Windows 7 Pro or Start Button, Taskbar problems, context menu problems

I was running along for 6-7 months before my start button failed me. About a week or two later the taskbar became very slow or unresponsive. Then the context menu is so very slow that I do everything to avoid right click.
Now this past week I've noticed it little by little - I think ALL of my default programs have been wiped out. When I was asked what program to use to view a photo, I thought that was odd. But I reset the default and went on.

Then if asked me how to open a music file, then a pdf file, and so on.

I've tried all the common 3 cures to resolve the windows start button, assuming that is related to the task bar and context menu problem. The default program issue - dunno. I didn't even do a search on it yet. I'm just so frustrated with Windows 10 Pro, I plan to go back to Windows 7 Pro tomorrow or Saturday unless I get a response here saying there is a true solution. I have no idea how to get to settings, and without going to settings, I don't know how to check for windows updates. I did a search in Control Panel and it showed me the last 15 or so updates.

I'm attaching that, as well as my version and build.

I have a Home Built desktop that should be a rocket ship, but all this crap with win 10 is keeping it from running at optimum performance - I feel it has to be causing performance probs.
I also have a kick-ass laptop and it has all the same problems except I haven't noticed the default programs missing on it yet.

Please somebody, tell me if you've heard anything about a possible fix coming from Mr. Gates.
Aside from going back to Win 7, I thought about setting up a new user. But face it folks, it's no doubt going to be a short term solution. So why spend all that time when we would probably end up in the same boat in the future.

How many of you are on the verge of going back to 7 or 8? Hell, or even XP??!!?!

Hi.
I am not sure what the "common 3 cures" you refer to are for the Start/Taskbar issues; this was a problem for a lot of people and there were a dozen or so fixes that worked for some, not for others. As far as default app settings going awry, this is the first I've heard of that.

I would recommend:
1. Check the SMART (health) of your hard drive
2. Run a chkdsk /r on it
3. Download the W10 ISO from MSTechBench and perform an in-place repair.

Thanks for the reply. Does this repair also take care of the context menu problems? Because I saw a user report problems with that as well when I first logged in.
I've already checked my disks, and do so fairly regularly since I had a 2 month old WD Black fail on me recently. Those 3 common cures were listed on this forum back a couple of months ago. They were listed if you googled Windows Start Button, Taskbar, Right Click or Context menu.
I'm surprised you don't know what I'm referring to. The 'cures' were everywhere.
Anyway, I'm gonna give it a go today. And I really hope it works. I'm not ready to do a full install.

hooked said:

Thanks for the reply. Does this repair also take care of the context menu problems? Because I saw a user report problems with that as well when I first logged in.

You're welcome. It *should* take care of most everything. However, if you have an old shell that's not compatible with W10, you may still find problems. The best way to identify that is to do a completely clean boot, and then start enabling things 2 or 3 at a time, to see what brings back the problem.

hooked said:

I've already checked my disks, and do so fairly regularly since I had a 2 month old WD Black fail on me recently.

Yeah, I've been caught like that as well.

hooked said:

Those 3 common cures were listed on this forum back a couple of months ago. They were listed if you googled Windows Start Button, Taskbar, Right Click or Context menu.
I'm surprised you don't know what I'm referring to. The 'cures' were everywhere.

There were tons of threads here about these problems; there were a dozen or more "cures". Problem is only that I have no idea which 3 cures you tried, that's all.

hooked said:

Anyway, I'm gonna give it a go today. And I really hope it works. I'm not ready to do a full install.

I hope it works for you. If you still find problems, as I said, a clean boot will help identify the culprit, which will then need to be uninstalled/dealt with.

Let us know how it goes. :)

simrick said:

Hi.
I am not sure what the "common 3 cures" you refer to are for the Start/Taskbar issues; this was a problem for a lot of people and there were a dozen or so fixes that worked for some, not for others. As far as default app settings going awry, this is the first I've heard of that.

I would recommend:
1. Check the SMART (health) of your hard drive
2. Run a chkdsk /r on it
3. Download the W10 ISO from MSTechBench and perform an in-place repair.

Just want to make certain I understand your instructions. You say Download ISO from MS Tech Bench, then follow the tutorial link. In the tutorial it says download the ISO if you don't already have one. Is the ISO from MS Tech Bench different than the ISO I d/l 2 months ago?

hooked said:

Just want to make certain I understand your instructions. You say Download ISO from MS Tech Bench, then follow the tutorial link. In the tutorial it says download the ISO if you don't already have one. Is the ISO from MS Tech Bench different than the ISO I d/l 2 months ago?

Yes, sure. Download the ISO from MSTechBench. I believe I saw an update come through yesterday(?), so you want to be sure you have the most current version available. (I think it's 10586.240 now.) I am not positive because my rigs are on Insider Previews. If you like, give me some time, and I can download it now and check the version for you.

Wait - here, I found it. yes 10586.240. This won't apply to you, since you're on General Release and not Insider:

Insider New Cumulative Updates Windows 10 PC-10586.240 and Mobile-10586.242 - Windows 10 Forums

The ISO from TechBench will include both Home and Pro versions, so it will be larger than the one you have, if you got it from the Media Creation Tool.

Then, all you have to do is right-click the ISO file, select Mount, and run setup.exe. It will prepare updates, and then proceed with what looks just like an upgrade install from W7/W8.

You make regular images of your HDD right? I always make an image before I do this, just to be safe.

I went ahead and started the d/l awhile ago. But it didn't give an option for 10 Pro. I can't remember if it just checks at install time - but I believe so.
But you are saying to just download the ISO file, THEN follow the tutorial - right?

hooked said:

I went ahead and started the d/l awhile ago. But it didn't give an option for 10 Pro. I can't remember if it just checks at install time - but I believe so.
But you are saying to just download the ISO file, THEN follow the tutorial - right?

I just looked at a TechBench ISO I downloaded 2/24/2016, and it is
Win10_1511_English_x64.iso 3,922,852KB.

The one I am downloading now is
Win10_1511_1_English_x64.iso

So, cumulative updates are included in the current download. Good that you are downloading a new iso.

Really, listen, all you have to do is right-click the ISO file, select Mount, and run setup.exe. Select the box that says Download and install updates (recommended). Then make sure it says Install Windows 10 Pro, and Keep Apps and Files. I've done this half a dozen times myself.

You make regular images of your HDD right? I always make an image before I do this, just to be safe.

EDIT: If you have a 3rd-party A/V, please uninstall it first!

Got it. I chose the Single language, but my iso is like yours 1511_1.
Mine is diff size. 4,188,720KB
If anything, seems it s/b smaller since I did single language...

hooked said:

Got it. I chose the Single language, but my iso is like yours 1511_1.
Mine is diff size. 4,188,720KB
If anything, seems it s/b smaller since I did single language...

I there a reason you did Single Language? Is that what you have specifically? Because that's not the norm.