Windows 10 start menu displays nothing after Capture and Deployment

David Zemdegs 1,561 Reputation points
2022-11-17T02:58:18.43+00:00

We have rebuilt our Windows 10 image several times using the standard build and capture process in the past and after deployment using an MEMCM OS build task sequence, the start menu has always worked.
I did another rebuild yesterday and before the Capture, the start menu worked fine.
After the image was captured, I then deployed that image using our standard OS build task sequence.
However, after deployment when you click on the start menu, nothing happens. Also you cannot type anything in the search field.
How could a start menu work fine before the MEMCM capture process but after capture and deployment not work at all?
Would it be related to any recent software updates? (All updates up to November 2022 were applied to the image before Capture).
Thanks
David Z

Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
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Microsoft Configuration Manager Deployment
Microsoft Configuration Manager Deployment
Microsoft Configuration Manager: An integrated solution for for managing large groups of personal computers and servers.Deployment: The process of delivering, assembling, and maintaining a particular version of a software system at a site.
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  1. David Zemdegs 1,561 Reputation points
    2022-11-21T22:53:48.167+00:00

    Im beginning to come to the conclusion that the MEMCM capture process is corrupting the entire image.
    sfc /SCANNOW and other DISM repairs didnt do anything.
    Will try again in December.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Simon Ren-MSFT 29,791 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-11-18T08:25:59.15+00:00

    Hi,

    1,Can we find any error in the setupact.log, setuperr.log and smsts.log?

    2,Whate version of Configuration Manager you are using? And what version of OS you are trying to deploy? How about download the OS image from Volume Licensing Service Center and rebuild the reference computer?
    Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center

    Thanks for your time. Have a nice day!

    Best regards,
    Simon

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  3. David Zemdegs 1,561 Reputation points
    2022-11-18T08:31:02.3+00:00

    No error in smsts.log
    its memcm 2203 and deploying windows 10 21h2. The original image does come from the VLSC.
    As I mentioned I have used the windows 10 image before and it has worked fine. The last time it worked was after applying the March 2022 software updates. The only difference is that this time I applied all the Nov 2022 updates.

  4. David Zemdegs 1,561 Reputation points
    2022-11-21T21:34:48.13+00:00

    I guess the main question is, what would cause the start menu to not display at all?
    I have checked c:\user\<user>\appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\start menu\programs
    and its chock full of the stuff I would normally see.

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  5. David Zemdegs 1,561 Reputation points
    2022-11-21T21:54:35.947+00:00

    OK. Found that startmenuexperiencehost.exe is not running.
    I tried to start it manually but it does not start.

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