Windows Start button not working

Anonymous
2010-11-11T12:49:00+00:00

The Windows start button is not working. When I press it nothing happens. SO I cannot shut down the computer in the normal manner or access any programs other than ones with desktop icons.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2015-02-14T05:42:28+00:00

Hi,

I faced a similar issue! The following worked for me

  1. Right click on the Start Button and select "Run"
  2. Type "regedit"
  3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Explorer>Advance
  4. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value, call it "EnableXamlStartMenu"
  5. Restart Explorer​ from task manager.

Hope this helps!

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Anonymous
2010-11-11T15:34:40+00:00

Hi nickthomp.

Does start menu open if you press the windows key on the keyboard?.

Can you right click the start menu orb and choose properties, if so

In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, click Use Default Settings, clickOK, and then clickOK again.

Also try.

1 .   Press Ctrl + Alt+ delete on the keyboard and click on task manager.

2 .   Click on the Process tab and locate explorer.exe in the windows and click on end task.

3 .   Click on File and then click on New.

4.   Type explorer.exe and press enter.

Hope his helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-04T16:29:29+00:00

    My computer that gave me this problem has died completely, but thank you all for your help on this issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-06-16T14:40:13+00:00

    This defect occurred a couple of times and I'd re-booted to clear it.

    Just did the regedit fix and it works again, at least for now. 

    I notice a DWORD already exists - "EnableStartMenu".  Why is it necessary to add another DWORD with "Xaml" inserted between "Enable" and "StartMenu"?  Is one of these DWORDs no longer valid?  Has Microsoft included a patch for this in any of its Tuesday updates?

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