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Start menu and settings won't open



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 29th 17, 03:46 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Start menu and settings won't open

Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.

Settings will also not open, I've even tried ms-settings: in the run box
but get nothing. Things I have tried so far to rectify the problem
(unsuccesfully)

- System restore (this has only let me go back a few hours to the last
critical update)
- Running System File Checker from elevated command prompt
- Repairing Windows Image from elevated command prompt

I'm regularly restarting as part of my efforts to solve this problem and
this has thrown up a new problem - "Task Host Window" stopping the PC
from shutting down. In an attempt to try to resolve this (could it be
related?) I have tried disabling fast start up but this hasn't helped.

I've also tried booting in safe mode with networking and then the
problem goes away so there must be some solution.

What next???

Thanks!
Ads
  #2  
Old December 29th 17, 05:16 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
BillH
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11
Default Start menu and settings won't open

On Fri, 29 Dec 2017 14:46:16 +0000, Steve wrote:

Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.

Settings will also not open, I've even tried ms-settings: in the run box
but get nothing. Things I have tried so far to rectify the problem
(unsuccesfully)

- System restore (this has only let me go back a few hours to the last
critical update)
- Running System File Checker from elevated command prompt
- Repairing Windows Image from elevated command prompt

I'm regularly restarting as part of my efforts to solve this problem and
this has thrown up a new problem - "Task Host Window" stopping the PC
from shutting down. In an attempt to try to resolve this (could it be
related?) I have tried disabling fast start up but this hasn't helped.

I've also tried booting in safe mode with networking and then the
problem goes away so there must be some solution.

What next???

Thanks!


I had this exact situation after upgrading a Win 7/Ubuntu dual boot to
Win 10. Tried everything you did plus uninstalled Ubuntu and fixed
mbr, and some other disk-fixing tricks. Finally deleted all partitions
and did a clean Win 10 install, after which the problem was gone and
has stayed gone.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

  #3  
Old December 29th 17, 06:15 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Mr. Man-wai Chang
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,941
Default Start menu and settings won't open

On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.


I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....


--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa
  #4  
Old December 29th 17, 07:54 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Start menu and settings won't open

Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.

Settings will also not open, I've even tried ms-settings: in the run box
but get nothing. Things I have tried so far to rectify the problem
(unsuccesfully)

- System restore (this has only let me go back a few hours to the last
critical update)
- Running System File Checker from elevated command prompt
- Repairing Windows Image from elevated command prompt

I'm regularly restarting as part of my efforts to solve this problem and
this has thrown up a new problem - "Task Host Window" stopping the PC
from shutting down. In an attempt to try to resolve this (could it be
related?) I have tried disabling fast start up but this hasn't helped.

I've also tried booting in safe mode with networking and then the
problem goes away so there must be some solution.

What next???

Thanks!


The Start Menu is an App. Except I don't know
the name of it. (I suspect the WUapp mentioned in the
thread below, could be a reference to Windows Update. But
Microsoft hides some of their stuff by using names
like "ShellExperience" and similar kinds of bafflegab.)

In Admin Powershell, you can list some of the Apps like this.

Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online

Get-AppXPackage

Someone works on the premise that the Start App can be
fixed in the thread here. You could work through the replies and
see what works for you. This problem has been around before,
but I don't think your problem is exactly the same. For other
people, Cortana doesn't load, and the rest of the icons on
the Task Bar don't appear. There were even cases in the past,
where only portions of icons would render. Treat the answers
here like the "stab in the dark" you might get in any forum
of this type. If one of their developers dropped in, and
gave an ordered list of triage steps, I might have a better
attitude about this. But the reasons for this kind of bug
haven't been documented where we can see them.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...Replies&auth=1

*******

OK, so after adding that sentence to the first paragraph,
I type in the Shell Experience thing, and I guess that
*is* the Start Menu. Anyway, carry on with your experiments...
Grumble.

https://community.spiceworks.com/top...xperience-host

Paul
  #5  
Old December 30th 17, 03:26 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Start menu and settings won't open

On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.


I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators Update
1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to settings
as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but then the
recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in the C:\
but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go back to the
older version??
  #6  
Old December 30th 17, 03:52 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Start menu and settings won't open

Steve wrote:
On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the start
menu properly.


I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators Update
1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to settings
as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but then the
recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in the C:\
but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go back to the
older version??


This should do it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

And there's a separate tutorial for getting to Advanced Options.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Paul
  #7  
Old December 31st 17, 01:15 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Start menu and settings won't open

On 30-Dec-17 14:52, Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the
start
menu properly.

I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators
Update 1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to
settings as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but
then the recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in
the C:\ but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go
back to the older version??


This should do it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html


And there's a separate tutorial for getting to Advanced Options.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html


Paul

Many thanks.

I got a little confused as the option I saw was "go back to the previous
version" as opposed to previous build.

Now I'm back on 1703 and have used Microsoft's Wushowhide tool to block
the update. However, even after this I can still see 1709 waiting on my
Windows Update screen although it says "Downloading Updates 0%"
  #8  
Old December 31st 17, 01:25 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Mr. Man-wai Chang
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,941
Default Start menu and settings won't open


Another solution is to disconnect your computer from internet so that it
could not download anything during installation? Worth a try...

On 30/12/2017 22:26, Steve wrote:

I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....


I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators Update
1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to settings
as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but then the
recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in the C:\
but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go back to the
older version??



--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa
  #9  
Old December 31st 17, 08:40 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Start menu and settings won't open

Steve wrote:
On 30-Dec-17 14:52, Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the
start
menu properly.

I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators
Update 1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to
settings as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but
then the recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in
the C:\ but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go
back to the older version??


This should do it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



And there's a separate tutorial for getting to Advanced Options.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



Paul

Many thanks.

I got a little confused as the option I saw was "go back to the previous
version" as opposed to previous build.

Now I'm back on 1703 and have used Microsoft's Wushowhide tool to block
the update. However, even after this I can still see 1709 waiting on my
Windows Update screen although it says "Downloading Updates 0%"


It's not supposed to do that!

When you revert, the revert action is also supposed
to block the *same* OS upgrade from coming in.

*******

Back in the Win7 era, they were using the key mentioned here.

https://serverfault.com/questions/69...ows-10-upgrade

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUp date
DisableOSUpgrade DWORD 1

But I don't know if that works in this situation or not.

I also don't know if Wushowhide has any unfortunate interaction
with the blocking that the revert was supposed to do.

I think I've only tried one revert (on purpose) and
it seemed to block properly and didn't try to jam it
in a second time. I wasn't forced to use additional
hammers at the time...

Paul
  #10  
Old December 31st 17, 08:51 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Start menu and settings won't open

Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 30-Dec-17 14:52, Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will
settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the
start
menu properly.

I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators
Update 1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to
settings as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but
then the recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in
the C:\ but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go
back to the older version??

This should do it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



And there's a separate tutorial for getting to Advanced Options.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



Paul

Many thanks.

I got a little confused as the option I saw was "go back to the
previous version" as opposed to previous build.

Now I'm back on 1703 and have used Microsoft's Wushowhide tool to
block the update. However, even after this I can still see 1709
waiting on my Windows Update screen although it says "Downloading
Updates 0%"


It's not supposed to do that!

When you revert, the revert action is also supposed
to block the *same* OS upgrade from coming in.

*******

Back in the Win7 era, they were using the key mentioned here.

https://serverfault.com/questions/69...ows-10-upgrade


HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUp date
DisableOSUpgrade DWORD 1

But I don't know if that works in this situation or not.

I also don't know if Wushowhide has any unfortunate interaction
with the blocking that the revert was supposed to do.

I think I've only tried one revert (on purpose) and
it seemed to block properly and didn't try to jam it
in a second time. I wasn't forced to use additional
hammers at the time...

Paul


If I did want to hammer it, not only would I use "DisableOSUpgrade",
I would clean out C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, C:\$Windows.~BT
and C:\$Windows.~WS and similar. Then it also has no starting materials,
and it has to "consider what to do" from scratch. It would visit
Windows Update, then sniff the DisableOSUpgrade and realize it
cannot bring in 1709 in at the moment.

The only other control, is to use the stream selector, which
changes you from CB to CBB.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-d...curity-patches

"How to defer the Windows 10 Fall Creator Update installation"

"Current branch" to "Current Branch for Business"

Win10 Pro has GPEDIT while Win10 Home doesn't. GPEDIT
changes some registry settings, but the CB to CBB change
might involve multiple registry entries. So if you
needed to hammer a Home edition, it might take
a *lot* of additional research. The OS should still
respond to (most) of the settings, but Home won't
have as many GUI options to help you. Naturally
there are lots of registry things, that a given
SKU can ignore if it wants, and a Home user
can only try some of these things and see what happens.

Actually, the "block on revert" is also multiple registry
keys (might be two or three). I caught a mention one day,
of exactly what keys are involved. But because I was
on a mission, I couldn't stop and copy the info to
my notes file. But the info is out there.

Paul
  #11  
Old January 1st 18, 05:45 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Start menu and settings won't open

On 31-Dec-17 19:51, Paul wrote:
Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 30-Dec-17 14:52, Paul wrote:
Steve wrote:
On 29-Dec-17 17:15, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
On 29/12/2017 22:46, Steve wrote:
Hi,

So all of a sudden my start menu won't open and neither will
settings.
This seems to have roughly coincided with a "critical update"

Left clicking on the start menu simply doesn't work. Right clicking
usually works (to open the right click menu). Oddly, sometimes a
combination of left and right clicking in succession will open the
start
menu properly.

I got this problem every time I reinstalled my Win 10. I think it's
installing something. Just wait patiently and leave it installing the
updates....



I've realised now the problem is linked to me installing Creators
Update 1709. I now want to roll back to the older version.

This is possible through Settings Recovery but I can't get to
settings as it won't load! In safe mode, I can get to recovery but
then the recovery just doesn't start. I have the Windows.old folder in
the C:\ but time is ticking away before it is deleted. How do I go
back to the older version??

This should do it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



And there's a separate tutorial for getting to Advanced Options.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html



Paul
Many thanks.

I got a little confused as the option I saw was "go back to the
previous version" as opposed to previous build.

Now I'm back on 1703 and have used Microsoft's Wushowhide tool to
block the update. However, even after this I can still see 1709
waiting on my Windows Update screen although it says "Downloading
Updates 0%"


It's not supposed to do that!

When you revert, the revert action is also supposed
to block the *same* OS upgrade from coming in.

*******

Back in the Win7 era, they were using the key mentioned here.

https://serverfault.com/questions/69...ows-10-upgrade


HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUp date
DisableOSUpgrade DWORD 1

But I don't know if that works in this situation or not.

I also don't know if Wushowhide has any unfortunate interaction
with the blocking that the revert was supposed to do.

I think I've only tried one revert (on purpose) and
it seemed to block properly and didn't try to jam it
in a second time. I wasn't forced to use additional
hammers at the time...

Paul


If I did want to hammer it, not only would I use "DisableOSUpgrade",
I would clean out C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, C:\$Windows.~BT
and C:\$Windows.~WS and similar. Then it also has no starting materials,
and it has to "consider what to do" from scratch. It would visit
Windows Update, then sniff the DisableOSUpgrade and realize it
cannot bring in 1709 in at the moment.

The only other control, is to use the stream selector, which
changes you from CB to CBB.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-d...curity-patches


"How to defer the Windows 10 Fall Creator Update installation"

"Current branch" to "Current Branch for Business"

Win10 Pro has GPEDIT while Win10 Home doesn't. GPEDIT
changes some registry settings, but the CB to CBB change
might involve multiple registry entries. So if you
needed to hammer a Home edition, it might take
a *lot* of additional research. The OS should still
respond to (most) of the settings, but Home won't
have as many GUI options to help you. Naturally
there are lots of registry things, that a given
SKU can ignore if it wants, and a Home user
can only try some of these things and see what happens.

Actually, the "block on revert" is also multiple registry
keys (might be two or three). I caught a mention one day,
of exactly what keys are involved. But because I was
on a mission, I couldn't stop and copy the info to
my notes file. But the info is out there.

Paul

Thanks once again for your response.

Interestingly it was only once the update finished downloading (which
took forever) that Windows Update then decided it didn't want it and has
reverted to "Your device is up to date". Let's hope this is now resolved.
 




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