Solved "Critical Error: Start menu isn't working"

[Nurse2Nutz]

Hi Guys, I'm very new to technology. I did read the threads on Start menus and understood minimally. I have an aging laptop that acquired so many viruses that a total scrub and factory reset (back to windows 7) was the only thing that would fix it (the tech at the store said), it also has blotches on screen that blockout words/icons at top left corner. New laptop bought but I wanted to use old one for internet having a habit of acquiring viruses. I somehow gained access to the control menu with lots of tick boxes, and stupidly changed some. After some changes I thought oops and attempted to undo my changes, and so hit "Return to default settings". Laptop froze, so in a panic I turned it off. When I turned it on, screen was blank except for message popup: Critical Error.Your start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" I signed out. then login. Same thing. I have obtained the desktop and even got a list of drivers for information on device for registration but I don't know what I'm looking at for those fields. Main screen says windows 7 but a new label on its back says windows 8. I 'could use pc but the "critical error" flag remains on screen.
My knowledge of computing would fit on a Chiclet with room to spare. Can you help?

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

I realize I have ticked off or added something. would upgrading to windows 10 solve this?
I haven't figured that part either. There must be a simpler way to fix this than paying $80/hr to a store technician.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

That error message, from what i can find and I've not heard of it before (W7), relates to Windows 10.



Can you confirm - im confused
1 are we talking about the Toshiba laptop or the old one Make/Model please
2 who installed W7 - old or new computer
3 when you hit Restore to default values was the screen ONLY black and white
4 Which OS do you WANT to run, 7/8.1/10, old and new comps


Re the above
1 Laptop came with 8.1, you can STILL upgrade to W10 for FREE, (can post instructions)
3 If Black and White thats the BIOS NOT the OS which comp


All the above can be done for FREE

Roy

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

Thank you Roy. After posting thread I found the control panel by poking around (that's probably what caused this mess). Yes it's the old model Toshiba. I took Toshiba into a " big box store" ( I don't think I'm allowed to say their name ) after last crash. They said they couldn't fix it b/c there was a virus that blocked their removal software and so scrubbed it clean. When I got it back it had W7. I have initiated a System restore to get the Start menu back. Currently, it says it is "restoring the registry". Though I have a new laptop, I wanted to get Toshiba up to speed to use elsewhere in the house and leave the new one where I won't drop it (done that before too). What's a BIOS? Instructions to upgrade to W10 would be most welcome.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

Not entirely sure what/why the Big box store did a downgrade from 8 >> 7

If it came back from them in its current condition then id take it back and tell them whatever they did failed


Anyway brings us back to what YOU want. Either way i'd opt for a clean install
note if you do all the Toshiba bloatware will be gone.

Transfer any data you want to keep to an external device.

W7 instructions

Clean Install Windows 7

W10

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free | Tutorials


Bios is basically a list of the options that tell the computer what to do to setup the operating system (W7 etc),


Roy

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

Hi, After their first "scrubbing " of the laptop, I discovered I had splotches covering key areas, top left corner. They claimed it was a sign my laptop was failing. A tech friend said it may have been caused by something heavy put on top of it and for me to investigate changing the screen. I returned, whined and eventually obtain enough credit to warrant buying my current Acer Aspire 5. I had tried to run w10 on the Toshiba but was having problems, so told them to make it clean again thinking my less-than-me-knowledgeable-sister could play with it.
Toshiba has finished its system restore to the date they returned it to me. Start menu still does not function but the error message does not come on. I have no data on it, they transferred everything I wanted to keep to the new laptop. After all that, I found this site and wonder if I would have learned more by keeping it. Well sis won't get it until I've done learning with it.

Which also brings me back to current state. Allow me (though it sounds redundant) to clarify: Install W7 and THEN do the upgrade?

Richard

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

What country is the red cross on white background? Just being nosy.
Before I embark on this quest : Thank you Roy for your patience and help. I had tried other forums but got lost in the hoops required to access them and gave up on them.
When I move up to W10 I look forward to joining that forum, maybe they have a simple English version as I've seen mostly jargon used which prompts me to get a "windows to English" dictionary.

Richard
Your instructions are being read on a separate laptop. do I need to come back here to access above links?

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

Mark this thread as solved as I go to the W10 forum to read their info

Hi, When Toshiba laptop finished its system restore and start menu button still does not function I was ready to clean install W7 as suggested. So I read the instructions which recommends making a copy of drivers, which sent me on a search for where to find them to copy. No response in the bottom left "Type here to search" won't let me type anything. I can access Control Panel from desktop, thus I find "Basic information.." and here it becomes more confusing , when I started this thread I could only find references to W7 but on this page it says I have " W10 Home" installed. I see now why technicians run for cover when I come back to report. Even now when I go to "System and Security" under Backup and restore it says (Windows 7) which is why I assumed that's what I have. So, if I had hit that line, would I have installed W7? Fortunately, I tried the system restore option first.
Thus Roy, I'm almost back to square one, except now I've found these forums, and will zip over to W10 to look for a fix there.


Thank you Roy, Thank you for your help.
Richard

 

[Nurse2Nutz]

Mark this thread as solved as I go to the W10 forum to read their info

Hi, I went back to Forum rules. They don't forbid name of store (Staples), (I doubt anyone outside of Canada has heard of it anyway).
When the Toshiba laptop finished its system restore and start menu button still does not function I was ready to clean install W7 as suggested. So I read the instructions for that and it recommends making a copy of drivers, which sent me on a search for where to find "drivers" to copy. No response in the bottom left corner beside the logo ,the "Type here to search" won't let me type anything.
But I can access Control Panel from desktop, through this I find "Basic information.." it says I have " W10 Home" installed, and this makes me more confused. when I started this thread I could only find references to W7 (because in the list of options under "System and Security" under Backup and Restore it says (Windows 7))which is why I assumed that's what I have.
I tried to find that page again and have lost it.Here I stopped. One page says I have W10 and the main page says it will restore to W7.I see now why technicians run for cover when I come back to report.
So, if I had hit that line, would I have installed W7? Fortunately, I tried the system restore option first.
Thus Roy, I'm almost back to square one, except now I've found these forums, and will zip over to W10 to look for a fix there. Now can you tell me where the button that brings back the default settings and if there's a book (with pictures) that explains this so I don't waste your time.


Thank you Roy, Thank you for your help.
Richard

 

[RoWin7]

System Restore doesn't install the previous system. It reverts your system files back to what they looked like before the last Restore. If this is your first Restore, then it reverts to the settings after your OS installation.

Win10 has its own website, which is why you're finding info only on 7 here.
Windows 10 Help Forums
Tutorials for 10: Windows 10 Tutorials

There are books, although I haven't used one recently. I especially liked the series called "Easy[name of OS]" and "Easy [Program name]" because of the good photos and diagrams.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=que+publishing+windows+10&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss
Bookstores carry them too.

There's also help right on your OS by hitting F1 and typing in your keywords. Microsoft has help on their site. And of course, the ever-popular tenforums.com

A tip: after you get this sorted out, don't use the tech support offered by BestBuy or Staples anymore. I used to go to customers' homes to straighten out the mess they had made.