Windows 10: Why was the start menu and file explorer removed?

I use them for everything and I haven't installed Win11 yet but this change makes me not want to update to win 11 at all

:)

 

How do I remove a "Custom Start Menu" installed in File Explorer?

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

It sounds like you're dealing with a customized Start Menu that was installed by your brother, and you're trying to revert back to the default Windows 10 Start Menu. Customizations like these can be a bit tricky to undo, but let's go through the steps to help you get back to the default Start Menu:

1. Uninstall the Custom Start Menu: If the custom Start Menu software your brother installed came with an uninstaller, it's usually the best way to remove it. Look for an uninstaller in the program's installation directory or in the Windows "Add or Remove Programs" settings.
   
2. Check Taskbar Settings: Sometimes, custom Start Menu software can be integrated into the taskbar settings. To check this:
   
   • Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
     
   • Choose "Taskbar settings."
     
   • Look for any settings related to the Start Menu or taskbar customization and reset them to default.
     
3. Remove Associated Files: If you still have residual files from the custom Start Menu, try to remove them manually:
   
   • Open File Explorer.
     
   • Navigate to the folder where the custom Start Menu files were located.
     
   • Delete the remaining files and folders associated with the custom Start Menu.
     
   • For files that you couldn't delete due to being "used in Windows Explorer," restart your computer and try deleting them again.
     
4. Boot into Safe Mode: If you're encountering difficulties deleting files due to them being in use, try booting into Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, fewer background processes are running, which might allow you to delete those files.
   
   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
     
   • Type in msconfig and press Enter.
     
   • In the System Configuration window, go to the "Boot" tab.
     
   • Check the "Safe boot" option and select "Minimal."
     
   • Click OK and restart your computer.
     
   • In Safe Mode, try deleting the files again.
     
5. System Restore: If the above steps don't work, you can consider using the System Restore feature to revert your system to a point before the custom Start Menu was installed.
   
   • Type "Create a restore point" in the Windows search bar and open the corresponding settings.
     
   • Click the "System Restore" button.
     
   • Follow the prompts to choose a restore point from before the custom Start Menu installation.
     
   • System Restore will attempt to restore your system to that point, undoing changes made since then.
     

Remember that making changes to system files and settings can have unintended consequences, so always proceed with caution and consider creating a backup of your important data before attempting major changes.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Inability to open file explorer from start menu


I am not able to open the file explorer through the option on the start menu, or by clicking on the file explorer pinned to the task bar. When I click the pinned file explorer the window that pops up says "Windows cannot find ''. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again." I am able to navigate through to my files by going to the start menu file explorer's jump list (clicking the arrow to the right of the file explorer option on the start menu). All of these issues began after I had been messing around with custom themes. I ran UltraUXThemePatcher_3.0.4 and then I changed the following files (themeui.dll,uxinit.dll, and uxtheme.dll). Next, I ran a registry editor file that made it so I can take ownership via right click. I also followed these steps in this article: [Windows 10 Tip] Remove Icons from Navigation Pane of This PC - AskVG
up to the end of "Part 2: Remove Quick Access Icon From Navigation Pane of This PC".
The last thing I did was install a custom icon pack.

 

File explorer icon from taskbar dissappears while working on it

Hi,

To assist you with your concern, we suggest you pin the File Explorer from the Start Menu by following these steps:

• Click the Start Menu.
• Right-click File Explorer.
• Choose Pin to taskbar.

If you need further assistance, feel free to reply to this post.