Icons missing/task host window message

Question

Hi people,

My laptop (Dell, Windows 10) was working fine until I turned it on yesterday and now it doesn't startup properly. The icons are missing from along the bottom and if I try to press start (bottom left) it doesn't work as when I hover the mouse pointer over it, it just shows a 'busy' symbol. I've also tried pressing 'windows' key+ various letters which also doesn't make anything happen.

Strangely, I can click on the desktop icons, I clicked on Edge and it opens normally except that it is not connecting to the internet. The internet in the house is working fine on other devices.

To shutdown I have to long press the power button. It then gave me the option to swipe down the screen to shutdown, which I did. Then before shutting down it gives me a message saying 'Task Host Window is stopping background tasks... device install reboot required'

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance 🙂

Answer 1

Hi Christine,

It seems to have worked 🥳🥳🥳

System restore was not set up but I put in the date before yesterday and it seems to be working. Thank you so much 💛

Answer 2

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for your update. Appreciated.

Let's try to perform a system restore.

Note: System Restore will not delete your personal files, but it will uninstall your apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was created.

Please press Windows key + R and type rstrui.exe and hit enter to open the System Restore page.

Click Next

Please choose the date wherein everything is working fine and hit Next

After that, click Finish.

It will restart your device.

Please make sure that your charger is plugged in to avoid interruption.

Please let me know how it goes, I'm just here. :)

Thank you,

Christine

Answer 3

Thanks for your reply Christine,

I've tried as many of the things you mention that I could get to work.

Yesterday the start button was not working at all, today right clicking the start button is working but left clicking (menu) is still not working.

It still won't connect to wifi. Wifi is fine on other devices in the house.

Nonetheless I couldn't perform the first task because I couldn't find explorer.exe

I click on 'settings' but it does not open.

I managed to restart the install services. It said that it was stopped.

I've run the scannow to check for corrupted files and it did that some were going and corrected.

I couldn't restart in the normal way as left clicking the start button doesn't do anything so I had to hold down the power button again, and again I saw the same task host message as yesterday.

After turning the computer on again everything is the same- left click is not working and no internet.

Any ideas what I can

try from here?

Answer 4

Hi Rebecca,

I'm Christine, an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. Looks like you're having issue with your Windows as your icons are missing and Start menu is not working. No worries, I'll do my best to help you.

May I know if there's any changes made before you got this issue?

Please send the current build of your Windows 10, to check please press Windows key+R and type winver and hit enter

Please check and follow the steps below:

1. Refresh explorer.exe

On Windows 10

Right click on start menu and choose Task Manager

Click Details Tab and end the task of explorer.exe

Hit File then click Run new Task and type explorer.exe and press enter

2. Please check and follow the steps from the link below:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/task-host-stoppi...

3. Please try to run the sfc scannow to check if there's a corrupted system file. Kindly follow the steps from the link below:

Please click start menu and type cmd, right click on it and choose CMD with Admin.

Type sfc /scannow and hit enter. NOTE: There's a space between c and /

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-t...

Please let me know the result. I'll be happy to assist you all the way until it's resolved.

Thank you,

Christine L

Standard Disclaimer: thewindowsclub link is a non-Microsoft website. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.