start menu - critical error

When I got home from work today I turned on my computer. When I click on the start button I get a pop up now:
CRITICAL ERROR
Your start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it for you the next time you log on.
The only option is a button that says sign out now. I hit it and the computer reboots and I am caught in a loop.
Repeat
I can right click it, just not left click.
Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance.

Is it similar to this ? http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN299201/en?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

If so try those steps starting with the first.

well it's not a Dell and I never saw anything about Cortana but I tried this anyway.
That was just a little scary watching the powershell window for a couple of minutes there.
Everything seemed fine, I rebooted.
The first time I clicked the start button the computer thought for about 5 seconds, then did nothing. Subsequent clicks do nothing.
At least it's not caught in a reboot loop any more, thank you. Any other ideas.

Cool avatar by the way. I'm old now but I was raised on the mighty Zep. I used to play the drums and I was in bands in the 80's. We played a lot of Zeppelin. We were very loud and had a good reputation locally. fun fun fun (from what I can remember haha)

I rebooted a couple more times and same thing, it thinks for about 5 seconds on the first click, then after that I may as well be clicking the desktop, it does nothing. I'll keep searching.

after trying out several witch doctor voodoo remedies I ended up downloading and installing classic shell.
I have a menu! Not the windows 10 menu, but I have a working start menu. I'm done.
Jheez - what's next...

sdtag said:

well it's not a Dell and I never saw anything about Cortana but I tried this anyway.
That was just a little scary watching the powershell window for a couple of minutes there.
Everything seemed fine, I rebooted.
The first time I clicked the start button the computer thought for about 5 seconds, then did nothing. Subsequent clicks do nothing.
At least it's not caught in a reboot loop any more, thank you. Any other ideas.

Cool avatar by the way. I'm old now but I was raised on the mighty Zep. I used to play the drums and I was in bands in the 80's. We played a lot of Zeppelin. We were very loud and had a good reputation locally. fun fun fun (from what I can remember haha)

How did it work in safe mode, did you try this i assume ? If you right click the start menu did or do you get anything then ? Like to try something if you can get a Command Prompt, System File Checker and DISM.

Thank you and your welcome ! Your the first to ever say anything and notice what the avatar was. I was also a big fan and still are, first Rock band i got into then and was a bit before my time. I also played Bass, but never in a band.

sdtag said:

after trying out several witch doctor voodoo remedies I ended up downloading and installing classic shell.
I have a menu! Not the windows 10 menu, but I have a working start menu. I'm done.
Jheez - what's next...

I can not think this is a solution using classic shell, i would suggest a possible inplace repair upgrade of Windows 10. This was a common problem awhile back for many with start menu issues. Use steps # 4 or 5.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Always good to also have Windows 10 media disc or on a USB Flash drive. If can get to a command prompt let me know first we can see if it will help before last resort of repairing it.

I tried to do the Windows in place upgrade and after putting in the disc and answering a few questions the only option it is giving me is to keep nothing. Everything will be deleted. I don't really want to do this. what am I doing wrong?

bump
lookin for some help here