any windows users/experts

bluespit · Post by **bluespit** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:51 pm

odd thing on our pc running windows 10, (use macs most of the time but need a PC for some work specific software)

PC working fine except... noticed yesterday that the START icon does nothing, the explorer icon and the search buttons do nothing either. when I say nothing what actually happens is you get the 'hang on I'm thinking' thing for a second or two and nothing else. Everything else works fine, virus scan works and detects nothing, PC health check is OK too.

This is generally why I use macs - they just seem to work

cheers

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:05 pm

try a system restore to an earlier date than when u noticed the anomaly.

i'd love to give up windows but the software i need for my business is tied to it sadly. Still using 64bit XP cos it's the only OS that plays nice with VP Hybridcad. drrrr

try a registry cleanup too. (NT reg opt tho dunno if that works with 10. otherwise CCleaner...)

bluespit · Post by **bluespit** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:15 pm

ah should have said, did a restore but that failed after about 30 minutes.

mines for cad too - solid works and corel draw, but at least they work on windows 10

coz I can't get start to work I can't get to more 'dos' type commands!

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:29 am

Can you right click on the start button and select 'command prompt (admin)?
If not, Hold Windows key and X, choose command prompt (admin)
When you have the command window up, type sfc /scannow and let it run (might take a while), it will hopefully fix corrupted entries that are stopping your start (and other) buttons from working.
Good luck

bluespit · Post by **bluespit** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 8:26 pm

thanks enzed, ran the scan and it found no issues and I still have the problem

the right click I hadn't thought of though

markeg · Post by **markeg** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:51 pm

Managed to get rid of Windows, except for son's gaming machine and wife's laptop (she's a dinosaur though, so that's permissable...) Having said that I've supported Windows users for years, and whenever desktop components 'freeze' it invariably points to either a driver issue, network issue, registry issues or corrupted explorer.exe file.

Have you installed any new hardware or software components lately? Also, are your windows updates up to date? Virus and malware scanners running, and data files up to date?

Zed Five · Post by **Zed Five** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:57 pm

There appears to be a few fix options if you google 'windows button not working'

bluespit · Post by **bluespit** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:11 pm

Markeg. All updates done, nothing new installed and not used for emails so unlikely to pick up viruses, even so I have antivirus uptodate finding nothing.

Z5. I've looked on google and tried everything short of a full reinstall. Don't want to do that as the saoftware I use is not so easy to get hold of at home.

Most of what I use it for is accessible via desktop icons but that it doesn't work correctly is bugging me

Thanks though.

markeg · Post by **markeg** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:33 pm

Have you tried a registry cleaner (CCleaner has been mentioned by Chris_D)? Also, have a look for the process explorer.exe in the process tab of task manager - you can click on it and select restart from the options. Does it run cleanly?

DPG · Post by **DPG** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:53 pm

Does it do the same logged on as a different user?

Wylie1 · Post by **Wylie1** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:58 pm

Do you get the same logging in as a different user? I've seen same symptoms before (Win 8.1 though), but it was fine under other user accounts. I created a new user account, migrated files & settings & deleted the original faulty user account

Wylie1 · Post by **Wylie1** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:59 pm

DPG wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:53 pm Does it do the same logged on as a different user?

Haha..... beat me to it!

bluespit · Post by **bluespit** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:26 pm

Created a new account and same thing

I'll have a bash at the explorer thing tomorrow.

Thanks chaps

DPG · Post by **DPG** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:32 pm

If that's the case have you installed or modified anything?

Does it work in safe mode?

DPG · Post by **DPG** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:37 pm

Couple of other things to try

Powershell

Right click on the Start Menu button and open Command Prompt (Admin)
Enter PowerShell in the command line
Paste the following line in the Administrator: PowerShell Window:

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

Wait for the PowerShell to execute the command (ignore a few red error codes)

Regedit

Go to Search, type regedit and open Registry Editor
Go to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ ImmersiveShell\Launcher

Click Edit, New, DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseExperience

Double-click the newly created item and set the value to 0

Click OK, close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer

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