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Taskbar and Start menu not working after the KB5031356 update failure

Anonymous
2023-10-15T01:42:52+00:00

My PC just attempted the KB5031356 update released on October 10, 2023. It couldn't be installed due to a problem I've never encountered before, which is listed in the known issues of that update here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/october-10-2023-kb5031356-os-builds-19044-3570-and-19045-3570-951fac64-5bf8-4eba-ba18-a9448920df1a. Now, after about 20 minutes of "undoing changes", my PC has restarted, and the taskbar and Start menu no longer work. Clicking on any application icon does nothing, and the Start button doesn't open anything, not even with the Windows key on the keyboard. Only the "Search" function works; the magnifying glass icon works. I've tried restarting File Explorer, a full restart, safe mode restart, sfc /scannow, but nothing has resolved the issue. I've also used PowerShell with admin privileges to run DISM with RestoreHealth, which completed, but the problem persists. On Microsoft's page, it says to reinstall the update after RestoreHealth, but it failed again, getting stuck at 99% and then saying "Couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes," and we're back to square one with the Start menu problem. Will the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) work, and will a new update be released with a fix? Otherwise, how can this Start menu problem be resolved, which is quite serious and inexplicable (if an update fails, everything should be as it was before; there shouldn't be lingering issues)? What's the purpose of RestoreHealth then?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. John DeV 164.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-10-15T21:35:34+00:00

    Glad to hear the issue has been resolved. I recommend reporting the issue via the Feedback Hub app to notify Microsoft.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sen...

    Stay safe and have a great day.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-10-15T13:40:09+00:00

    Ok, I have done this, took a while, but the issue persists! At this point I don't know what to do, it's so frustrating and nonsense. Should I update to Windows. 11? Or what? It's not possibile that the start menu doesn't work.

    EDIT: I installed all the updates including KB5031356 and they were all completely installed. Then, at the reboot, the menu start WORKED! So it's all solved. Please report it somewhere to Windows or tell me where to do this.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-15T11:29:29+00:00

    The first command

    Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

    does not work. Only a red error.

    The second one works and although with errors there is a process that goes on for two minutes before finishing.

    After rebooting, the issue still persists.

    What can I do?

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  4. John DeV 164.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-10-15T03:16:36+00:00

    Hi, good day! I'm John Dev a Windows user like you and I'll be happy to assist you today. I know this has been difficult for you, Rest assured, I'm going to do my best to help you.

    When was the last time it worked properly?

    Please try the following method below.

    **Repair all Windows apps via PowerShell

    Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager then click File

    Select "Run new task" then type: powershell

    Make sure to put a check mark on the "Create this task with administrative privileges" box

    Copy and paste the command below one at a time then press Enter. Please ignore the red errors and let the process complete.

    Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

    Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

    Restart your computer

    Kindly let me know if this helps or if you have any further concerns.

    Kind regards,

    John DeV

    Independent Advisor

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  5. MR_MEOW 3,541 Reputation points
    2023-10-15T02:29:05+00:00

    hello. It is a Parental control setting that blocks the use of the start menu/ Windows button. I forgot the name of the exe file BUT I will Remember it if I see it. Press ctrl+alt+del open taskmanager If you can take a screen shot of that would help me lots. I Do remember a bit of the name Starts with the letter S and has an odd Icon in the taskmanager cant miss it. Once You have taskmanager open you can also choose new task and open cmd.exe and type tasklist and paste the results here if that is better for you.

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