Where did my start menu go?

lopedoggie · 19 Feb 2016

you hid it. right click in the task bar with your mouse, click properties. in the window that opens uncheck hide taskbar.

Riley NZL · 19 Feb 2016

Night Hawk said:

And you still end up seeing a missing Start menu? Yet the retail dvd you have was likely for the 10240 build there simply mass printed when 10 was first out on the RTM side! Likewise the OEM disk here would be the 10240 as well while I only used the key not the disk! Likewise there remember a fresh download to replace.... may hold the solution since without receiving the Insider Preview builds the latest for you would the Threshold 2 Update which would require an 8gb flash drive when downloaded by way of the Media Creation tool. For the Tech Bench site that is for direct downloads of the dual edition in either the 32bit or 64bit flavor you select.

The likelihood that the media you bought retail even if on flash drive would still be the 10240 RTM build and not the Threshold 2 Update unless purchased at least in late November or early December allowing time for distribution to wholesale and onto retail outlets.

Do you remember just when you first downloaded and saw the 10 media created that was used at first? If you downloaded from anywhere prior to November 11th that would also likely be the 10240 since you are not signed for the Windows Insider Program and likely used the MC tool for that.

How long the 10 install was on before the updates would be a good indication of just when you saw 10 downloaded. And if it turns out it was before the TH2 update the option to go for that to see a fresh install and trying that with different media like a different media using a flash drive due to the larger size of both the "4 in 1" TH2 or dual edition iso from Tech Bench being over 4gb on disk. You will want fresh media as well as backtrack to look over each step you took.

Originally, I was on the Win 10 insiders program for about 6 months to the release of windows, not long after windows 10 was released my SSD died, and I had to reinstall windows. I think I used a Microsoft made USB drive that was given to us by Microsoft NZ that was read only and had the Microsoft logo on the outside. It then asked for a Windows Key after 30 days, which I was under the impression I wouldn't need to being in the insider program, so went and bought a OEM Windows 10 Pro license (that came with the CD I just Used) .

A bit completed but I hop that makes sense. Seeing as the start menu doesn't work still, the only think I can think of is the update has broken it, or one of my User installed programs/settings has effected it?

Would it be worth doing another inplace upgrade/repair, but not tick "install updates"?

Night Hawk · 19 Feb 2016

The MS usb drive would have been the 10240 likely if a premade type being read only! You tried using it to repair and got nowhere in a fast hurry indicating the updates seen now would be for the Threshold 2 Update 10586 and newer Insider Builds going from the 11092 upto the latest just out 14267 build. The MC tool will suffice as long as you replace that first usb flash drive with a fresh 8gb model.

You may want to grab a second for having a Recovery Drive as well rather then the need to pull out the installation media but tuck that away to keep it safe and not end up being lost or mistaken for one to use for something else. A good one is either an 8gb or 16gb size drive that will slip onto a key chain like a small Kingston Data Traveller I came across when wanting something later then the 4gb size especially when first looking into a 4 in 1 type of install key. Here in the states you would find them at the Walmart site cheap! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kingston-D...ingMethod=p13n

Also going back to download a second time to see the fresh Threshold 2 "Windows.iso" downloaded and saved either by a second use to get the 4 in1 or from the Tech Bench site using the links provided in the Download 10 guide will be a help if you have to rewrite the flash drive or see another made up. Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

The install.esd file found in either the BT or WS folders under "Sources\Windows\sources" can be turned into an ISO while the guide for that has a tool that only flashed in a split second when going to use it here for some reason rather then seeing a command prompt style window remain open long enough to follow the step in another guide. ESD to ISO - Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 ESD File - Windows 10 Forums

Riley NZL · 19 Feb 2016

lopedoggie said:

you hid it. right click in the task bar with your mouse, click properties. in the window that opens uncheck hide taskbar.

No it's not...

The task bar is completely visible, as is the start button. The start menu will not open. If the task bar was hidden, pressing the windows key would still open the start menu.

Riley NZL · 20 Feb 2016

Marked this as solved, ended up using a backup to revert to couple weeks ago using full disc image from Acronis True image. Not the most ideal situation but got the result in the end. Will keep an eye on the start menu each time I install a program or updates, so if it does it again, hopefully I'll know the culprit.

Night Hawk · 20 Feb 2016

That still seems a bit odd that you would keep seeing the exact same problem and the media being used in both cases would be the chief suspects. That is why I had to suggest going for one or two fresh downloads and even consider buying a couple of new flash drives in order to see some better results. Hopefully there's nothing wrong with the hard drive itself being another possible concern?

I would definitely keep a watch on things however while generally images created and restored by Acronis have been reliable on their own! So far never had one single issue come up since the 2010 version was bought and still used on 10 not having looking at the versions that came after until 10 was out and I was considering if the 2016 would be needed. NADA! The 2010 Home edition went right on and still works like a champ!

With the image restored at least for the time being this would provide you some time to consider the other suggestions to see to and keep onhand in case the problem comes up again or one of the other machines saw the 10240 not Threshold 2 at all. Or by now most already having seen that go on you would simply see the installation media made up fresh as well as keeping a Recovery Drive available for quick repair options while booted live from that.

Anyways if you should find out just where the problem was you may want to update the thread here in case someone else ends up running into the same or similar problem. The problems with the Start menu seem to be more Upgrade to 10 seen then with any fresh installs however making this one somewhat rare?

Riley NZL · 20 Feb 2016

Night Hawk said:

That still seems a bit odd that you would keep seeing the exact same problem and the media being used in both cases would be the chief suspects. That is why I had to suggest going for one or two fresh downloads and even consider buying a couple of new flash drives in order to see some better results. Hopefully there's nothing wrong with the hard drive itself being another possible concern?

I would definitely keep a watch on things however while generally images created and restored by Acronis have been reliable on their own! So far never had one single issue come up since the 2010 version was bought and still used on 10 not having looking at the versions that came after until 10 was out and I was considering if the 2016 would be needed. NADA! The 2010 Home edition went right on and still works like a champ!

With the image restored at least for the time being this would provide you some time to consider the other suggestions to see to and keep onhand in case the problem comes up again or one of the other machines saw the 10240 not Threshold 2 at all. Or by now most already having seen that go on you would simply see the installation media made up fresh as well as keeping a Recovery Drive available for quick repair options while booted live from that.

Anyways if you should find out just where the problem was you may want to update the thread here in case someone else ends up running into the same or similar problem. The problems with the Start menu seem to be more Upgrade to 10 seen then with any fresh installs however making this one somewhat rare?

I'm not a massive fan of the 2016 version, we use the 2010/2014 versions at work and they are much simpler to use. They kind of "dumbed down" 2016 and you have to go searching for buried settings.

Night Hawk · 20 Feb 2016

Well this is also what I have been hearing about the latest being a ton of bloatware rather then having a familiar gui to work with! Since I see periodic images created but rarely need to see any restored I haven't been bothering to go for a new version every couple of years since the same 2010 is still doing the job!

Now if Acronis had ended up being like VIPRE Internet Security being the av software or VM Player prior to the last 7.2 version seen a month before 10's launch which was needed to replace the older 5.5 version I would have likely been stuck looking at either the 2016 or going with a new program. That wouldn't have been Macrium Reflect however having already looked that over some time back but perhaps the Paragon software as an alternate.

Riley NZL · 29 Feb 2016

So bad news, an update got installed last night, and bam, not start menu again. Also of note that just like last time, my desktop wallpaper is also gone.

Looking at my installed update, it shows an Windows Update (KB3136561) and an Security Update (KB3135173)

Night Hawk · 29 Feb 2016

KB3136561 would be suspect there if that is the case! Security updates generally don't trash things in Windows while other updates to enable features or fixes for new features can have that effect at times. But the 10 install itself sounds buggy to begin with if this is going to keep reappearing on you!

Suddenly as of late I had another element come up where I could no longer rename files and in particular new or existing folders with no solution in sight! The SFC found files it couldn't fix and the Disk Check tool being scheduled at the Command promp(admin) with both repair switches froze solid at 13%! That must have happened only seconds after I walked away to catch a 2hr. flick while having dinner! When getting back expecting to be at the sign in screen I found it frozen!

Solution? At that time since this was the main drive's Threshold 2 Update over the 10586 Insider over the 10576 over the 10565 Insider build in succession but having kept it at the TH2 I simply enabled the Insider builds again and eventually saw the latest 14271 build fix everything! No more problem renaming anything! This could be a fix for you there as well. Just something to consider over repair installs and clean installs going nowhere fast.