Windows Start Menu and taskbar unresponsive since yesterday's Windows Update

[Goi]

Hi,

I just got a Windows Update automatically installed without user intervention yesterday, and today I noticed that the Windows Start Menu, along with many other taskbar elements such as WiFi and volume control, are no longer working. Nothing happens when I click on them, and nothing happens when I press the Windows key. I know 2 people who have the exact same problem on different hardware, so it doesn't seem to be hardware specific.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Thanks.

 

[Shmee]

to start with, one could run in elevated command prompt, sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f

 

[Ketchup]

Here is a list of things to try BUT the order they put them in is horrible. Running Windows Update manually should be #1, followed by running sfc if that doesn't work.

http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/com...g-here-are-four-ways-to-fix-it-11364000314532

 

[Goi]

sfc didn't find any integrity violations, and there are no related windows updates upon checking.

 

[William Gaatjes]

When you restart windows, does everything work again ?

 

[UptheIrons]

Disable windows malicious software removal tool.

 

[RLGL]

If it is a minor update... remove it., and let it reinstall, see what happens. It could have been a bad download.

 

[Goi]

When you restart windows, does everything work again ?

Nope.

Disable windows malicious software removal tool.

I can't seem to find any entries in the registry nor task scheduler relating to Windows Malicious Software Removal, as indicated in this guide - https://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/20/d...ous-software-removal-tool-heartbeat-telemetry. How do I disable it?

 

[bbhaag]

Have you installed any third party start menu programs? Programs like Start8 or Classic Shell that alter the functions of the native Win10 start menu.

 

[William Gaatjes]

Nope.

I can't seem to find any entries in the registry nor task scheduler relating to Windows Malicious Software Removal, as indicated in this guide - https://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/20/d...ous-software-removal-tool-heartbeat-telemetry. How do I disable it?

What you can try is to reset Cortana first as mentioned in this thread :
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...talled-apps-when-using-search-solved.2530223/
Sometimes it is related.

Maybe you will find something in this thread as well:
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-1709-device-install-reboot-required.2528621/
I had a similar issue and many people had these issues also.

I use nowadays start10 from stardock and have not had any issue with it.

This is an old picture but i must say that the way my windows 10 looks now at this moment is how windows 10 should look.
Maybe i will make a new picture later...

 

[Goi]

I ended up having to reset my laptop after trying to uninstall a KB. It was ok after the reset. Windows Updates are really the worst.

 

[William Gaatjes]

I ended up having to reset my laptop after trying to uninstall a KB. It was ok after the reset. Windows Updates are really the worst.

Sometimes it goes bad.
It happens. In general the update process works fine.
Something this serious as the startmenu no longer functioning is pretty rare though when comparing the amount of total users and users with the issue.
But when googling for it, there are a large number of hits.