Shell Experience Host not in Task Manager at startup

RaveBlack · 23 Nov 2021

I had to reset my Windows install last week (unrelated matter) and Shell Experience Host, which prior to the reset was always in my Task Manager at startup, is no longer there at startup. My Start menu, apps, and Action Center all work (the latter actually starts Shell Experience Host if I access it so I know it's still there), but reinstalling the SEH through Powershell does nothing and trying to start it manually through File Explorer only results in it crashing (KERNELBASE.dll faulting).

Am I just overthinking this and need to leave it alone, or is there something really there to be concerned about?

Currently running 21H2 19044.1348, was running 21H1 when I needed to reset.

Paul Black · 23 Nov 2021

Hello @RaveBlack,

Have you run SFC? . . .

SFC

IMPORTANT:

It is recommended when running SFC that Fast Startup is turned OFF [ Turn it back ON when finished ] => How to Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 10
If SFC finds any ERRORS that it can NOT repair, run SFC again upto 3 more times, Restarting after each to allow any pending actions to be implemented.
DISM will initially try and Repair ANY Corrupted or Missing files using the Component Store.
If this is NOT possible, DISM will use Windows Update. Therefore, Internet access is required.
If you are NOT connected to the Internet, you will receive a Error: 0x800f081f.

[1] Press the Win + X keys together > Command Prompt (Admin).
[2] Type the command below . . .

Code:


sfc /scannow

[3] Press Enter.

SFC Error Report - Do this ONLY if there are ERRORS

[1] Press the Win + X keys together > Command Prompt (Admin).
[2] Highlight the command below . . .

Code:


findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log > "%UserProfile%\Desktop\SFC_Details.log"

NOTE:

If you have a Relocated Desktop, then change the %UserProfile% part of the Command below to the actual path of the Relocated Desktop folder.

[3] Press the Ctrl + C keys together.
[4] Right-click inside the Administrator: Command Prompt Window > Paste.
[5] Press Enter.

This will create a SFC_Details.log file on the Desktop.

EITHER:

Copy & Paste the results into your post using the [CODE] tags . . .

[1] Open the SFC_Details.log file in Notepad.
[2] Press the Ctrl + A keys together.
[3] Press the Ctrl + C keys together.
[4] In your post, click the Hashtag icon #.
[5] Click INSIDE the [CODE]Here[CODE] tags and press the Ctrl + V keys together.

In your post it will look like this . . .

Code:


<<< Results Here >>>

OR:

UPLOAD the file => How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums.

I hope this helps.

RaveBlack · 24 Nov 2021

Yep. Ran it when I first noticed it was missing. Came back clean. Ran it earlier too, still clean. Ran DISM, came back clean. Even ran chkdsk on the offchance something was up there, clean as well.

When I try to reinstall it via Powershell, I've noticed that, instead of it reappearing, a rundll32.exe process comes up then closes itself not long after. I also noticed some DCOM warnings like mentioned here (the machine-default type, stood out to me because I'd only seen the application-specific type before) that mentioned it just after the reset, but since we're told to ignore those I didn't pay them any mind. And it still crashes if I try to start it manually, I've no idea if that's actually intended behavior or not because I'd never tried it before then.

The whole thing's weird, because like I've said my Start menu, universal apps, and Action Center all work. The Action Center even starts the SEH process so I know it's still there and still does work. I can even make my taskbar transparent without problems. There's no error messages concerning it, save for the ones I caused myself. I'm half-convinced there isn't even an actual problem since it took me nearly a week to notice, though the oddities I mentioned above give me pause.