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: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-04-17T02:16:27+00:00

    Hello Eudora,

    Thank you for the update.

    I appreciate your efforts towards resolving the issue.

    You may revert back to Windows 8 by using steps provided in the following article created by J W Stuart and check if it helps.

    Refer:

    How to recover a previous build(s) or your original version of Windows using the Recovery or Rollback feature - Revised July 23rd, 2015

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-recover-a-previous-builds-or-your-original/76b6750c-5bb2-40bc-a7e3-f03cec62338b

    Note: After going back to Windows 8, you need to reinstall lost apps and programs. You will also lose any changes made to settings after installing Windows 10.

    Please keep us informed.

    Thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-17T15:42:45+00:00

    thank you asdy for your instructions.  as usual my computer didn't show things the way yours did, but after some searching i found what you were talking about.  the only problem, you didn't say to "restart computer" and i never thought about doing such.  anything i know has been learned from trial and error and sometime i need things spelled out.  but your instructions worked, a few days later something came up that caused a restart and the "button" works now.  i am bookmarking your post for next time.  thank you so much again.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-17T23:08:18+00:00

    Truly ridiculous that Microsoft hasn't come up with a fix for this. Mine recurs randomly even though I've tried different fixes. I have to hit ctrl-alt-del, then select the power icon in the lower right corner, and select restart. Sometimes it restarts, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, I have to disconnect the power and force a shutdown. Of course, when I re-boot, error messages galore, but the start button works again, so I do another standard restart to get everything working again. What a pain.

    The start button will stop working when the computer comes out of standby. I forced it not to go into standby, but the start button will stop working even when the computer is powered up and running, just sitting there. It will also stop working while I'm using the computer! I can't seem to correlate it with anything specific.

    How can I have any respect or loyalty for a company that won't address an integral issue with their product? I have to reinstall all my programs or revert to an older OS? At no cost to Microsoft? Gimme a break. 

    Fix this already!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments