Start menu not working, nor search bar, jump lists, clock, etc

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  1. Posts : 223
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
       #1

    Start menu not working, nor search bar, jump lists, clock, etc


    Hello,

    I have had this machine for a month or so now, and did a clean install of Win10 when I got it. All has been fine until today.

    I just came back from holiday (not sure if this has any relevance at all, but added it in case), and swapped my keyboard from a dual-language one I got on holiday. Powered up and all seemed fine. I decided I didn't like the new keyboard, so unplugged it and plugged my old one back in. I now have a multitude of problems...


    • If I click the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of the screen, nothing happens. I can right-click it and get the context menu, but if I left click, nothing happens
    • If I right-click any pinned icon on my task bar, nothing happens. I don't get a jump list (I had several items pinned to jump lists before I went away), nor do I get the usual context menu.
    • If I click in the search bar ("Ask me anything"), nothing happens. If I type, nothing is entered in the bar. Same if I click the Windows key on my keyboard.
    • If I click the date/time on the very right hand end of the task bar, nothing happens. I don't get the calendar pop up as I used to.
    • Various other things don't work as they did, but you get the idea by now


    As you can imagine, this makes the PC pretty unusable. I don't know if swapping the keyboard had anything to do with it, as I can type without problem. Also, some of the problems appear to be mouse-related, such as the lack of response when right-clicking pinned icons.

    I checked Windows Updates, and it hasn't installed any since the 15th Aug, which was just before we went away. There are updates available, but I haven't installed any of them yet.

    I've rebooted the machine several times, but it hasn't made any difference.

    Anyone any ideas? I'm struggling to do basic tasks here, as I don't have access to the Start menu, I have to fiddle around to get at Settings and so on.

    Thanks for any help you can provide.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, frustrating.

    First easy options:
    1. Do you have any useable System Restore points? (Note: SR is off by default.. so unless you turned it on, you won't have).
    2. Do you use disk imaging yet.. or have you previously created a system image (Windows Backup and Restore)?

    Then.. have you tried uninstalling the keyboard driver and restarting?
    (And check Device Manager for any yellow triangles).
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 223
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Ah, system restore did it! I didn't know that MS had disabled it in Win10, but for some reason, it was enabled on my machine. I restored back to a previous point and it all works fine now.

    Thanks very much
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Phew! That's fortunate..
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 223
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Just restarted my machine, and it's happened again.

    Any other ideas? Apart from any Windows updates that may have come in over the last day or so, I haven't done anything to the machine. Was working fine after the restore, but has now stopped working again.

    Not that I really want to keep doing it, but the option of restoring the system isn't available, as Windows has helpfully cleaned out my restore points!

    Help!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    1. Try a new user account for test purposes. If not present, it's user account corruption or 3rd part program conflict.

    2. Try existing user in
    a. clean boot
    b. safe mode

    Report all 3 separately
    1, 2a, 2b.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 223
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hello,

    Thanks for the reply. I tried creating a new account, but when I click the "Add a family member" or "Add someone else to this PC" buttons in the Accounts settings section, I get a grey square flash on the screen for a second or so, which then disappears. That's it. It looks like this too is broken. I can't see any way to add a new user.

    I've already tried safe mode, and it didn't make any difference. Not sure what you mean by "clean boot" though.

    Any ideas? Thanks again. I'm starting to contemplate scrubbing the entire disk and going back to Windows 7. I never had this sort of problem in all the years I used it. I'd really like to avoid that if I can though, as it's going to take a few full days to reinstall and reconfigure everything.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    Yossu said:
    Not sure what you mean by "clean boot" though.
    See...

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...conflicts.html
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 223
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks for the link. Can't try it now as I tried updating again, and there was one more update to come (didn't look very hopeful, but I thought I'd try it anyway). Restarted the machine after updating, and it's been shutting down for about 25 minutes now (I'm using my lap top).

    Do you think I should leave it, or should I physically shut down the machine with the power button and try again. Seems an awfully long time to shut down.

    Thanks again.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    Now you've started, just leave it. It could be disastrous to power down.
      My Computers


 

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