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Microsoft can't solve this, anyone game? W10 Critical Error: Your Start Menu isn't working...

I don't hold out much hope as Microsft has not found an answer yet. See their 119 page topic on this subject at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-start/critical-error-start-menu-and-cortana-arent/5256ebee-2c77-4003-87be-1597ab10cb4d?page=1

Windows 10 Pro recently upgraded from Windows 7 Pro. User is a domain user authenticating through Windows Server 2012 R2.

Recently began seeing this error pop up...

CRITICAL ERROR: Your start menu isn't working properly. We'll try and fix it next time you sign in. [Button to Sign Out Now]

Signing out multiple (more than 10) times fixed the problem yesterday, but today so far numerous sign outs, re-starts and even a Safe Mode boot as suggested by Microsoft has not resolved it.

If I log in as a different domain user, or a local account, the problem does not exist so it's obviously an issue with the user specific Start Menu settings. Does anyone know if these setting exist in a file, or are they buried in the registry?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

McKnife

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BRT-Tech

ASKER

I'm with you McKnife. I already suggested to the user that we create an alternate network user for her to force a new profile on the workstation. She is hesitant because she has a lot of time invested in configuring her user, but if it's lost then she has no choice.

Just for grins I looked at the Event Log. Huge numbers of critical errors many relating to Access Denied when trying to read user keys from the registry. That is probably the core issue, but it's going to take a patch to fix it.

I'm going to leave this question open for a few days to see what I get for feedback, then share the points around.

McKnife

The access denials might be the clue. We can modify the access rights from another profile, when we logon as administrator. Do you know how?

BRT-Tech

ASKER

I know how to log in from another profile and use the Advance functions of the User Control Panel to modify users and groups. She is already a member of Local Administrators. Not sure I know how to modify rights to the registry - but I don't need step-by-step, just a push is the right direction. Thanks!

McKnife

Open regedit, there you see the registry structure. Locate those keys mentioned in event viewer and rightclick them for properties - security. Now modify those keys just as if they were file system folders, take ownership if needed.

BRT-Tech

ASKER

OK - Got it. I won't be near the machine until late tomorrow. The user is considering re-install of W10. If she does not do that I'll look at the registry.

Thanks!

BRT-Tech

ASKER

Thanks for your responses. We ended up trying the re-install of the W10 Upgrade from install media (Don't boot from the media, just run Setup) and the problem went away.

I certainly hope Microsoft figures this out because re-install is no fun at all :)