Start10 menu just went empty

I installed Start10 trial today and it worked fine for a couple of hours. When I right clicked a program icon on the opened menu (to removed it from the recently used programs list), the whole list went empty and seems to stay that way.

The only way to add items to the menu is to pin them, which I don't want.

I used the 'Modern start menu' when I removed the item. If I change it to 'Windows 7' styled, that one is empty, too.

The 'Windows 10 style' start menu has all the items in its list but I don't want to use it because the 'modern' looks much better.

Any ideas how to restore the items?

16,438 views 32 replies
Reply #1 Top

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.

Reply #3 Top

Quoting basj, reply 2

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try the purge and reinstall steps : https://forums.stardock.com/486022/start10-support-faq#reinstalling

Reboot,retest and report back.

Thanks

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant.
End of basj's quote

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?

Reply #4 Top

Please let us know what version of Windows 10 you guys on?

Just for your info I am on Windows 10 V1803 and Start10 V1.6. And my Start10 work fine.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #5 Top

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

 

Reply #6 Top

Quoting basj, reply 4

Please let us know what version of Windows 10 you guys on?

Just for your info I am on Windows 10 V1803 and Start10 V1.6. And my Start10 work fine.
End of basj's quote

I'm using W10 V1803 (Enterprise).

 

Quoting basj, reply 5

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
End of basj's quote

I have the items turned on.

As I previously stated, the menu seems to be working as it should after reinstall. However I feel that the initial bug may still remain (the one that removed all items instead of one).

But anyway thank you for the quick reply on this issue!

Reply #7 Top

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

Reply #8 Top

Quoting kor_, reply 3

I already tried reinstalling and rebooting and the menu seems to be having items added to it as I run applications.
End of kor_'s quote

But did you run the purge (what was sent) - a regular uninstall / reinstall is different.

Reply #10 Top

Quoting ufd108, reply 9

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...
End of ufd108's quote

Nope just tried it few second ago. Its working.

Reply #11 Top

Quoting ufd108, reply 1

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.
End of ufd108's quote

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

Reply #12 Top

Nope.  Just tried it again, using 3 different browsers (Firefox, Chrome, and Edge) in case it is a browser issue.

Reply #13 Top

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

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #14 Top

Try this:
http://sd.stardock.com/Support/uploads/Purge_StartALL.zip

Reply #15 Top

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. 

 

Reply #16 Top

Quoting lezouave, reply 15

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. 

End of lezouave's quote

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. I wish you have started a new thread so we can concentrate on your problem. Anyway, we need more informations. Windows 10 version? Was the problem recently happened and it was fine before? Have your OS recently do a major update? Any recent update on your display drivers? Hardware specifications? Do you have Windowblinds running? And If you have what theme you are using at that moment?

Thanks

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #17 Top

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

Reply #18 Top
Quoting lezouave, reply 17

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

End of lezouave's quote

Can you try the Clean boot steps to iron out any conflicting apps. https://forums.stardock.com/486022/start10-support-faq#cleanboot

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #19 Top

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. 

Reply #20 Top

Quoting lezouave, reply 19

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. 
End of lezouave's quote

Regrettably, it is going to have to be a personal process of elimination (software, services, settings, color schemes) to determine what is causing the issue on your main account.

We would be interested to know what you find the culprit to be.

Reply #21 Top

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?

 

Reply #22 Top

Hello,

We can't give you that since we can't know what is running on your pc. The symptom your mentioned is unique to your system.

You can try the msconfig method to troubleshoot. https://merabheja.com/msconfig-windows-10/

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

 

Reply #23 Top

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'. 

 

Reply #24 Top

Quoting lezouave, reply 23

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.  

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

Start10 is a product used to get people into your "ecosystem" and to sell your other products, and 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. 

 
End of lezouave's quote

Sorry to make you feel that way, Msconfig is something powerful if you know how to used it to help you point out which of the application that load on startup is causing the issue. You mentioned that the problem is not there when you use Start10 on another account. That point out that Start10, by itself,is not the problem.

 

Reply #25 Top

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?