Issue with 8.1 start menu or side bar functionality not responding.
Issue with 8.1 start menu or side bar functionality not responding.
Hey, I've had similar trouble with Windows 8.1 after setting up my PC. The start menu would sometimes disappear completely when I clicked the Start button, and the right-click functionality didn't work properly either. The sidebar wouldn't show up at all. I've tried several reformats for different reasons, but it hasn't resolved the problem. The only solution that helped was closing exploxer.exe in Task Manager, then restarting the computer again, or right-clicking Explorer and restarting. It's unclear what's causing this issue—was it a glitch specific to 8.1? Let me know if others have faced the same thing.
Windows 8 lacks a traditional start menu. If you altered settings using tweaks, registry tools, or changed files, we won’t be able to assist. It might also stem from a software that installs itself without proper checks. I recommend a clean install of Windows 8 and avoid adding extra programs except your drivers. If you have custom drivers, skip them. The issue likely arises because the system mistakenly assumes you're running an older version like Windows XP, which doesn't recognize Explorer's embedded Internet Explorer (since Vista). These applications often rely on outdated logic that fails when the OS version changes.
Refers to the application interface or main screen. The drivers I receive are always simple, and even after a clean setup with only essential components (LAN, graphics, audio) it doesn’t fix the issue. Initially suspected foobar because it sometimes appeared when opening that program, though not consistently. A fresh install without additional software didn’t resolve the problem. Used CCleaner and a registry cleaner as I’ve done repeatedly, but again, no changes on a brand-new Windows installation.
Start Screen. Got it. I ran several tests on my sides after reading your issue. Even keeping my computer running for days without a reboot (even with pending updates) to check for signs, nothing happened. But I remember from Windows Vista and 7 days that a firewall program combined with my mouse driver caused problems. When the firewall window was open, the mouse couldn’t interact with it, and the Start Menu button on the taskbar didn’t work—though the Windows key on the keyboard did. The solution was to disable either one. I removed the firewall because Windows has a solid built-in version since Vista. For testing, I’d recommend uninstalling your mouse and keyboard drivers just to see if the issue resolves. I’m wondering if something unusual is happening.