I am having the same, or a similar, problem.  The main Start10 window is blank, although if I randomly click the shortcuts are actually there; they are just not visible.

Hi.

I already tried reinstalling and rebooting and the menu seems to be having items added to it as I run applications.

However I think it was a bug when I removed one item, it removed all items from the menu?

And please check, you might just accidentally turn off "The Recent items and frequent places" here a link where show us the step to turn it on or off.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3469-turn-off-recent-items-frequent-places-windows-10-a.html

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Could you try the "sfc /scannow on elevated command prompt" To check if there some corrupt files in your system.

Here a link on how to do it. https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

I would but the link you gave says to download a batch file at http://sd.stardock.com/zubaz/apps/Purge_StartALL.bat but that link is broken, or your server is down...

But, looking at your issue I think you have different problem. But you can try the purge and reinstall solution first.

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Something is blocking it on your system. Pls check your security settings.

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

I am having the same issue.

The icons are there, but not visible. 

I can reproduce it by moving an icon up or down, so it occupies a different 'slot'.  After that is done, the menu appears to be blank, though it is in fact populated with invisible icons and filenames. 

I have followed each step given in https://forums.stardock.com/486022/start10-support-faq#reinstalling meticulously, and the problem remains.

• I have run Purge_StartALL.bat with elevated permissions.
• Restarted
• Installed Start10 1.6 
• Restarted
• Problem remains  
• execute sfc /scannow 
• Problem remains. 

I tried reproducing the issue in a new admin account on this machine, and could not reproduce, but this does not inform my troubleshooting. There are very few files in the Start10 menu in the new account. 

Was the problem recently happened and it was fine before?

I started noticing this a few weeks ago, but did not note the date. 

Have your OS recently do a major update?

Windows  10 1803 installed on 5/18 

Hardware specifications
Gigabyte GA-Z77-UD5H, CPU i7-3770k, 16 gb ram; 
2560x1600 Dell 3007wfp; Nvidia GTX 750 Ti;  

Any recent update on your display drivers? 

Nvidia driver vers 388.13 was running. 398.11 was available, so I updated and tested. No change

Do you have Windowblinds running? And If you have what theme you are using at that moment? 

No Windowblinds. 

Thanks

As I said in my first post, I was not able to reproduce the problem in a new Windows admin account created for this purpose, and following the instructions given. 

I understand that, but can't you give the most minute idea as to the type of service or application that would cause this based on previous reports? 

For example, I reported that the problem can be reproduced by moving an icon to a different spot in the menu. What does that function depend on or trigger?

I'm sure you do not understand the process of using msconfig to selectively eliminate running services, and I imagine you did not read the entire page you linked to, since it does not provide any "method". It simply explains what the elements in the interface do, which in my case is unnecessary.

There is no practical way to sort items in the msconfig interface according to when they were last enabled, which makes the process extremely tedious.

Also, you misinterpreted my question. I did not ask you to predict anything about what might be running in my system. Other users have posted the same problem, and they have either solved it, or they gave up and choose to live with the issue, or to not use your product.  For users who succeeded in fixing the problem with your help, you have the information about what the interfering process was, but either you do not have access to it, or you choose not to share the info. 

This is not a viable type of support, and has been an exercise in time-wasting.

Maybe Start10 is a product used to get people into your "ecosystem" and to sell other products. But the support you offer for this is not sufficient. The low price of the program does not justify such a laissez-faire approach to support, and has taught me, at least, that I should set my expectations regarding support for products you sell at the lowest possible rung of the customer support 'ladder'. 

I do not agree that a short test in a new account is sufficient. If the problem arises due, for example, to the number of items in the menu, or if it's due to a specific configuration, then testing in this manner will not reveal the problem.

But you say that msconfig is a good tool to use for this purpose, so what is your workflow in msconfig for this?