My Start Menu WON'T Open!!!

Anonymous
2009-09-11T20:01:37+00:00

Hi!

My Start Menu Icon in the bottom left corner of the scree WON'T open AT ALL. I can right-click on it and get the typical "right-click menu" but that's it. The only way that I can switch users or shut down/restart the computer is to use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The only way to open MS Word/Excel/PPT (or anything for that matter; not just MS programs) is to open an already existing document that happens to have a shortcut on the desktop, and then open a NEW document or whatever from there.

I heard from an IT person that a couple weeks ago, MS had released an update and that it was pretty bad. Could this be the problem? I'm running Windows Vista, it's a 64-bit computer (if that helps at all), and I'm not sure exactly when this started, but I know it's recent. Maybe w/i past 2 weeks to give a good time span with some flexibility. August 31 for sure, because I remember my husband tried to do a system restore, and there were no restore points prior to that date. We also tried Sept 1 & 2, but each time, there were no prior restore points for that specific date.

I understand that this could be caused a just about anything under the sun, but if someone knows how to fix this, GREAT!!! Right NOW though, I'd be completely happy with just knowing how to put the shortcuts for Word & Excel or even MS Office all together (it that's possible) onto my desktop so that i can do a few things before we just do a whole system recovery. Since I can't open the start menu, I can't just "click & drag" them onto the desktop, or access the control panel, or anything else through that option.

Someone PLEASE help me with this! Atleast with the shortcuts!!

Thank You!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-09-12T16:19:01+00:00

Hi Lotus Everlearning,

Welcome to Microsoft Vista answers Forum!

I have few steps here that might fix the issue.

Step 1:

The taskbar might be hidden, try pressing CTRL+ESC. If your taskbar then reappears you may have “Auto-hide the taskbar” checked which will cause it to shrink down out of view until you put your mouse cursor towards the bottom of the screen. If this is the case, then you can either put your mouse cursor toward the bottom of the screen to pull of your taskbar, or press CTRL+ESC to pull it up, and from there do the following:

1.       Right-Click an empty section on the taskbar and click Properties

2.       In the first section that appears under the tab “Taskbar” uncheck “Auto-hide the taskbar” if you don’t want that feature enabled.

3.       Click OK

If CTRL+ESC doesn’t bring your taskbar up, then the program that displays the taskbar could very well not be running. To fix this do the following:

1.       Press CTRL+ALT+DEL

2.       You should be turned over to a window with options one of which is “Start Task Manager” as the last listing. Click “Start Task Manager”.

3.       Now you should have a window called “Windows Task Manager”.

4.       From there click “File” in the menu bar, and then click “New Task (Run…)”

5.       In the next window that appears type “explorer”****where is says “Open:”, then press OK.

6.       You taskbar should be back now.

Additional information:**** Find the taskbar: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/47f5888e-6333-414c-8a49-d5568af6e4bd1033.mspx

If the issue is not resolved, go to step 2 to boot the computer in safe mode.

Step 2:

I suggest that you boot the computer in safe mode with networking and check if you are able to connect to the internet without any issues, safe mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. Startup programs do not run in safe mode, and only the basic drivers needed to start Windows are installed, follow the steps to boot the computer in safe mode with networking:

1.     Restart your computer if it is powered on.

2.     Tap the F8 key after your computer initially powers on.

3.     Once you see the Advanced Boot Options menu you can stop tapping.

4.     Use the up/down arrow keys to highlight your selection.

5.     Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter.

6.     You should see drivers loading, and then please wait.

7.     You should then be at the Welcome Screen.

8.     Logon to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.

Additional information**:http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/323ef48f-7b93-4079-a48a-5c58eec904a11033.mspx**

****Now see if the Start menu bar appears on the computer, if it appears go to step 3 to perform a clean boot on the computer.

Step 3:

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

Steps to perform clean boot and check if you have the issue.

  1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

User Account Control permission

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

  1. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
  2. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
  3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  4. Click OK.
  5. When you are prompted, click Restart.
  6. After the computer starts, check whether the problem is resolved.

If the issue is resolved check which third party is causing the problem, referring the link given below: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: Ensure to put the computer to normal state by following Step 7 in the above link

You may refer the link to create shortcuts for the programs on the desktop: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/52f853fe-de4d-4924-bfc0-0373fcf862391033.mspx

Hope this information is helpful.

Let me know if this worked.

All the best! 

Thanks and Regards:

Swathi B  - Microsoft Support.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-17T16:28:27+00:00

    I genuinely believe we all simply need to just re-size our taskbar. I, too, have a taskbar that will not display upwards (in my default case), ever since I upgraded it to Wx. ("older" Samnsung Osmio i7, 64-bit, 8Gb ram, 550gb). Notably, the taskbar "seems to be trying to do something" (I see the mouse flicker as expected when calling up explorer), but no bar rolls up or displays. Of course, it locks away easy access to ALL programs, especially if you dont windows keyboard shorthand.  Dead Windows Button might be a good name for a band, but it otherwise sucks in Windows.

    MS surprised me with this ability to resize the taskbar + I can totally see myself accidentally resizing that window "beyond the edge" of the screen (you all know what I mean). A lovely i7 laptop I have at home is doing this; I cannot wait to get back to it and see if this is my problem. I missed that one feature and did not think to try that. 

    Why do I say "the error is between the keyboard and the chair" for this issue?; from DOS 1.0 until now, MS will throw users a curve with the UI somewhere (lol).

    Also, this is probably the 43rd thread I have read on this issue and I am amazed at how many of us ended up with issue. Combined with anecdotes of how Windows Update fixes are NOT fixing it, I started to wonder if it really is not an issue. This logically implies nothing is actually broken (this time); they cant "help us" (per se) with a patch for a bug that does not exist. Ergo, this MAY be a case of "it is not a bug, but a feature".

    Combined with flawless installs on six other devices, amping these stations usability dramatically, it is a real SHAME my hottest home station has this issue (my friggin' FSX flight model development station, of all the ironies!_. What a ****). Otherwise, for me, WX is a hit. FSX NEVER ran so well as it does on Windows 10. I have used every version of Flight Simulator since 1.0, too. 

    Try resizing your taskbar. If for me it proves that easy to "fix", I will first, kick myself, then come back I post my results here.

    Good luck to all finding the taskbar edge and successfully restoring it to full use.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-11T21:29:24+00:00

    That started for me today, probably as a result of some "update" ...

    The steps and links provided in the first answer do not apply !

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-07T01:23:04+00:00

    hi,  my task bar orb, window wont open the menu..  right click will open command menu only??

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-01T15:55:13+00:00

    hi, I have the same problem. My menu won't open and I did read what Swathi suggested, but my task bar is visible. it's the menu that won't open. can you help me with this??

    I have tried everything that has been suggested about this problem and haven't been able to fix it. None if my icons work when I left click on them. very irritating to say the least.

    I can not get  my start menu worked it did at first but now any help would be great ! thanks

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