Try these steps in order:
- Restart Windows Explorer.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find Windows Explorer in the list.
- Select it, then choose Restart.
- Test the Start button again.
- Check whether Windows is freezing more broadly.
- If Windows starts slowly, runs slowly, or stops responding, that points to a wider Windows responsiveness issue rather than only the Start menu.
- If the Start menu still does not respond, check the Background Tasks Infrastructure Service.
- Open Services and verify Background Tasks Infrastructure Service (BrokerInfrastructure) is set to Automatic.
- This service is required for a stable Start menu.
- Verify the Power Dependency Coordinator Driver (PDC) is present and running.
- Open Command Prompt and run:
sc query pdc - Expected result: the service shows as RUNNING.
- If PDC does not load at startup, Background Tasks Infrastructure Service can fail and affect the Start menu.
- Open Command Prompt and run:
- If the PC is otherwise unresponsive or the Start menu still cannot be used after these checks, use Surface-style recovery guidance only if the device is also failing to respond normally.
Warning: changing services or restoring missing driver registry entries can affect system startup. Avoid editing the registry unless there is a verified backup or installation media available.