After installing update KB3201845, Windows Start menu and default Windows apps don't launch anymore

Hi Jan,

To address your concern, we suggest that you try the following methods and see if it helps you resolve the issue.

Method 1: Run the Windows app troubleshooter.

• Please click on this link to download and run the troubleshooter

Method 2: Run the System Update Readiness tool.

• Please click on this link for steps on how to run the tool.

Method 3: Run the System File Checker tool.

• Run the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. Please click on this link to run the tool.

Let us know how it goes.

Hi Mark,

Thank you very much for answering so quickly. I've decided to disable the automatic updates and wait for next patch thuesday that will be within three days from now. Hopely installing then first KB3201845 and thereafter the patchupdates will make a difference and let all apps neathly working again.   

If this not works I will try your methods to see if they cure the problems. Anyway I will let you know how this works out.

Yes, I know that disabling the automatic updates for a long time is not recommanded but I think a few days will not cause much harm.  

I've tried method

"sfc /scannow"

reported couple of problems ... I even try to fresh install, it fails with the similar error also ... Conclusion, problem persists!

I revert back to Simplified Chinese locale mode (my default Windows 10 installation setting) from US English (MS Visual Studio Community Edition 14.0 installer complains about locale issue).

Hope this additional information helps.

Some advice to Microsoft, I'm okay with the idea of force update, but please push the update to us when yourself is confidence enough, don't push a bomb to us ... we paid for the software, we are not Google Beta testers.

OK, this morning I installed KB3206632. The installation went smoothly and after that the login screen was presented. However, after typing my password the circling balls started and they never stopped. After half an hour I decided to reboot my PC and now, after typing my password, my desktop appeared and I was able to start programs. (I remember now that this happened the same way with KB3201845).

However, again, the start menu does not react on clicking and all windows apps like Search, Store, OneDrive, Edge, System Settings, that are pinned at the taskbar opens shortly and close than inmediately. 

As the search app also does not work I cannot even run a command prompt to give your fixes a try.

So the main problem is that logging in after the updates results in a system hangup. Hopely this is a known problem and can be fixed. If not, I will disable the automatic updating again and have to wait for the Redstone 2 update that is expected to be available in early march 2017 and hopely will install an entire new system without these flaws.

This morning I manually installed cumulative update KB3213522 and hoped that it would repair the problems. The login went without any problems so I was hopeful that the problems were fixed. 

However also this one left me with a Start that not responded to my left mouse clicks. So the Start Menu does not show and as a result I cannot run any System app, also including the Settings app. The System apps that I have pinnend on my task bar open very shortly and close immediately.

This all started with KB3201845 and searching the Internet I learned that lots of people are suffering from the same problem. Also the fact that 17 people reacted on my initial post having this same problem tells me that this is a problem with the update mechanism and Miscrosoft should investigate this seriously and come up with a solution!    

In order to be able to use my PC without a problem I restored the situation as it was before KB3201845 and disabled the automatic updates again. So, no more updates for me, I will wait for the big Redstone 2 update in march that hopefully will install a complete new Windows 10 without this flaws on my system.