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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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!

Was this answer helpful?

500+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

320 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-08-23T18:43:47+00:00

    I had to uninstall the Enigma company SpyHunter program.  The process broke and gave me an error message in mid removal.  The Start Button stopped working at that time.  I have tried all of the fixes I could find to resolve this problem.  My thought is that the link between explorer.exe and the start button got erased.  If I can't get it running then I'm facing a total hard drive wipe and reinstall with Windows 7.

    I hope there is a software patch that will fix this issue before I get desperate.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-21T07:07:05+00:00

    Had the same problem;  tried 3 days to solve..  no result. Reinstalled windows 8.1 and now I'm happy again and it will take a very long time before I will make any upgrade to a higher windows !!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-21T01:03:05+00:00

    I cannot do anything, all I get is a flashing screen, and I cannot click on any desktop icons, nor can I click on the start button, I can do absolutely nothing on this computer  because of the Windows 10 upgrade.  Not a thing,  nothing.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments