Computer Half-works After Update

CheetahWIG · 02 Nov 2017

I was on the fast insider downloads, but when I updated to the Fall Creators Update my computer would restart every 15 minutes, over and over again. So I rolled it back to pre-update, and quit the Insiders' program.

Yesterday my computer updated on its own, and now only half of things work. I can click on desktop icons and those programs work, but my Start button does nothing, so I can't get to Settings to roll back. The Search bar won't let me type anything in it, and my action bar won't open anything (including Edge and Chrome). I have an IE icon, which is how I'm getting this message out, and things like Word and World of Warcraft (who have desktop icons) work, but I can't open my backup program (Genie) or any other program that doesn't have a desktop icon. I'm in purgatory - with half of things working and half not. Help!

dalchina · 03 Nov 2017

As an interim measure I'd suggest you install Classic Shell start menu (free). (It's just a program- close it and you're back as you were, and if the Start Menu works you can launch it with a key combination).

What is your current Windows build?
Win key + R, winver

Given this:

would restart every 15 minutes

please do these basic checks if your PC allows:
1. First check your disk:
Download and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) and make sure all disks are reported as good.
If not, do not continue, and post back .

2. Now check your file system:

From an admin command or powershell prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
or
How to read Event Viewer log for Chkdsk in Windows 10 [Tip] | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTechdotTech
or
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

One approach taken to deal with the start menu and taskbar not responding is to do an in-place upgrade repair install (using an iso of the same base build as you have -hence my question- which keeps all apps, programs and data and most settings.

FreeBooter · 03 Nov 2017

You can open Settings by pressing Windows logo key + I keys.

dalchina · 03 Nov 2017

See too
Start Menu and taskbar Not working in fall creators update - Windows 10 Forums
#7

CheetahWIG · 03 Nov 2017

I was able to restart one more time last night and lo and behold, it worked again. /sigh That was 2 days' worth of angst. Thanks to all of the suggestions above - I'll keep this page saved in case I need to use them. Btw, neither winkey + R (to get version) or winkey + I (to open settings) does anything on my computer. /shrug

dalchina · 04 Nov 2017

Yesterday my computer updated on its own,

- you can get control of updates (Home or Pro) by setting updates to Notify.
Winaero's free tweaker is most convenient for this, else it's Settings and Group Policy Editor for Pro, registry edit (see tutorial on enable - disable Windows Updates and search for Notify).

This gives you a notification in the Action Centre, click that, Settings opens, you see what the update is, click on it if you want it then.

Note: we strongly urge users to use disk imaging routinely e.g. Macrium Reflect (free). Together with the above, you're essentially protected if an upgrade or update goes wrong.

As to the Win key - you can create a new user for test purposes and see if it works then- if so it's a user profile related problem. If not, it's a Windows issue.

Likely to be resolved by research, or by an in-place upgrade repair install... assuming your Win key works physically. E.g. Win key E, Win key S, Win key A, Win key L.... or try assigning it yourself via a shortcut.