Windows 10: Windows 10 START and SEARCH buttons don't work

For some reason both my main Windows button and Search buttons don't work. Other buttons on the Task Bar work as usual. Right click on either button gives a white-on-black context menu. Anyone have a suggestion, please?

:)

 

Windows 10 Start button and search don't work

Hi Tigran,

Could you please tell us how did you fix this issue?

Thank you

 

Windows 10 Start button and search don't work



Just followed the steps in this video

 

Try these solutions
Fix Windows 10 Start Menu Search Not Working

 

Thanks Eprupov buy couldn't find a solution.

 

There are a lot of similar threads here. System repair with an in-place upgrade. Most of them results in the same way.

Of course, first check in Device manager if you have any problems (yellow marks) and try System Restore to an earlier date (before problem occurs).

Post back if you decide to do in-place upgrade (this method leave most of user files intact, but system image is recommended). Macrium reflect free is very often recommended here. It is good practice to make drive backups anyway *Smile

 

I have to agree that Windows 10 start button becoming unresponsive is strange - I cannot recollect it happening in Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 8.1, but my memory may be faulty.

It certainly happens In Windows 10 for me and currently in build 1607, and has happened in earlier builds too.

 

Hi Fafhrd! *Smile How did you resolve it?

 

Did a System Reset to 9/15 and things are working again. The reset wrecked my Firefox so I had to do a complete uninstall/reinstall.

 

Ashamed or proud to say, I haven't bothered, a restart usually brings it back - a clean install will probably fix it.

How do I live without it? For a start there are no apps I need to use. Settings comes from a right-click on the taskbar.

Having spent a lot of time with Windows 8, not using Start there, I keep a desktop toolbar on the taskbar which gives me access to any programs I use that have not already got quick launch items pinned on the taskbar.

To keep things tidy, I hide the icons on the desktop, and in place of Run I keep a shortcut to an elevated command prompt pinned to the taskbar.

If I want to run Paint and Excel, I type mspaint <enter> and Paint opens, then I return to the command console (alt+tab) and type excel <enter> etc.

 

Great. You should save and mark that restore point, or better install Macrium reflect and make system image.
Glad you solved your problem *Smile