Windows Start button is not working anymore

[Mvdzwan]

Before reporting your issue

• [x] I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• [x] I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• [x] I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

Repro Windows Versions

3rd party tweak software installed

none

Describe the bug

When left clicking Windows Start icon nothing happens. I cant uninstall EP because of an other issue.

Expected outcome

When left clicking Windows Start icon I expect to get the Windows Start menu

Actual outcome

nothing.

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[R3alM0m1X82]

yes i confirm this problem, Windows Start button is not working anymore (Windows is 24H2 26100.6725) ! Please fix.

[mamass]

I confirm the problem, Windows Start menu not appear

[MikeSW17]

Working Ok here. Same EP version, but Windows is 24H2 26100.6725

[pyrates999]

Check what happens when using the console in explorer patcher. Open up the properties application for explorer patcher, go to advanced, and click on enable console. Copy and paste the results here.

[pyrates999]

did you add the exceptions to windows defender that was mentioned here? https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

if you have a third party antivirus, did you add those exceptions to that?

[Mvdzwan]

Yes

Verzonden vanaf Outlook voor Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg

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From: pyrates999 @.> Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2025 6:02:28 PM To: valinet/ExplorerPatcher @.> Cc: Marcel van der Zwan @.>; Author @.> Subject: Re: [valinet/ExplorerPatcher] Windows Start button is not working anymore (Issue #4628)

[https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/106135298?s=20&v=4]pyrates999 left a comment (valinet/ExplorerPatcher#4628)https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/issues/4628#issuecomment-3386192120

did you add the exceptions to windows defender that was mentioned here? https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

if you have a third party antivirus, did you add those exceptions to that?

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/issues/4628#issuecomment-3386192120, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADM4CDJRA4DRGDWCF5G7EDD3W2BJJAVCNFSM6AAAAACIWLA536VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTGOBWGE4TEMJSGA. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: @.***>

[Trevor89]

I too can confirm that after upgrading to latest (and windows update to 26100.6725) the start menu no longer functions (10 or 11 mode) If I uninstall EP, the menu returns. If I reinstall EP the menu fails (xamle sound plays but menu never renders. the notification center also takes a long time to render)

Nothing shows up after the initial debug contents when clicking start. this is all that shows

Running on Windows 11, OS Build 10.0.26100.6725.
Loaded symbols
Setup user32 functions done
CAppResolverCacheBuilder::_AddUserPinnedShortcutToStart() = 4CBFC
Setup explorer functions done
Setup uxtheme functions done
Setup twinui.pcshell functions done
Setup combase functions done
Setup twinui functions done
Setup stobject functions done
Setup bthprops functions done
Setup shell32 functions done
Setup windows.storage functions done
Setup inputswitch functions done
Setup peopleband functions done
Installed hooks.
Open Start on monitor thread
Started "Open Start on current monitor" thread.
EP Service Window thread
Initialized taskbar centering module.
Progman: 525204
Progman hook: 1049765
[Updates] Starting daemon.
[Updates] Configured update policy on this system: "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".
[Updates] Path to module: C:\WINDOWS\dxgi.dll
[Updates] Using hardcoded hash.
[Updates] Checking against hash "26100.4946.69.4.43f8015f040bb7d9"
[Updates] Update URL: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest/download/ep_setup.exe
[Updates] Hash of remote file is "26100.4946.69.4.43f8015f040bb7d9" (valid).
[Updates] Local version obtained from hash is 26100.4946.69.4.
[Updates] No updates are available.
0 0
[EnsureXAML] 281 ms.```

[marcinmajsc]

Same problem but… only on AD profiles. On local profile with local admin privileges this works.

OS: 26200.6718

[pyrates999]

what do you mean AD profiles? is the user a member of the local administrators group? or just a member of the local users group?

[marcinmajsc]

what do you mean AD profiles? is the user a member of the local administrators group? or just a member of the local users group?

AD profiles - accounts from Active Directory.

Same effect with local admin group or user group.

[pyrates999]

For the users with AD profiles that are a member of the local administrators group, you will need to log out and log back in after making them a member of the local administrators group. Did you try reinstalling EP? And see if the start menu works then?

[marcinmajsc]

For the users with AD profiles that are a member of the local administrators group, you will need to log out and log back in after making them a member of the local administrators group. Did you try reinstalling EP? And see if the start menu works then?

Of course, I installed and uninstalled it many times, using different permission settings. I also cleaned the registry.

I even checked it in safe mode. It worked a few times, and a few times it didn't...

[mamass]

I confirm, i'm on AD profiles with Administror right and the start menu not appear

[pyrates999]

wait, how did you clean the registry? That is no longer necessary with windows, and hasn't been for over 2 decades.

[pyrates999]

for the AD profiles who are then a member of the local administrators group, do the following:

1. check that exceptions were added to windows defender or your third party antivirus
2. reinstall explorer patcher from here: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases
3. check that symbols were downloaded: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Symbols
4. set start menu style to windows 10
5. check if you're able to open the start menu and it shows windows 10 style start menu
6. if not, then check what happens when using the console in explorer patcher. Open up the properties application for explorer patcher, go to advanced, and click on enable console. Copy and paste the results here.

One last thing. Test this with an AD profile that has no spaces in the username if you're testing this with a username that has spaces in it.

[TimBenjamin]

I already reported this a couple of weeks ago, there were some suggestions in the thread but nothing that worked (sadly) https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/issues/4607 (and someone closed it as "not planned"!)

[pyrates999]

The last comment indicated it was working when they tested it: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/issues/4607#issuecomment-3383843336

Did you just do a feature update? IE 23h2 to 24h2?

And according to that issue, you seem to be using a third party antivirus named SentinelOne.

I had asked you to post showing the exceptions that were added to SentinelOne.

And to please show the contents of the directory with file extensions turned on: C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher

[mamass]

for all intents and purposes ####################### D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\taskband2\TaskBand.cpp(7377)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB4400E1A1: (caller: 00007FFB44008D93) ReturnHr(1) tid(ba8c) 80073B1F ResourceMap introuvable. D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\taskband2\TaskBand.cpp(5387)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB44008DAF: (caller: 00007FFB440011E9) LogHr(1) tid(ba8c) 80073B1F ResourceMap introuvable. D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\TrayUI.cpp(6304)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB43FC4A4F: (caller: 00007FFB43FBA863) LogHr(2) tid(ba8c) 80004005 Erreur non spÚcifiÚe Setup pnidui functions done D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\TrayItem.cpp(339)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB43F9C4AB: (caller: 00007FFB43F9DB80) ReturnHr(2) tid(ba8c) 80004005 Erreur non spÚcifiÚe #######################

I don't have D: partition I have make exclusion ON SentinelOne I have remove and reinstall The Start Menu still no show While waiting, i make right clic and search

[pyrates999]

for all intents and purposes ####################### D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\taskband2\TaskBand.cpp(7377)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB4400E1A1: (caller: 00007FFB44008D93) ReturnHr(1) tid(ba8c) 80073B1F ResourceMap introuvable. D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\taskband2\TaskBand.cpp(5387)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB44008DAF: (caller: 00007FFB440011E9) LogHr(1) tid(ba8c) 80073B1F ResourceMap introuvable. D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\TrayUI.cpp(6304)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB43FC4A4F: (caller: 00007FFB43FBA863) LogHr(2) tid(ba8c) 80004005 Erreur non spÚcifiÚe Setup pnidui functions done D:\a\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\ep_taskbar\shell\explorer\TrayItem.cpp(339)\ep_taskbar.5.dll!00007FFB43F9C4AB: (caller: 00007FFB43F9DB80) ReturnHr(2) tid(ba8c) 80004005 Erreur non spÚcifiÚe #######################

I don't have D: partition I have make exclusion ON SentinelOne I have remove and reinstall The Start Menu still no show While waiting, i make right clic and search

Please show the exceptions that were added to SentinelOne.

Please show the contents of the directory with file extensions turned on: C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher

[TimBenjamin]

(NB, I am not @mamass, but replying to your questions about the closed issue that seems very similar to this one!)

• SentinelOne: does not have exception lists. It scans everything and if it doesn't like something, it flags it and you are required to elevate to Administrator to permit (which I did). In fact it doesn't seem to have any problem with ExplorerPatcher other than requiring elevation for ep_setup.exe, which of course I provided.
• C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher contents are below.

Directory: C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher


Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
d-----        06/10/2025     09:39                en-GB
d-----        06/10/2025     09:39                en-US
d-----        06/10/2025     09:39                pris
d-----        06/10/2025     09:39                StartUI
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         115200 ep_dwm_svc.exe
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         816128 ep_gui.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:30       12009472 ep_setup.exe
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39        2476544 ep_taskbar.5.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         248320 ep_weather_host.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         109568 ep_weather_host_stub.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         623104 ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         173056 ExplorerPatcher.IA-32.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39        2138112 pnidui.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39         159336 WebView2Loader.dll
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39        2967344 Windows.UI.ShellCommon.pri

Also in case it's relevant, StartUI contains only a directory Assets which contains:

Directory: C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\StartUI\Assets


Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
d-----        06/10/2025     09:39                Fonts
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39           7723 officehub150x150.png
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39           4827 officehub71x71.png
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39           5446 onenote150x150.png
-a----        06/10/2025     09:39           3550 onenote71x71.png

[pyrates999]

EP does not work properly unless you can add exceptions to windows defender or the third party antivirus, which in your case is SentinelOne. When you add the exceptions to it, please post it here.

Otherwise I'm unable to help you and this issue should be closed as won't fix.

SentinelOne does support path and file exclusions: https://www.cybervigilance.uk/insights/sentinelone-path-exclusion

So you have no excuse now not to add them.

[Mvdzwan]

I also have SentinelOne. But EP is added to the exclusion list other wise i was not able to install it.

[mamass]

@pyrates999 I confirm SentinelOne effect. WIthout SentinelOne Agent Start menu is OK I add the following exceptions and everything seems OK

[pyrates999]

You need to add all the exclusions/exceptions. It seems they were removed from the release notes on the current release: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/tag/26100.4946.69.4_f5eddac. So here they are:

If you are running windows defender, you don't have to add any exceptions/exclusions.

If you are running a third party antivirus, you must add the following exclusions/exceptions to it instead:

C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher
C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy

For every user that is a member of the administrators group, you must add this as an exclusions/exceptions:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher

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So for those running SentinelOne, add the exclusions to it and your windows 10 start menu will work again as this comment indicated:

@pyrates999 I confirm SentinelOne effect. WIthout SentinelOne Agent Start menu is OK I add the following exceptions and everything seems OK

[Mvdzwan]

I have added the exclusions but the Windows start button is stil not working. Also when i press the Windows key on my keyboard nothing happens.

[pyrates999]

I have added the exclusions but the Windows start button is stil not working. Also when i press the Windows key on my keyboard nothing happens.

Show the exceptions/exclusions in SentinelOne.

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After that, check what happens when using the console in explorer patcher. Open up the properties application for explorer patcher, go to advanced, and click on enable console. Copy and paste the results here.

[Mvdzwan]

Unfortunatly i cant provide u this because i dont have admin rights to sentinalone.

[pyrates999]

Unfortunatly i cant provide u this because i dont have admin rights to sentinalone.

You need to be a member of the local administrators group in order to use EP.

[Mvdzwan]

Unfortunatly i cant provide u this because i dont have admin rights to sentinalone.

You need to be a member of the local administrators group in order to use EP.

I am local admin but SentinalOne is controlled by my IT supplier.

[pyrates999]

Then I can't verify you added the exclusions needed for EP. EP start menu won't work without the exclusions added as SentinelOne is blocking it from working.