Cannot Invoke Cortana

System: ASUS M32CD 64-bit, Intel Core i5-6400 CPU @ 2.70GHz,, 4 Cores, 8 GB DRAM, 4 TB Harddrive
OS: Windows 10 Home, V 10.0.16299 Build 16299 (factory installed, updates up to date)

Despite a mention of Cortana here and there, I can't make it run. My screen never quite agrees with the various directions for "downloading" or "enabling" Cortana. For example, I'm told to "click inside the taskbar search box." My taskbar contains no search "box;" it has a search magnifying glass. Clicking that does not give me a "Corona Settings Box;" it merely shows a search specification box that knows nothing about Cortana. Other recommendations, such as "Type the windows-S key," returns only the same search specification box. I have downloaded and executed the "Enable_Cortana.reg" file with no effect. Windows 10 Settings does not mention Cortana. Googling "download cortana" gives me only .docx files.

Cortana is supposed to be standard in Windows-10, isn't it? Could anyone recommend a procedure that works?

--Robert Smith

Press the win + r keys together, copy and paste the following in the run dialogue box:-

C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe (press enter), you will not see a response, try Cortana now


If that doesn't work then I would try the following
Click on Start menu
Type Powershell
Right click on Powershell and select to Run As Administator
Copy and paste the following and hit Enter
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMo
de -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

These will reinstall Cortana

or use the same steps above except use the following command at Powershell. This will reinstall all Win 10 Apps.

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

The "ctfmon" suggestion had no discernible effect. Trying the Powershell suggestion resulted in the following:
"cmdlet Add-AppxPackage at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
Path:"
(less quotes)

Hitting Enter for "Path:" and the following "Register:" resulted in a lot of angry red comments. What should I specify for those arguments?

Correction! The problem was white space in the word, "DisableDevelopmentMo de"
Now it has run to completion. I'll report after restart on whether it made a difference.

Regret to report no improvement. Re-ran the "ctfmon" suggestion, also with no effect. Many enablement suggestions call for clicking on the "Notebook Icon," supposedly visible after clicking the "Start Icon" (I presume the "Start Icon" is the little slanting window picture in the screen bottom left). I see nothing that resembles a notebook. Is that the problem? Does Cortana work only on portables?

Apparently my "prt scr" will not capture the boxes produced by Win-S and right-clicking the taskbar, but I assure you that the Win-S box contains nothing like your off-center-holed floppy disk and the rt-clicked taskbar no "Cortana" line.

You are probably right that the factory installer of Windows-10 turned off Cortana. The question is, how do I turn it back on?

Apparently my "prt scr" will not capture the boxes produced by Win-S and right-clicking the taskbar, but I assure you that the Win-S box contains nothing like your off-center-holed floppy disk and the rt-clicked taskbar no "Cortana" line.

You are probably right that the factory installer of Windows-10 turned off Cortana. The question is, how do I turn it back on?

[I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DELETE THIS EXTRA POST. ADMINISTRATOR, WILL YOU PLEASE DELETE IT?]

Did youmrun this command to reinstall All apps?

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

rLsj said:

Apparently my "prt scr" will not capture the boxes produced by Win-S and right-clicking the taskbar...

To capture the Win+S menu use the Snipping Tool. It has a useful 'Delay' option that gives you enough time (just) to get the Start menu ready before it captures the screenshot.



PS: to delete a post, just edit it. The 'delete' option is above the editor.