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Davidohu's avatar
Davidohu
Copper Contributor
Jun 01, 2026

Windows PC start menu will not diisplay

It has been this way several days now. If I left click on the Start menu icon (lower left corner of screen) nothing happens! To shut down the PC, I must right click on the icon and select "Shut d...
QueenOfKeysReema's avatar
QueenOfKeysReema
Brass Contributor
Jun 05, 2026

Hi Davidohu,

I had the exact same issue after the recent Windows update, and I managed to fix it. Since your Start Menu and Settings are completely broken, here is the fastest way to open Command Prompt as an Administrator and fix the system without needing the Start Menu:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

Click on "Run new task" (located at the top of the Task Manager window).

In the box, type: cmd

Crucial Step: Make sure to check the box underneath that says "Create this task with administrative privileges". Then click OK.

A black Command Prompt window will open. Type the following command to repair the corrupted files and hit Enter:

sfc /scannow

Wait until the verification reaches 100%. Once it is completely finished and the scan is done, type this command to safely restart your PC and apply the fixes:

shutdown /r /t 0

After the restart, your Start Menu should be fully restored and working again. Hope this helps you!