Saturday, January 28, 2017
Fixing the Windows 10 Start Menu
Fixing the Windows 10 Start Menu
Finally! I got the fix that really worked from this page. Problem is: what really fixed the issue is not in the article, which describes the solution of running a PowerShell command. Ive tried that solution before, it never fixed the issue for my machines (maybe was fixed was that solution and what follows...). What really fixed it was described in a comment, and it basically demands deleting contents from the folder at %LOCALAPPDATA%TileDataLayer. Problem is: doing that is not that trivial, since those files are usually locked.
Here are the steps I followed.
1) Restart machine in safe mode.
A note here: only administrators will be able to log on in safe mode. Make sure you have an administrator account before proceeding.
In order to do this, you need to start a command line prompt as administrator. Even when the Start menu is not working, usually the "right click" over the Start button brings up a menu. In such menu, you will find the option to start a "Command Prompt (Admin)". Start that, and make sure you have a window titled "Administrator: Command Prompt". Enter the following commands:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
bcdedit /set {default} safebootalternateshell yes
and now reboot with
shutdown /r
2) Delete contents of TileDataLayer folder for affected user
Assuming you are the user facing the problem, just enter the commands:
cd /d %LOCALAPPDATA%
dir
You should see in the directory list the folder TileDataLayer.
Small digression if you are not the user facing the problem.
Enter now the commands:
cd ......
dir
Seek for the user facing the problem, and enter the commands:
cd
End of digression: you are now at the equivalent location.
Enter the commands:
cd TileDataLayer
dir
You should see a “Database” folder. Delete it:
rd /s /q Database
dir
It should now be gone.
3) Reboot in normal mode
Enter the commands:
bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot
Now the Start menu button should work with the “normal click”, and searching for programs and settings will also work. The Start menu preferences will be empty. What may not be a bad thing…
Available link for download
