Start menu, settings and notification area won't open.

When I click on the start button, nothing happens.
It highlights when I hover over it, but doesn't react to being clicked.
The same is true for the notification area.

I can right click on the start button and it provides the normal options.
Again the same is true of the notification button.

I have the settings app pinned to the taskbar, but the icon is not visible.
I know that it is still recognised as being there, as it highlights when I hover over it, and it holds its place like any visible icon would.
Right clicking it does nothing.

At first, the start menu was the only thing not responding. The notification panel was working, as I remember changing to 'tablet mode' to try to resolve it.

I restarted the computer, but that was when I discovered that notification panel was no longer working. I don't know the state of the settings icon before I restarted.

I have also restarted into safe mode, but the problem still occurs.
I have not downloaded any new software since it started occurring.

I have checked the task manager and there appears to be no change in performance.

Any assistance would be appreciated, as this is getting really frustrating!
Thank you in advance
Lucas

Try this.................

Right click at it > click Command Prompt (Admin) > type powershell > press Enter key.
At the flashing prompt, copy and paste this command line ( to avoid typo it's best to apply Copy/paste method)......

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

> press Enter.

If that does not solve any or all your problems, consider doing a repair install.................
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

davidhk said:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

> press Enter.

Before I type that in . . . what does it do?

iammyselfisme said:

Before I type that in . . . what does it do?

excerpt :
Source
Some users who upgraded to Windows 10 are finding out that their Start Menu does not open or Start Button is not working. If you are facing this issue, here are a few troubleshooting steps you may want to try out.

davidhk said:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Thank you for the source, davidhk, but unfortunately that particular excerpt hasn't done anything. Do you think I need to restart before I see any changes?

Restart ...... why not.
In my last reply, I included a link. ( click the word Source )
The link consists of a list of suggestions.
Give the list a try, one at a time.

davidhk said:

Give the list a try, one at a time.

I'll get back to you when I've done just that.
Thanks again

iammyselfisme said:

Thank you for the source, davidhk, but unfortunately that particular excerpt hasn't done anything. Do you think I need to restart before I see any changes?

This DOES require a restart in order to complete the repair . If you are using 'Edge', don't be surprised if it needs to be reset.

iammyselfisme said:

I'll get back to you when I've done just that.

Sorry it's been an age.
I've tried all the options and then some, one at a time with restarts, to no avail.
I accessed the control panel via the right click menu of the start button and created a new account, which works perfectly.
I contacted a Microsoft technician, who remote accessed my PC (and went through mostly the same processes) and eventually told me "that specific account is completely corrupted and irreparable within reason. It would be easier to copy your files over to the new account and start afresh."
So that's what I'm doing, piece by piece :/