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Chr53's avatar
Chr53
Copper Contributor
Jul 29, 2021

Windows 11 start menu is missing Explorer bug?

Hello,

I have been using the new Windows 11 Insider Preview with satisfaction for several weeks.

Unfortunately, bugs since the last update, probably the Explorer process, every time after logging in, the Explorer (i.e. the icons at the bottom right and the desktop icons) briefly flickers and I see a thousand reports in the task manager on Microsoft processes that require almost 100% CPU, But that will happen after a few minutes.

When that has loaded, I only have the problem that I cannot open the start menu and that when I try the settings etz. to open an error message comes up.

 

If there is no way to solve the problem in the near future either, I wanted to ask if there is any way to downgrade without losing the data.

 

Hope you can help me here.

L.G.

Chris

14 Replies

  • VeeDubya's avatar
    VeeDubya
    Copper Contributor
    I've been having this issue on my brand new computer and have tried every solution on the internet with no success. Does Microsoft read these posts? Have they spoke about this and recommend a fix? This really isn't a good image of their company when their new flagship desktop OS is broken and nothing is being done about it!
    • Spencerjedi's avatar
      Spencerjedi
      Copper Contributor
      I have been having this exact issue every time I have to restart my PC. Using the command will get it to work part of the times and restarting explorer.exe only seems to work on the 3rd reset of the PC. How is this still an issue on the official release??
  • go4nat's avatar
    go4nat
    Copper Contributor

    Use CTRL-ALT-DEL and choose to open Task Manager.
    Choose "More details" at the bottom of Task Manager to expand Task Manager.
    Go to "File" and choose "Run new task".
    Type "cmd" in the "Open" field.
    Paste the following: reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
    It should restart the machine and you will see the start menu

      • GregTheEgg's avatar
        GregTheEgg
        Copper Contributor

        Is anyone still having problems with this? I really am, I've tried both copying and pasting the Iris process thing into command and also restarting explorer from the task manager and each only works 1/20 times and it's driving me mad. Any other tips?

  • Hi Chris,

    I had the same issue when I was clicking the clock or notification tray that the tskbar would just crash and restart. Tskbar is part of the explorer.exe, and it seems it was fixed in the lastest patch.

    Please make sure you are on the lastest Windows 11 Dev channel update, go to Update and check for updates. Also, if you click windows insider in the same page, it will tell you if you ar eup to date.

    Thanks,

    Shawn
    • Chr53's avatar
      Chr53
      Copper Contributor

      Deleted 

      Thanks for the answer,
      unfortunately do not open the settings, because then the error:

       

      ms-settings
      There is no app associated with the file to perform this action. Install an app, or create a mapping on the default app settings page if an app is already installed.

       

       

      I don't know how to check for updates or the current version, let alone make updates.

      Kind regards
      Chris

      • Chr53's avatar
        Chr53
        Copper Contributor
        I have:
        Version 10.0.22000 Build 22000

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