Currently Windows 10 has more bugs and issues, some can’t be solved even three weeks passed after the launch of new Windows, Microsoft still can’t find a fix for the error users having since the preview version. In Windows 10, Start Menu crashes for some and shows either of the following errors.
“Critical Error – Start menu and Cortana aren’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in.” Or “Critical Error – Your Start menu isn’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in.”
Signing out and restart works partially, even the PowerShell command fix we’ve covered seems not working for some users.
Permanent fix is not yet available
Microsoft is still singing the old song; they’re still investigating the issue and suggest affected users reported in a thread to prepare and send the dump files ,which helps their investigation. But a temporary workaround to throw the critical error out of the way for a while has been suggested, here it is:
Temporary fix for Start menu and Cortana’s critical error
“We are aware that some customers are experiencing this error, and are actively investigating. You may be able to temporarily resolve the issue by booting to Safe Mode, and then immediately booting back into normal mode. This workaround may resolve your problem for a while, however the error may return later.”
You need to boot into Safe mode with networking, then sign into your account in safe mode and restart your PC to return to a normal boot.
UPDATE: To get into safe mode
- From Hold the Shift key down while you press the Power icon and select Restart.
- Once you are within the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, thenStartup Settings, and Restart.
- When it restarts, you should see a number of options. Press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with networking.
- Once you sign into your account in Safe Mode, you’re done. Just restart your PC to return to a normal boot.
UPDATE October 1, 2015: Microsoft has released cumulative update Kb3093266 to fix most of the issues with Start menu and Cortana. Install that update to improve Windows 10 stability and performance.
How do I re-start in safe mode what key strokes or buttons and in which order do I get into safe made please let me know
Please check the update just added to the article at the bottom for the steps to boot into safe mode and get back to normal mode again.
What keystroke and in what order do I need to do to start in safe mode
Press the Windows key and the R key. When the Run command box opens type the following msconfig When the System Configuration module opens, select Boot
Select Safe Boot and Networking > Select OK Now reboot and your system will restart into Safe mode with Networking.
Again not the answer sought. Please explain how to reboot from safe mode.
Just restart your PC to enter into normal mode.
As for many with this “critical error”, on my system the login after a safe boot & networking into the account with the critical error is not possible, because the (correct) password is simply not accepted. Only after a normal reboot, the password is accepted, but then the critical error always happens.
This has repeatedly been described in the forums.
So this so called “temporary fix” is no-fix-at-all in such a situation.
We’re a bit surprised why Microsoft hasn’t found the fix for the issue till now, it existed from preview versions, should’ve been fixed in RTM version, but not.
Thank you for spelling this out. Perhaps now someone will address it.
Thanks, this worked!
Worked for me, you would have thought MS would have fixed this kind of issue before releasing into the world. but then again there have always seemed to release and then allow the end user to debug
After wasting a lot of my time in serving Googling around this was the only fix and it worked for me. Thanks but as you said this is not a permanent fix, I guess Microsoft is going to do something about it very soon. Finger crossed…
I find it very annoying that in googling for this solution most answers tell you to use the Start Menu to access different functions. The problem is, and I quote, “Critical Error Start menu and Cortana aren’t working.”
What part of “Start menu … aren’t working” do they not understand?
This is also not working for me. Can someone pls suggest another solution?
Have you tried this :https://techdows.com/2015/06/fix-start-menu-cortana-doesnt-work-windows-10-build-10122.html
I have a similar issue, and since the error was essentially blocking you from getting to a command prompt, you weren’t able to run the powershell script that’s been suggested. What I had to do was to do a ctrl-alt-del and launch the task manager. From there I went file run new task and put in msconfig. I went to the boot tab and checked off safe boot and then clicked on OK. I then chose restart from the popup. I did get another popup window indicating sihost and hard error, but just ignore it. Once it loads the desktop, I ran the task manager again and ran new task and ran powershell and put in the script. I got an error that the script couldn’t be run in safe mode. So I exited out and restarted normally, but still had the start menu and cortana error. I ran powershell, as administrator, and ran the script. The script ran, with some error, and then after restarting again I still have the start menu and cortana error…. waiting for Microsoft now…
On switching on I get ‘critical error start up menu and cortana not working’ so far I just sign out and sign back in and everything is fine, have I just been lucky.
If you Avast disable it. This was causing the error for me and preventing windows from working.
worked so far so good thnx
I am not a computer tech but know enough to use it for my needs. I had Windows 10 installed by a tech as he believed it was okay. I don’t have the expertise to try these procedures. I shouldn’t have to do this. Microsoft should never have released an inferior product to the public. Come on you dickheads fix this _____thing.
I have tried all the temporary fixes, and the only thing that works uninstalling my av program. Guessing that none of the free av programs have yet become Win10 compliant and may be what’s causing this critical error message foe god only knows what reason.
I stumbled on this noncompliance issue by accident when I tried to download Bitdefender’ free av program. It promptly told me the free version is not yet Win10 ready. For now, I will rely on Win10’s own antivirus along with Malwarebytes Anti-Expkoit program. We’ll see how that works.
Problem solved: YES, it is the Anti Virus program. Removed AVAST! while in Safe mode and my computer is running great. Thanks!
The switch to safe mode with networking and then back to regular mode worked for me. Thanks
Hi all. There are several ways to boot into safemode easily.
When your’re at your desktop, press Ctrl + shift + escape.
This will make the task manager to popup.
Go to files, create new job and type MSCONFIG.
Hit ok.
Then go to boot and hit “safe start”
Click apply and ok.
The computer will now restart in safemode.
Do the same steps as before, but now unclick “safe start” and reboot again.
This will temporarily fix the issue.
If it still doesnt work, you could try typing “sfc /scannow” in the cmd prompt. This removes and repairs corrupted win files.
Good luck!
Thank you Peter for the help; I was having the same problem as everyone else is having with the critical error and I tried a couple of suggestions posted but the only one that got my computer going was yours …thank you thank you!!!😀
Being no kind of techie I started with contacting Avast by email (they’ll get back to me in 24 hrs…). After finding this site, I did as Peter suggested. So far so good. Thanks heaps for the help!
I have had this problem a number of times. My theory is that is caused by shutting down the computer while it is mid way in processing a Windows Update. My temporay fix, which has worked every time so far, is to roll back to the last Restore Point. When the log in screen appears, do not enter your passowrd. Click the Power icon in the bottom right of the screen, then while holding the SHIFT key down click RESTART. The select TROUBLESHOOT / ADVANCED OPTIONS / SYSTEM RESTORE
Safe boot followed by normal boot is not working for me. Critical Error still persists. And also my wifi is not working. Please help.
Have you tried reset?
I don’t have any backup or reset point. How can I reset without loosing data? I also tried to go back to the old win8.1 but couldn’t find any option for that. Apparently the option is only available for the first 1 month of win 10. Please help.
Since you’ve upgraded, you can now clean install windows 10 by using the USB or ISO media created through Media Creation Tool
Check these https://techdows.com/2015/07/clean-install-windows-10-after-upgrade.html
https://techdows.com/2015/07/create-or-download-windows-10-iso-file-using-media-creation-tool.html
https://techdows.com/2015/08/use-this-trick-to-get-windows-10-iso-direct-download-links.html
I hate cortana. I have found that if you can get to your control panel, I added a shortcut to my desk top. Go to system and security, when it opens then click on Security and maintenance . On the right side is recovery. Refresh your pc without affecting your files. Click on that. Find a restore pint an click on it, press next let it do it’s thing. When it comes back on fixed. But it is temporary :( You never know when it will hit again. Mine lasted quite awhile, like 2 months, then it cam up again. Whatever you do put that shortcut to the control panel on your desk top. Good luck.
Thanks Diana, it worked for me.
Thank you! I couldn’t log onto my pc today because of this issue. It kept giving the critical error message but wouldn’t start Windows. This is the only fix that worked for me!
I just ran Avast boot time scan and it works fine now.
My hubbys laptop had the problems for a few days. I googled and found this
1. Reinstall Windows apps
Launch the Task manager and open a new PowerShell window with administrative privileges, as explained above.
When the Windows PowerShell window opens copy the line below and paste it into the PowerShell window by simply right-clicking at the blinking PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> prompt, or by pressing [Ctrl] + [V] on the keyboard:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
it still didn’t work, and then found this article, and then it worked , for now at least, hopefully windows will sort it out once for all
I managed to get the critical error message to stop but the start menu and search still do not work. I checked my windows update history and the cumulative update Kb3093266 is installed, but has not resolved the issue regard the start menu.
What a pain this critical error notice is . Its time it was sorted. I get it on average two or three times a month ands always when my computer is most needed for important functions. Just attempted to log on to print cruise tickets and up it came.I always manage to get rid by repeatedly pressing F8 with delete and alt keys.
Sometimes takes about half an hour, as it just has, i think it would be a good time to remove w.10 and go back to 7 or 8. does any one know how this can be done ? any anwers in full detail please as I am a complete novice,
Thanks, Kbee
This happened to me a few days ago. Also, Edge vanished and right clicks on the task bar stopped working.
There are various ‘snake oil’ solutions around but none have worked for me.
System Restore always failed.
What did work was uninstalling Dropbox and then, as if by magic, all was OK again. I have re-installed Dropbox and all seems OK now (crossed fingers).
So, it looks like MS have put something in a Windows 10 update that screws Dropbox users. They have form on this after the Google Apps problems with MS Office 2013.
All the best…Peter
So, when I installed Windows 10, I had this “Critical Error” message pop up as well. After hours of research, I went into my command prompt, and ran the sfc / scannow. After the scan process was completed, I rebooted my laptop, and everything is working 100%. Temporary or not, this worked.
It worked! Very slow to get back in, however. Here’s hoping it sticks! Thank you!
I got this error yesterday for the first time after a W10 update. I’ve also lost Dropbox. What a pile of crap.
Thankyou,this appears to have resolved the problem
For months I couldn’t figure out why it’s doing this. Just uninstall “Drop Box” and now it’s back to normal. You’re a life saver Peter James! Thumbs up!
For me, this issue has occurred numerous times, and after much searching on the internet, I found out about an incompatibility between Dropbox and Windows 10. When I received the dreaded “Critical Error” message (usually after updating my Windows 10 system and at start-up), I would uninstall Dropbox and then reboot, and the Start Menu is working again. I would then re-install Dropbox again. This has happened 3 times recently, and I have been able to get the Start Menu working again each time without having to scandisk, install any patches, safe mode, or create a new user profile (which I had actually done initially when the problem first cropped up).
These are the steps:
1. If you receive the “Critical Error” message, do not click Restart. Instead right click on the Start menu to launch control panel. Then go to Programs.
2. Uninstall Dropbox
3. Reboot.
4. Re-install Dropbox.
I have noticed that the issue may also be Dropbox launching when the computer first boots up to Windows, and trying to sync files. You can either disable the launch of Dropbox at start-up or delay the launch at start-up (which I did via Norton Tools). Once it delays start, there hasn’t been an issue on this error message since.
Hope this helps.
I tried all the advice and fixes from Windows and others but not a bloody thing worked. Also the calendar and how you view your files was buggered. It drove me nuts for a week. I read a million post about how it’s not Dropbox but low and behold I deleted dropbox from shear desperation and Hey Presto all working again.
Thank goodness for this forum. Uninstalling Dropbox and rebooting worked for me. Not sure if reinstalling Dropbox will reintroduce the problem later. Will see if Dropbox forums are aware. Clearly an incompatibitity has crept in Microsoft/Dropbox as did with Norton and Apple last year.
Yes, third-party apps are still causing problems to Windows 10, we don’t when they stop causing issues. Glad you found the culprit of this as Dropbox.
informative.