Windows 10 - start menu and calender stopped working

EddScott · 8 Jun 2016 at 11:38

Never known an OS like W10 to throw up random issues.

So PC in work has stopped opening start menu and calendar. Can't right click on icons in the task bar but can right click on the task bar itself.

Not a big issue but a bit of a pain. Anyone got an easy fix?

zola25 · 11 Jun 2016 at 16:30

I've had this happen a few times on both mine and the Mrs PCs. We've used used the following approach to fix. Usual warning: backup/take an image first!

1. Stop and disable Windows Search service
2. In task manager, Kill explorer.exe process
3. From task manager > file > run new task > powershell
4. In powershell execute the following line: Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
5. Still in powershell, restart the pc by issuing this command: shutdown /r /t 5
6. Re-enable Windows search service
7. Rebuild index (indexing options > advanced > rebuild)

You might not have to rebuild the index, but sometimes it helps. I've also had one occasion that the above didn't resolve the issue, so I just did an in place "upgrade" which did resolve it.

Good luck

EddScott · 15 Jun 2016 at 13:38

Thanks for the reply.

I tried the Powershell method and it didn't work.

Surprisingly, I tried a system restore and it worked. Think it's the first time system restore has genuinely worked.

Nismo · 15 Jun 2016 at 14:16

Started getting this myself recently too, will try the above.

Don't think I've got a restore point early enough unfortunately, hoping maybe a new W10 version release will fix it when it's pushed out via Windows Updates? Might put myself on the fast ring to see.

AthlonXP1800 · 15 Jun 2016 at 14:40

Happened to me few times back in August 2015 after upgrade caused start menu and calender stopped worked.

The only thing I got it fixed is just simple open task manager and kill explorer.exe process and boom both start menu and calender worked.

Just wow, you don't ever need to backup and restore, powershell, stop search service or rebuild index to get start menu and calender working again.

zola25 · 16 Jun 2016 at 20:22

Unfortunately I have had to use both the method I posted, and an even an in place upgrade on one occasion. Killing the explorer process would sometimes fix the start menu, but then I still had missing search items that rebuilding the index alone wouldn't resolve.

I guess I've just had bad luck!