Critical Error - ''Start Menu & Cortana aren't working''

Thanks Big 10 - have tried that but it's a never ending loop back to the Critical Error message

DoubleD55 said:

Thanks Big 10 - have tried that but it's a never ending loop back to the Critical Error message

This method is not an ultimate solution, the error meassge may appear again sometimes.

I have been having the same problem since last week. Windows 10 was working great until last Monday & then the critical error. I can boot in safe mode, I can access programs by right clicking on the start button. But, I have left click on it, then I get the critical error. My notification bar won't work & neither does the search bar.
I haven't installed the latest itunes, so I don't think that was the issue, but I have no idea what caused this or how to fix it.

I have found a work around - creating a new profile & making it local not a ms account.

DoubleD55, is your account a ms account or local? I'm curious if this will affect local accounts at all.

I have heard of using the media creation tool & reinstalling win 10 over the current version, but I haven't tried that.

DoubleD55 said:

Thanks Big 10 - have tried that but it's a never ending loop back to the Critical Error message

Have you tried to upgrade, (not update,) your Avast antivirus to Avast 2015? I did and it solve my problem with Windows 10.

Hope it works for you too.

No, I don't have avast antivirus. I have norton.

Hi, this appears to be worth reading, with comments from MS on this referred to, and a work around/possible fix:
http://techdows.com/2015/06/fix-star...ild-10122.html

I did an online chat with a MS tech & he ran the powershell on my computer with no luck at all. I've tried restarting in safe mode & then back - it's the same. The only thing the MS tech suggested was to reset & reinstall software.

Hi, has anyone with this problem checked
1. services are as they should be - default state. (I've encountered a 'popular' problem where certain services were affected)
2. Cortana (for example) is easily 'broken' by changing some settings. Has anyone checked win 10 settings are set to their default or tried resetting them? For example, OO Shutup (freeware utility to stop some unwanted communication) has a feature to reset settings.

mmpostema - thanks but as you can guess 'm very much a novice and I'm unsure as to what you mean by ms or local account

CBunny - I too use Avast but can't see a way to do as you suggest

Dalchina - trying to access Safe Mode using F8 on boot up but I can't seem to find it

DoubleD55, I'm sorry but I don't think I can explain that right now. If you can access settings, then open accounts & under your name it'll either say "local account" or "MS account".

Dalchina - how do you check if your services are in the default state? I think I understand, but I wanted to double check. Thanks! Oh & I don't have any freeware installed on this computer & haven't installed anything recently. (This problem started last Monday.) Thanks.