I’ve come across several instances where the Windows start menu will not pop up when you click it or press the Windows key on the keyboard.
There is also a separate issue where Windows 8/8.1/10 apps will not launch. They flash on the screen briefly, but do not launch. The icon for the app may even show up on the taskbar, but does nothing when you click it.
In addition, this method can fix any issue relating to corrupt system files in Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (malware, hard drive corruption, etc.) and may be a good idea to do periodically on a year-to-year basis or after a failing HDD–>SSD migration.
Previously, I would have recommended a Windows Refresh/clean install to fix these issues (didn’t always work). Nowadays, I try this first:
- Open up a command prompt as an administrator
- Run the command “sfc /scannow” <—That looks for and fixes corrupt but easily fixable system files without rebooting
- Run the command “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” <——That will replace any corrupt system file with a shiny new one
- Reboot
- Run the command sfc /scannow again <—–That is used to confirm whether the previous command helped. You may need to try the previous command again.
- Eat ice cream
- If the issue persists, try doing an in-place upgrade to your current Windows version (Windows 7) OR a system refresh (Windows 8/8.1/10)