Sound, Start Menu and Cortana stopped working

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  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #11

    Diewoe said:
    Yeah i am having the same problem, the Start menu will not work and Cortana is not working. If i didn't have shortcuts on my desktop i wouldn't even be able to use my computer lol. Also i got a notification that i can not open or view. I click it i get the blue spinning thing for a second and then nothing same as everything else.

    I wanted to add that it worked fine for the first 10 hours, it wasn't until i woke the computer up out of sleep mode that this happened.
    Interesting post... I have same problem except the opposite... in order to fix the (non) behavior, I put it to "sleep" for a minute and then wake it up and search works until re-boot, when I have to repeat the workaround... very repeatable... I wonder if this annoyance will be fixed in November update...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 40
    windows 10
       #12

    Just ran scannow in RUN and after that it now seems to be working.
    Cortana however will not answer any questions at all unless I switch my browser to Microsoft edge - which is somewhat impossible as I don't have a copy on my windows 10. In the European Union this type of attitude where you are not allowed to use a a browser of your choice is illegal. Without cortana, I cannot open any of my old programs in windows, because they are not listed in the apps list. I have used Fireworks by Adobe for my graphics for years, but since win 10 I have had to get Cortana to run it for me. Now that I have no edge browser, cortana will not open and run the program. This is theft as far as I can see, and Microsoft is the thief. I will be taking legal action to get it sorted. Anyone like to join me?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Sound, Start Menu and Cortana stopped working-capture.jpg  
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #13

    Hi, as you probably know, MS has now made Edge (+Bing) the only browser you can use with Cortana, preventing the previous choice of browsers.
    Microsoft blocks Google Chrome other browsers from Cortana in latest Windows 10 release
    Note that restriction must have come with an update- which you could uninstall.
    Possible workaround - using Chrome to change both browser and search engine:
    How To Redirect Cortana Searches Back to Chrome on Windows 10

    I don't know why you don't have Edge- you should have.

    Notwithstanding that, use a replacement start menu to get full access to legacy folder-based menus.
    Classic Shell (free) is very good, or you can try one of the replacements that offer a tiled menu.
    This will let you find and launch all your programs -it's very configurable in style, from Win 7 to XP-style expanding columns

    Its search also offers a choice of internet, files and start menu search.
    Last edited by dalchina; 09 May 2016 at 12:59.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 40
    windows 10
       #14

    Chromtana no longer works


    dalchina said:
    Hi, as you probably know, MS has now made Edge (+Bing) the only browser you can use with Cortana, preventing the previous choice of browsers.
    Microsoft blocks Google Chrome other browsers from Cortana in latest Windows 10 release
    Note that restriction must have come with an update- which you could uninstall.
    Possible workaround - using Chrome to change both browser and search engine:
    How To Redirect Cortana Searches Back to Chrome on Windows 10

    I don't know why you don't have Edge- you should have.

    Notwithstanding that, use a replacement start menu to get full access to legacy folder-based menus.
    Classic Shell (free) is very good, or you can try one of the replacements that offer a tiled menu.
    This will let you find and launch all your programs -it's very configurable in style, from Win 7 to XP-style expanding columns

    Its search also offers a choice of internet, files and start menu search.
    ====
    Top be strictly correct, I don't have edge as a usable program. I have Mozilla as I found Edge to be very unusable. However, Microsoft has not only blocked it from Cortana, but has also not allowed it to be used as a search browser without lots of problems. One of these is that it deliberately corrupts some start up files, does not allow me to start up Fireworks in administrative mode, and also kills the start menu.
    And all this without telling me. This sort of behaviour is ridiculous! Its like buying a Bentley and ten minutes after you buy it, it turns into a Ford or a Vauxhall. How can Microsoft justify this? No wonder they gave win10 away for free, and just at the last minute make what looked like a good OS turn into a broken wreck of a system. Despite following all the links that I can find, Other than yours at this moment in time) my system is no longer good for purpose. Thanks for your links - will have a look, but its taken me some 36 hours so far with no success. Lets hope that Classic Shell works on permanent basis. Every other method I have used lasts until about two reboots later, and then I have to start over.
    Just checked the second link and this app How To Redirect Cortana Searches Back to Chrome on Windows 10 is now blocked by Microsoft.
    Classic shell appears to be a utility that uses Internet explorer - another program that I cannot get along with..
    Hopefully someone will bring out a utility that works with my favourite browser- Firefox.
    Meantime, I have pinned all my programs on the desktop and do not use cortana for anything.
    Pity - it was shaping up to become useful.
    Just found that this has affected Microsoft Office. None of the Office programs on my system will open documents unless I revert to Edge as my browser. There should be no connection, but they do so when Edge is the default browser.
    Linux - looks like you will be getting more customers unless Microsoft sorts itself out.
    Last edited by Howard Walker; 10 May 2016 at 07:28. Reason: New info
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #15

    Hi, there's lots in the press about MS restricting Cortana to Edge - probably someone will come up with a current workaround.. there are many posts of the old one to change to a different browser/search engine.

    It will be interesting if the EU takes issue with this again.

    However, if your Win 10 start menu doesn't presently work, that's another matter. It's a problem many have faced, and if you search this forum for 'start menu doesn't work' 'start menu broken' you will find a good number of threads and some ideas you can use.

    The start menu is tied closely to explorer, whereas Classic Shell is independent of it.

    And no, Classic Shell is NOT tied to Internet Explorer. You can set the browser to what you want. There are comprehensive configuration settings. Please don't jump to conclusions in your wrath.

    Sound, Start Menu and Cortana stopped working-untitled.png
    Can you see Firefox above the search box? I would think what you see there (IE or FF e.g.) depends on what you've set as default for your browser.

    Here's that second link which I've just opened for you in FF:
    Sound, Start Menu and Cortana stopped working-snap-2016-05-10-13.22.21.jpg

    Here's the download link (winaero is good!)
    Downloads / Software / Cortana_Search overrides Cortanas search engine
      My Computers


 

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