" Hey, Cortana" used to work at 1st, then stopped?

hTconeM9user said:

Have you run trouble shooter as that can fix a lot of problems.
Also make sure all updates are downloaded and installed.
Also check your system for malware

Thanks for the reply, I did eventually get the taskbar back by reinstalling windows apps:
Has your Windows 10 Start menu stopped working? Here are four ways to fix it - BT

It unfroze Cortana aswell but didn't give back the 'hey cortana' option in her settings. But at least I got my taskbar and windows start button back!! I did also run trouble shooter which said it found and fixed some problems, but it didn't give me back the taskbar.

Actually that is what I ran, I just used a different method since I couldn't use the windows start button, so trouble shooter is different then.

supashaka said:

Actually that is what I ran, I just used a different method since I couldn't use the windows start button, so trouble shooter is different then.

You can't use the Start button ?
Do you mean BOTH left click and right click at Start button not working, or just the left click ?

It was both buttons, but that issues been fixed thankfully, but as I said it's back to cortana's 'hey cortana' puzzle now!

supashaka said:

It was both buttons, but that issues been fixed thankfully, but as I said it's back to cortana's 'hey cortana' puzzle now!

Well, I wouldn't mind using the mic icon to talk to Cortana and the search bar to search.
I kind of like that arrangement myself.

But you do want to find a solution, I understand.

hTconeM9user said:

So everything now working ok for you.
So pleased for you and enjoy Cortana

Looks like I spoke too soon, more problems! Here is a summary of my situation since not everyone seems clear on what I asked in the past:

1) When I installed W10 a few weeks ago Cortana would refer me to 'change to a language I can use' or something in order to set her up. I had to change all my system language settings (including keyboard) to American English, then restart, then Cortana allowed me to set her up, then I switched everything back to English. Cortana also responded to 'hey cortana' once I switched the setting on.

2) When I created this topic, the only problem I had was cortana's 'hey cortana' command had mysteriously stopped working. It wasn't a big problem as I could click on the mic and she'd respond, but I was curious to see if I could get it working again (why would I upgrade to a new OS and then not be able use it's new features if I want to)

3) After I tried switching off/on different Cortana settings as suggested (I'd already done so previously without results) the start button would start freezing, but I could still right click it and it would eventually unfreeze. Cortana's bar would also freeze up. But then the whole task bar froze, all the icons vanished and I had to launch files manually from their folders. Reinstalling windows apps fixed this, which suggests what I already suspected, that cortana was maybe causing the problems.

4) Now when I try to set up Cortana, she says I need to give her permission to use location, but the settings button she wants me to click on doesn't include her in the 'choose apps that can use your location', it's like she's vanished from those settings, just like her 'hey cortana' setting vanished without a trace.

5) I ran avast and malware bytes scans just to rule out anything malicious.
I then ran the SFC command 3 times with restarts, it found no problems.
I then ran the Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and it said it finished repairing.
Just to check, after a restart I ran another Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth which found no problems.

Unfortunately it didn't fix any Cortana problems, she is still stuck on the location permission. Any ideas?
W10 is turning out to be a bit of a headache, it's kind of scary every time I click the start button I wonder if the problems will start up again...