windows 10 start menu not launching

I have an HP desktop computer running windows 10 which has stopped showing the start menu after automatic updates were installed.

When clicking on the windows logo, or tapping the windows key on the keyboard nothing happens. The corner menus also don't show when I drag the mouse pointer to the edges of the screen.

I'm using a local user account, this PC has no microsoft accounts.

I have tried a few solutions, with no success:

dism (DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth ; DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth) - reports no issues
sfc (sfc /scannow) - reports no issues
deleted c:\users\<user>\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer and rebooted
re-register apps (Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}) - stalls forever. Actually, running just Get-AppXPackage in powershell does nothing, just hangs, ctrl+c can't kill it.
create a new local user and login as it. the first login gets stuck forever at "we're preparing the stuff for you".
boot in safe mode, login, and restart
disabled firewall and antivirus

None of the methods have worked so far. I have also found that launching the settings application via explorer -> computer -> settings will cause explorer to lock up.

I'm really trying to avoid reinstalling windows without at least figuring out what has happened, since this may happen again.

André Fernandes

Posted 2016-01-29T16:34:43.367

Reputation: 389

Do you recall when this started happening? The start menu uses the package ShellExperienceHost quite extensively, so if Get-AppXPackage isn't working for you, this is probably somewhat central to the problem. You could try the command Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppXManifest.xml", which only registers that one aspect and doesn't try and enumerate all packages. – Jonno – 2016-01-29T16:44:15.293

It started happening yesterday, not sure when exactly since I'm not the regular user of this PC. I have tried running that command, it prints the Deployment operation progress: C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppxManifest.xml Initialized message but never finishes. – André Fernandes – 2016-01-29T16:54:15.637

Some other instructions you could try: http://www.urtech.ca/2015/09/solved-fix-windows-10-start-button-does-nothing-in-10-minutes/

– Jonno – 2016-01-29T18:27:52.540

I assume, by restart, you clicked Restart and not shutdown and manually start up the PC. Windows 10 puts itself in hybrid sleep so it never really shuts down untill one does a reboot – Ganesh R. – 2016-01-29T19:07:53.917

@Jonno did not try yet but it sounds like it won't work. I can't login to newly-created accounts, and have already tried deleting the tiledatalayer database with no results. – André Fernandes – 2016-01-29T23:24:54.163

@GaneshR. I used the restart option and also recovery mode (shift+restart). – André Fernandes – 2016-01-29T23:26:52.143

this new XAML based shell/startmenu is unstable. Use a better startmenu like StartIsBack++: http://superuser.com/a/946675/174557

– magicandre1981 – 2016-01-30T08:07:54.657

There is no cortana under background processes in task manager. – André Fernandes – 2016-01-29T16:51:51.557

1http://imgur.com/DRbzubg – Kenneth Goodwyn – 2016-01-29T20:44:21.100

@Ramhound If one has Windows 10 version 1511, they will have Cortana proces running in the background – Ganesh R. – 2016-01-30T05:50:36.950

windows 10 start menu not launching

Answers