Aug 21, 2015, 4:41 AM
@The-Tree-of-Woe
Reason #8135 to use Classic Shell.
I'd heard about the disappearing start menu during the Tech preview, but thought it got fixed after one of the later builds.
If you're comfortable with regedit, try this:
- Launch the Registry Editor (hit the Windows key and R, type regedit, and then press Enter) and then navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ ImmersiveShell\Launcher
- Click Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseExperience.
- Double-click the newly created item and set the value to 0.
- Click OK, close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer — or just restart Explorer. (If you can still right-click on your start button, you can use Task Manager to restart Explorer.)
If that doesn't work, first go back in and delete the registry key above, then do this:
- Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
- Right click on powershell.exe and run as administrator.
- This is not the Command Prompt, please note.
- Paste the following: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
- Wait for PowerShell to execute and complete the command. Ignore the few errors (in red color) that may pop up.
- When it's finished, try hitting start, or restart your computer and try hitting start.
Obviously mucking around in regedit and with powershell shit isn't for the faint of heart, so unless you're super attached to the windows 10 start menu as it is, my initial suggestion stands:
- Download Classic Shell and use the Win7 (or whatever) start menu replacement.
As a note for anybody using Classic Shell who wants the old start orb back, I've got a bunch of image files that can be used for the custom icon for it.