Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working – Potential Fix

Another computer problem in the world order. This time another problem with Microsoft Windows 10. A client from a third party website where I earn supplemental income had a Windows 10 start menu not working problem.

This is a common problem with Microsoft Windows 10. Here is their initial request:

“Start does not open, notifications does not open.”

I was NOT able to remotely administrate this computer, so I had to guide them with instructions. Here is my response with instructions:

You might be able to perform a Windows system restore. Restore Windows back to before you were having this problem. Press Ctrl Alt Delete keys at the same time.

A blue windows should open up. Select “Task Manager”. Click on “File” from top menu. Select “Run new task”.

Place check next to “Create this task with administrative privileges”. Type in “cmd” without quotes”. Click on “OK”.

Type this command into a black command prompt window:

rstrui.exe

A system restore windows should open. Click on “Next”. Choose a restore point by clicking on one, then click “Next”.

Try to choose a restore point back to before you were having this problem. Click on “Finish” to confirm your restore point. Windows 10 system restore will need to restart your computer and can take awhile to run.

Eventually Windows 10 will boot normal. Hopefully, this will fix your problem. You can try to open a command prompt by pressing and holding the windows key and R key at the same time.

A run box should open up. Type in:

rstrui.exe

See if system restore will now open. Press windows key and X key at same time. Select command prompt.

Type in rstrui.exe. Will file explorer open? It is a yellow file icon on your bottom task bar. Are you able to see your icons on the bottom task bar?

Click on yellow file explorer icon and see if it will open. At the top of file explorer look for “This PC”. You can type in text into that bar.

Type in cmd and press enter. A black screen should open up with c:\windows\system32>. Type in this command into black window.

rstrui.exe

This individual still could NOT use search, notifications, or start menu icon. Also, they claimed that system restore did not complete successfully. Open file manager the way you did before.

Open a command prompt through file manager. Perform a system file check scan three times in command prompt.

sfc /scannow

Reboot Microsoft Windows 10. Try performing a system restore. If it does NOT complete run a chkdsk scan in a command prompt.

Reboot the computer after scheduling a chkdsk scan.

chkdsk c: /f /r

Type a Y for yes to schedule scan. Hopefully, these tips helped you solve your Windows 10 start menu not working problem.