[Solved] Critical Error: Start menu and cortana aren’t working | Windows 10

Abhishek Balani
. August 18, 2015
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I have recently upgraded my Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. There are few bugs with Windows 10 and few of them are very annoying just like the one “Critical Error: Start menu and cortana aren’t working“. In this error your task bar will stop working, all the keyboard shortcuts which uses window key will stop working. There will be a pop up saying “Critical Error: Start menu and cortana aren’t working” and will ask you to sign out and sign in again to fix it. But signing out and signing back in, even restarting system after signing out is not gonna fix it.

This is because of the recent Windows update build 10240.

I searched on a lot and tried lot of things but finally found a workaround which I have mention below in steps:

1. Open up task manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc . (you won’t be able to do it from taskbar)

2. Click on File > Run new task

3. Write “msconfig” in the box and check the box which says “Create this task with administrative privileges”

Critical Error: Start menu and cortana aren’t working

4. Go to Boot tab in Boot options, enable “Safe boot” and select “Network”. After that hit Apply and OK and Restart the system.

5. Your computer will start in Safe Mode. Now repeat the steps again from 1 to 3 and uncheck Safe Boot in Step 4 and restart.

Hopefully, your critical error would be gone and start menu will work properly.

Microsoft has acknowledged the bug of critical error which I mentioned and working on a fix which will be coming soon.

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Abhishek Balani

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I am a full stack software engineer and a blogger. Primarily, I work on Python, Java and React.js. I am an autodidact with a strong passion for new technologies. I love to build new things from the ground up. I have about 7 years of dynamic experience gained by working in early stage startups to mid-sized organizations in an Agile environment.

13 Comments

Zoya Sen, August 18, 2015 @ 9:27 am Reply

I recently installed Windows 10 and find out same problem. Due to this, i felt it seems like very difficult to handle. But your post really helps to me. Thank you for sharing.
Danial, August 18, 2015 @ 9:56 pm Reply

Thanks for help dear. i was suffering from this problem since two weeks. Had a great visit over here on your blog.
SurvivalCraft, August 19, 2015 @ 9:09 am Reply

Thanks for the Life saving hack … i used another 3rd party software to fix the issue but it ruined my windows
developer, August 27, 2015 @ 11:03 pm Reply

nice info
ravinder dande, August 28, 2015 @ 12:23 pm Reply

Thanks for sharing steps
Yesterday i Installed window 10 and found same problem but Step you gave here worked for me
Angelina, August 30, 2015 @ 9:16 am Reply

Thank you very much. I did exactly and the error message gone.
Unlockninja, September 1, 2015 @ 11:21 am Reply

Hi,
I have installed windows 10 and i have some issue in searched programs but i m now slow slow but it’s better than windows 8…
Priyanka, September 5, 2015 @ 11:13 am Reply

@Abhishek Balani

I have introduced windows 10 and i have some issue in sought projects yet i m now moderate yet it’s superior to anything windows 8
Robert, September 13, 2015 @ 9:01 pm Reply

It worked!!! Many thanx
ZD, September 14, 2015 @ 8:55 pm Reply

Thank you, Abishek, it worked! I appreciate your useful suggestion.
Catherine, September 18, 2015 @ 2:22 pm Reply

Hi…thanks for this but….when I have restarted the cursor has disappeared and I can’t access the ‘boot’ screen because it’s behind the task manager screen…any help would really be appreciated!
kumar, September 28, 2015 @ 6:06 pm Reply

it really worked thank you for your help.