Windows 10; Cortana and Search the web and windows has stopped working

Wishful_Thinker

Suddenly yesterday for no apparent reasons Cortana and "search the web and windows" on Windows 10 stopped working. I tried Left click on the windows emblem at the bottom left of the screen but it is frozen. I have investigated to the best of my limited ability and went into task manager.I have found Cortana in my Apps History. I clicked on this in the hope I might be able to restore it back to live but nothing happened. Can someone guide me how to restore Cortana from apps history which hopefully will result in unfreezing and Windows 10 working properly again.

bengalknights

Try running a system repair (usually f8 on bootup) and see if rectifys the issue

grumpycrab

2nd thread on this... http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/get-help-windows-start-menu

AnneMarie4687

This problem sounds so familiar.I got as far as finding Cortana in my Apps History after going into the Task Manager. I tried clicking on Cortana in my apps history in the hope I can transfer it to a live apps but nothing.I have tried the above checking for updates and also the Powershell route in Command Prompt administrator all to no avail. It is all very frustrating especially for someone like me who uses the PC but has little technical knowledge.Has anyone any easy to understand and simple to follow suggestions to get windows 10 up and working properly.Is it any use doing a System restore or is that unlikely to solve the problem. I have looked on Microsoft windows 10 help site but have found nothing useful but I could have missed it. My windows emblem in the bottom left hand corner of my screen is still frozen.

grumpycrab

AnneMarie4687 wrote: »

...Has anyone any easy to understand and simple to follow suggestions to get windows 10 up and working properly..

Go back to 7? Yer - dead annoying this one. Did you try creating a new admin account?

debitcardmayhem

AnneMarie4687 wrote: »

This problem sounds so familiar.I got as far as finding Cortana in my Apps History after going into the Task Manager. I tried clicking on Cortana in my apps history in the hope I can transfer it to a live apps but nothing.I have tried the above checking for updates and also the Powershell route in Command Prompt administrator all to no avail. It is all very frustrating especially for someone like me who uses the PC but has little technical knowledge.Has anyone any easy to understand and simple to follow suggestions to get windows 10 up and working properly.Is it any use doing a System restore or is that unlikely to solve the problem. I have looked on Microsoft windows 10 help site but have found nothing useful but I could have missed it. My windows emblem in the bottom left hand corner of my screen is still frozen.

Have you tried the window button on your keyboard? Sadly I cannot replicate these symptoms on 3 different Windows 10 iterations, children of various upgrade paths.

For interest this shows some Windows shortcuts http://www.howtogeek.com/198122/32-new-keyboard-shortcuts-in-the-windows-10-technical-preview/

Dean'sDilemma

Can I add our name to list that Cortana has stopped working in Windows 10. In addition if we click on the windows sign at the bottom of the screen it is frozen and all the various apps that appeared above have disappeared.it would appear Miscrosoft acknowledge this is a fairly common problem but as far as I can see they have not come up with a solution.I see other contributors have mentioned whether it is worth using System and Restore but so far no one has given their opinion whether this is a worthwhile option or whether it will do more harm than good.Perhaps someone could start the ball rolling on this opinion or even suggest any other solution to the problem.

grumpycrab

Dean'sDilemma wrote: »

is worth using System and Restore but so far no one has given their opinion whether this is a worthwhile option or whether it will do more harm than good.

Its unlikely to cause any harm. The main problem is you'll probably find its off anyway! See what Restore points you have; any in Dec or Jan would be worth a go (you only lose any programs/updates you've installed since then; data is safe). Have you tried the "create a new local admin account" fix recommended by Microsoft.

EDIT see main thread for a possible fix

grumpycrab

Have you tried a System Restore back to January (** assuming you have System Restore points enabled **)

EDIT: another possible "fix" ...disable fast startup http://www.windows10update.com/2015/05/windows-10-tutorials-66-how-to-enable-or-disable-fast-startup/

Wayne's_Woes

I completed a System Restore and it worked after spending hours trying other suggested solutions.Thank you grumpycap .Cortana and Search the web boxes are back. You need to patient as it took over an hour to complete. The only problem seems to be Open Office is not working I downloaded the new version but for some reason it did not take. Open Office 4.1.1 is still showing in my Control Panel but not on my Desk Top etc. I cannot seem to access it anywhere. How do I get open office back?