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Taskbar disappears after Windows Update - cannot access Settings etc etc

Anonymous
2024-08-15T12:23:07+00:00

Hi,

I think it was the Win update in Nov 2023 when my Taskbar first disappeared. The only way to make it appear again was to re-install Win11. But every time a new update came along it disappeared again.

After performing 4 or even 5 Win11 re-installs, I kept postponing new updates for 6-7 months, and it worked fine. Today it showed me a special message that critical security updates are due and I ran the updates (all of them). Same story, after the updates my Taskbar went missing, and this time for good.

I have tried all the tricks both from web and AI tools, but still no result. I cannot even access Settings. And instead of MS support (that nobody seems to be able to talk to), I am here talking to the Community :) What a joke of a service MS.

Has anybody experienced the same problem and what exactly do I need to do to get this thing fixed? I have spent again a whole day on this with no result - where can I send the bill for MY time Microsoft? PS. To make the system Reset, and lose everything I have, is not an option.

Here are the resources I used so far besides Win11 re-install... or to be correct most of the suggestions because there are no corrupt files (according to "scannow" prompt), and I cannot find Windows Explorer anywhere in Task Manager, there is no Iris Service Configurations in Win Registry, I have done multiple restarts with and without second monitor etc etc:

https://www.guidingtech.com/best-ways-to-fix-taskbar-disappeared-or-missing-on-windows-11/

Any help is highly appreciated!

Cheers,

Kuno

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-15T14:22:37+00:00

    Hi again,

    here's the solution that finally worked for me:

    1. Ctrl+Alt+Del
    2. Hold your (left) "Shift" key and click "Restart" computer (look at the bottom right corner of your screen)
    3. You can let the Shift key go now :)
    4. Wait patiently until the Blue screen appears
    5. From the options presented choose >> Troubleshoot
    6. Then choose >> Advanced options
    7. Then choose >> Uninstall updates
    8. There are two options, I first chose the "Uninstall the latest feature update", then confirmed my choice and let the process finish. The computer restarted, but still, no taskbar was visible.
    9. I repeated the previous process till "Uninstall updates", but this time I chose "Uninstall the latest quality update", then confirmed my choice and let the process finish. The computer restarted, AND, the taskbar was there again.PS. **** Btw, when I ran the computer in Safe Mode, then the Taskbar was there. None of those proposed tricks worked for me, i.e. Powershell, DISM etc.

    Good luck to everybody with a similar problem.

    K

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-15T13:58:11+00:00

    Hi, below you will find the results of the suggested fixes, but Taskbar is still gone, WIN+ I and WIN + R do not work, and media files will not open.

    Any other suggestions?

    Kuno
    //

    Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22631.4037]

    (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:\Windows\System32>sfc /scannow

    Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

    Beginning verification phase of system scan.

    Verification 100% complete.

    Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

    C:\Windows\System32>DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

    Version: 10.0.22621.2792

    Image Version: 10.0.22631.4037

    [==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.

    The operation completed successfully.

    C:\Windows\System32>sfc /scannow

    Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

    Beginning verification phase of system scan.

    Verification 100% complete.

    Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

    C:\Windows\System32>

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-15T13:15:19+00:00

    Hi,

    thanks for your reply! I will run the suggestions you recommended and will post the results.

    Indeed I use an HP Elitebook G6 that came with Win11 Pro pre-installed, but until Nov 2023 there was no issue with it. As for automatic updates, I believe I have them switched on, but these were not to be installed automatically as they are released.

    Kuno

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-08-15T12:56:25+00:00

    You dont say whether this is a branded PC pre-installed with win11 pro

    and whether you modified win update setting to include "Get latest updates" - a very bad move

    PS in any win reset you have the option as to whether to retain data (would not be relevent if O365 activated)

    PPS you have to run the whole sfc/DISM process https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

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