Start menu and Cortana not working: PowerShell wont recognize commands.

[xenonphantom]

My windows start menu and cortana are completely not working when I click on them. My Microsoft settings are not opening either. When creating other users on my system and logging onto that user, it is just a black screen with a cursor.

I looked for solutions and found many articles and most solutions start with a command Get-AppXPackage. I was following solution 2 in this article:

https://mspoweruser.com/solution-start-menu-not-working-windows-10/

When I copy the command in I get this:

http://imgur.com/a/8MGtc

I have been trying to fix this problem for a few days now and it is extremely annoying. I don't want to resort to a windows refresh at this time so a better solution would be appreciated.

 

[gardenman]

Hi, have you tried running the [System File Checker] from command prompt yet? It fixes corrupted and missing Windows files. Right click on Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator, then type in SFC /scannow. You may need to run it several times. Reboot afterwards.

How about the [DISM] command? Reboot afterwards.

Also in the screen shot you posted of the powershell solution, you forgot to type the first G. It should be Get-AppXPackage and you left the G off. Try again and be sure you copy/paste the full command.

If none of this helps, reply back.

 

[xenonphantom]

Hi, have you tried running the [System File Checker] from command prompt yet? It fixes corrupted and missing Windows files. Right click on Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator, then type in SFC /scannow. You may need to run it several times. Reboot afterwards.

How about the [DISM] command? Reboot afterwards.

Also in the screen shot you posted of the powershell solution, you forgot to type the first G. It should be Get-AppXPackage and you left the G off. Try again and be sure you copy/paste the full command.

If none of this helps, reply back.

Hey, sorry in that screen shot I missed the G, every other time I tried I had it typed correctly. I edited the post and added a screen shot where I had the G and I get a similar message.

I have also tried both SFC and DISM commands multiple times and let them run. End result they say everything is fine even after reboot.

I also used the start menu troubleshooter and it says that "Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost and Microsoft.Windows.Cortana need to be installed correctly"(hence why I started to follow this article to fix the problem). It also says the tile database is corrupt.

 

[gardenman]

Do you have System restore running and have you tried a system restore point?

Have you done a full virus scan and malware scan?

One option is create a new user account. Do this and see if the Start Menu and Cortana are working correctly in there. Read the 2nd answer on [this page].

[More good reading] (Tile Database is Corrupt)

About the powershell command... do you have the Windows Firewall service running? Read [this page].
This may require you to uninstall (or completely disable) any other Firewall you currently have running.

[Other potential solutions] Maybe you've seen this already? There's alot of reading there, I went through 5 pages of it searching for an answer.

Let me know what happens.

 

[xenonphantom]

I decided to reinstall windows since it will probably take less time to do. I have tried for countless hours to fix it. I tried everything you suggested and what others suggested and nothing works or is always stopped by something. Thanks for your help, I will pick your answer as best.

 

[gardenman]

I'm sorry we couldn't get it fixed an easier way, but I'm glad you did get it fixed. Sometimes that's the best way and now you (hopefully) have a clean fast moving Windows. You don't have to select one as an answer since I couldn't help. Take care.