Critcal Error: Your Start Menu Isn't Working

Brink said:

It seems that you have some issue possibly caused by upgrading to 10.

Usually a clean install will give good results. If you want to do a clean install, be sure to select "Skip" when asked to enter a product key since your free Windows 10 activation is registered on the Microsoft activation servers for the PC.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

I'd prefer not to use the "nuclear option" if I don't have to. I was able to repopulate the start menu with little problem- most of it involves flipping the toggles in Settings>Start. Not sure about the generic icons. It's not a huge deal, but it is annoying.

Here is the screenshot. Notice the C Cleaner and Photoshop icons look like a blank piece of paper.

Brink said:

If you went that route, then yeah you would want to back up anything that you do not want to lose.

If you like, post a screenshot showing these icons to see if it may reveal anything that we may be able to sort for you.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...en-forums.html

I just posted a screenshot showing the icon issue. I will be out most of the day, but will check back in tonight for sure. Thank you again for all your help!

Brink said:

Do they still work when you click on them?

Is this happening only with desktop apps and not Windows apps (modern apps from Store)?

Is it only with a few desktop apps or all of them?

If so, here's a couple of things to try:

• Rebuild icon cache.
• Download and merge the .reg file for the listed lnk (LNK) option. It'll restore the default associations and registry entries for shortcuts.

I can't access anything on the start menu. When I click on the windows icon I get this error message: Critical Error: Your start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in. I spent about an hour on the phone with tech support and they were unable to fix the problem and told me I would have to uninstall and reinstall Windows 10. Then tried to sell me an external hard drive and a Windows 10 usb.

I am in the same boat as LeafDesigner (the OP). Just a few days after a Win10 (build 10240) upgrade from Win7, I click on the Start button and get the dreaded "Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" A box says "Sign out now". Clicking on it, signs out, restarts, and clicking on the Start button repeats the same message.

I installed all the Windows updates. I powered the computer on and off, several times. I uninstalled some apps I no longer needed. I ran sfc/scannow, and that told me some files were fixed but others were not fixable. They are in a file CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.Log. That file is miles long.

My Win10 upgrade did not go well. I had a blinking screen and no sound, but got those fixed. I am not a computer whiz, even if I did build the machine. It is sounding like I need to wipe the hard drive and do a complete reinstall. Is that really the only good course of action to take? I am not sure I am qualified to do this.

Thank you.

Phil

Is the "Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" something new? I have been having a useless start menu in the bottom corner that does absolutely nothing whatsoever when I click it for over a week now without getting that message once.

Since the new user accounts I make work perfectly, I guess I am in the same boat as you guys with corrupted user account. I think we have to patiently wait for it to get fixed before we make new accounts, as this is my 3rd time on a new account (after fresh install every time). The issues with completely useless star menu, horrible shortcut times (Win+E for example) and other useless windows functions always comes back.

The only thing that seems to help is doing a fresh install, or creating new users every time it happens. I just hope it can be hotfixed, so I wont have to reinstall windows / create account # 4 in 3 weeks