valinet
StartMenu not loading in 25H2
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
ExplorerPatcher 26100.4946.69.6
Repro Windows Versions
Windows 11 25H2 (OS Build 26200.7171)
3rd party tweak software installed
None
Describe the bug
Hi,
i have an issue with explorer patching after the last windows updates. Windows started, but without the Startmenu and Taskbar. I got this error:
Faulting application name: StartMenuExperienceHost.exe, version: 10.0.26100.7019, time stamp: 0xa6258ab3 Faulting module name: StartDocked.dll, version: 10.0.26100.7171, time stamp: 0xe800acd1 Exception code: 0xc0000409 Fault offset: 0x00000000000ff02d Faulting process id: 0x7B5C Faulting application start time: 0x1DC5D702B5A1901 Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartDocked.dll Report Id: 01df52b4-b2da-4708-bc8a-beafe5f4600c Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_10.0.26100.4768_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy Faulting package-relative application ID: FullTrustApp
I started the gui tool using this command:
rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_gui.dll",ZZGUI
and tried to "Restore default settings". I got an error with that there was an issue due to permissions, but it seemed to reset most of the stuff. But the taskbar didn't show up afterwards.
It only started to work when i change the taskbar to "Windows 10 (Explorer Patcher)". Then the taskbar was visible, but no windows were showing in the taskbar.
For this is also needed to switch to the windows 10 start menu style.
When i uninstall explorer patcher the error, that the startmenuexperiencehost can not start, appears again.
I tried things like sfc /scan and dism restore health and
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
I have symbols download enabled at the advanced section (was never disabled) and register as shell extensions at file explorer is also disabled.
Expected outcome
Startmenuexperiencehost not crashing when using windows 11 style
Actual outcome
Startmenuexperiencehost crashing when using windows 11 style
Additional info
No response
Crash Dumps
No response
Media
No response
Uninstall EP and see if it is still happening.
If it is still happening, you may need to repair your windows install. Please run the following in an elevated command prompt (right click on command prompt icon and select run as administrator) or elevated powershell (right click on powershell icon and select run as administrator):
chkdsk C:
If it tells you there are errors, then run this:
chkdsk C: /F
Reboot to run it on boot. Keep running that command until it reports no errors. Then run this to repair windows:
sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /analyzecomponentstore
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
then run this until it reports no errors:
sfc /scannow
Then reboot your computer.
@aaronegger Try removing the files named wincorlib from the StartMenuExperienceHost folder and see if that fixes the 11 Start Menu
Noticed the same issue on my end as of today, unsure caused it. Everything was smooth for the last couple months.
Issue As soon as you attempt to open the start menu with the windows 11 style a crash dump is generated.
Observed system changes
All I can see in my windows update logs between today and yesterday is Microsoft Defender Antivirus - KB2267602 (Version 1.441.775.0).
Versions
Windows is on 25H2 (build 26200.7171) since 21/11/2025.
StartDocked.dll is on version 10.0.26100.7171
StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is on version 10.0.26100.7019
EP on 26100.4946.69.6
Attempted steps to resolve the issue
- Ensured windows defender exclusions were set correctly.
- Reviewed defender protection history (was empty)
- Reinstalled explorer patcher
- Removing
wincorlib.dllfromC:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
Debug
Exported the 5 generated event log entries and the generated .wer files and a crash dump (.dmp).
debug.zip
follow the steps here if you are having issues with uninstalling EP: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/issues/3955#issuecomment-2492975622
follow the steps here if you are having issues with uninstalling EP: #3955 (comment)
Files under that path had already been removed, the registry entry for the settings stil exists but I doubt that's being used.
side note: I'm not trying to remove EP, just trying to get the win 11 start menu working again. Once that's back I'll attempt re-installing EP again, bet it'll work at that point.
Surprisingly running these two didn't bring the original task bar & start menu back either
sfc /scannow
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage
Noticed I'm able to update from windows build 26200.7171 to the new december 26200.7309 build. If that fails too I suppose I'll attempt an in place upgrade from iso next.
do you have any third party applications installed that modify the UI?
Nah, just used to have EP, update didn't bring the taskbar back, suppose I'll try an in place update next, I'd be very surprised if that won't resolve it. Still no idea what caused the wheels to fly off over night though.
Edit; maybe windows powertoys could do something actually.