-Gaming 3 motherboard. I've only been having this problem in the last month or so, having used the Windows installation for about a year previously.
The Taskbar and Start Menu only infrequently respond; it seems they function for something like 10 seconds out of a minute, and the rest of the time I get no response when I try to use them. I can still access them fine eventually after waiting a minute or so, but the majority of the time they're locked up. I haven't noticed any pattern for when they do and don't function other than that most of the time they don't, until a bit of waiting.
Both are still visible on my screen at all times, and I can launch programs that are pinned to the Taskbar as usual with a left click. However most of the time I cannot access any right click options, the Start Menu, or things like volume control and WiFi, nor can I adjust the Taskbar or get to any other setting accessed through the Taskbar.
I haven't noticed any other functionality problems with my Windows installation; other windows applications work normally at all times.
It's possible this problem could be arising from changing Windows security settings. I adjusted the security settings, limiting security access to the main drives on the computer, a few weeks ago to limit access to file systems on a guest account. As a possible solution I'd also appreciate it if anyone knew a way to reset the security settings of my drives to default, as I can't recall what the default settings were or how to reinitialize them. I have no idea why this would cause the issue, but it started happening around that time if I'm remembering correctly.
I can't find any other information online that's helped resolve the issue.
Thanks for your help

:)

 

Taskbar and Start Menu frequently not responding

I'm currently running Windows 10 Pro, up to date, on an Intel i5-6500 processor and Gigabyte H170-Gaming 3 motherboard. I've only been having this problem in the last month or so, having used the Windows installation for about a year previously.

The Taskbar and Start Menu only infrequently respond; it seems they function for something like 10 seconds out of a minute, and the rest of the time I get no response when I try to use them. I can still access them fine eventually after waiting a minute
or so, but the majority of the time they're locked up. I haven't noticed any pattern for when they do and don't function other than that most of the time they don't, until a bit of waiting.

Both are still visible on my screen at all times, and I can launch programs that are pinned to the Taskbar as usual with a left click. However most of the time I cannot access any right click options, the Start Menu, or things like volume control and WiFi,
nor can I adjust the Taskbar or get to any other setting accessed through the Taskbar.

I haven't noticed any other functionality problems with my Windows installation; other windows applications work normally at all times.

It's possible this problem could be arising from changing Windows security settings. I adjusted the security settings, limiting security access to the main drives on the computer, a few weeks ago to limit access to file systems on a guest account. As a
possible solution I'd also appreciate it if anyone knew a way to reset the security settings of my drives to default, as I can't recall what the default settings were or how to reinitialize them. I have no idea why this would cause the issue, but it started
happening around that time if I'm remembering correctly.

I can't find any other information online that's helped resolve the issue.

Thanks for your help

 

Taskbar and Start Menu frequently not responding

Hi Joseph,

Since you want to reset the security settings to default, you can try the different recovery options in Windows 10. The steps can be found on this

link.

Get back to us if you need further assistance.

 

Depends on what build you are using.
Something like this, the initial build 10240 start and taskbar works all the time.

If you are using build 17063, the start and taskbar might also work all the time.
Other builds have issues depending on your experience.

I would suggest trying another build - especially if it is an Insider Preview.

 

Build is 16299. How do you try another build? Windows doesn't let me rollback to old versions.

 

First thing, go into settings for System and get the Windows 10 build number found in About. Or we can call a psychic and do a bit of guessing... *Tongue

 

You need a psychic to read the reply above yours?

 

what numbers come after the 299... *really 299.125 had the problem, 192 doesn't...

 

The only field with anything past 16299 is Hardware Abstraction Layer, 10.0.16299.15

 

This is what the rig I am on shows in About... You may be waiting for an Intel 'fix'... *Nerd

 

I'm thinkin' just turn off all power saving features and untick fast startup and they will update fixes through windows in the next week or so and it will have just been a minor irritant... Changes to a whole drive like your C: as to owner from TrustedInstaller is not advised, but you don't say where you changed the access to the guest account...

 

Hello JoPoMo.

Unfortunately, the TechNet Evaluation Center has just changed its website. (either today or yesterday)
They only offer the same build as what you have.

First, I would now suggest a RESET of your build. > Settings > update and recovery > RESET to a clean build

Otherwise, use a replacement start menu / Classic Shell / Start10 / Winstep (start and taskbar replacement)