Windows 8 start menu unresponsive

This behavior seems to affect all apps. Single-app Freeze -- Your PC exhibits the same behavior as a Generic Freeze, except that it only occurs when running a specific app, such as when playing a game or browsing websites. Please review the sub-category below that most closely matches when your PC experiences a hang.

If the guidance below does not address the issue, please use the guidance under Radom Hang for further recommendations. If you have external devices connected to the PC, try starting the PC with those devices disconnected. Device connection and driver issues can contribute to hangs. If the PC starts successfully without external devices connected, try repeating with more devices connected to identify the specific device or combination of devices that are contributing to the hang.

More information on a specific issue with USB storage devices is provided in the following Knowledge Base article:. Older PCs may hang during startup when Windows 8. The best first action is to update the PC firmware and drivers available from the PC manufacturer. These updates may resolve the issue.

If you are still having a problem after updating all drivers and firmware, you can disable Fast Startup to see if that may be contributing to the issue:. In the Search box, type Power button.

Then, in the search results, tap or click Change what the power buttons do. If the check box in front of Turn on Fast Start up recommended is selected, tap or click on the box to remove the check mark. You may have recently made a change on the PC that may have caused the hang. If so, you can resolve the problem by returning the PC to a previous configuration using System Restore. To learn how to run System Restore, click on the link for your operating system: Windows 7: What are the system recovery options in Windows?

Windows 8. Hangs during shutdown can result from faulty hardware, faulty drivers, or damaged Windows components. To resolve these issues:. Disconnect non-essential hardware, such as USB devices, to see if there is a change that could indicate a device issue. See if the issue also happens in Safe Mode. If not, the problem may be related to installed software. Uninstall software that you are no longer using.

There are also times when you may see a message that something is preventing Windows from shutting down. For more information, see Turn off a computer: frequently asked questions.

Please see the following article for guidance if your computer hangs while installing Windows Updates: Windows Update freezes when you install updates in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista.

Random hangs are often due to damage to the Windows configuration, faulty hardware, or malware. However, because this behavior is random, it can be especially difficult to identify the proper cause. Please review the steps below to help identify the cause and determine the next course of action:. If the system is hanging randomly, it could be caused by damaged system files, software compatibility, or damaged registry files. Try each of the following steps to check if the hang is caused by one of these possibilities.

Corrupt system files can cause Windows Explorer to stop responding. Faulty hardware could be the reason that Windows system files were improperly written to disk, or decayed over time. If you have recently installed an app or driver and find that Windows is now hanging randomly, try removing the recently installed software. If you have a restore point saved before you installed the software, try running System Restore to return the system to a working state: Windows 7: System Restore Windows 8 or Windows 8.

Registry cleaning tools can damage the Windows registry and cause a range of symptoms include random system hangs. For more information, please see the following Knowledge Base: Microsoft support policy for the use of registry cleaning utilities If the registry becomes damaged, it is recommended that you restore Windows to a working state using either System Restore, or Refresh.

In the event that these tools do not resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall Windows. Windows 7: System Restore Windows 8 or Windows 8. If Chkdsk runs while starting Windows, it could be a sign of a hard disk failure. For more information, see the following Knowledge Base article: Check disk Chkdsk runs when you start Windows 8 or Windows 7 Please note that Chkdsk can take a very long time to run.

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That could be caused by something like a 3rd party antivirus or other driver or utility. If needed try the Clean Boot Methods to try to discover the cause :. Autoruns also shows you the full list of Registry and file locations where applications can configure auto-start settings. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each process. Details required : characters remaining Cancel Submit. Was this reply helpful? Yes No. Sorry this didn't help. Thanks for your feedback.

There is no reason for you to stress over an unresponsive Windows Start menu. Try one of the quick fixes above at a time and one of them will surely help.

Most users start with the Restart method, but which fix would you try first? So, you might want to try disabling or reinstalling them. There are ways for fixing it. The method does work for most users. If not, keep going. Restart Instead of turning it off all the way, a restart may also do the trick. Reset Resetting your PC might take a bit more time compared to powering it off or restarting.

Update Windows Lack of updates is probably one of the most common issues that can prevent the Start menu from running as it should. New User Account Another quick fix is to create a completely new user account for Windows. Restart Windows Log into your new user account Tip: After logging in, transfer all the settings and files and change the new user account into your Microsoft account. Reinstall Apps This method might seem a bit more complicated but there is no need to be intimidated.