Windows 10 Start & Cortana critical error issue?

[Para-Noid]

It seems to me the culprit is Cortana. IMHO Cortana is something that is totally not necessary and Microsoft should dump it.

[REDACTED]

The main problem might be that the entire so called "modern apps" environment in some  cases can't be properly initialized or crashes. I would say that errors regarding Cortana and Start menu are nothing but "side effect".

[REDACTED]

I don't wish to argue with anybody who is responsible about this issue, but:
- fact - with the avast av I have the issue, w\o - haven't!
- it isn't interesting how or why, as user (in case of Avast & Microsoft) what is important for me is WORKING SYSTEM!
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Frankly, the MS isn't the big losing of this
May be MS is responsible, there is such possibility for sure!
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I wish successful resolution of this matter!

[REDACTED]

I also just installed Avast Business and immediately had this Start Menu Critical Error failure appear .
I can reboot and it will work for a while but next reboot it fails again.

Note: Please don't reply or give opinion if you are NOT running Windows 10. it's not helpful.

many reports of this found in Google. the solution is usually removing Avast. anyone found a different specific fix to make Avast stable on Win 10?

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about:
« Reply #18 on: Today at 07:21:41 PM »
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Unfortunately it's "definitely" not "usually"!
For now I don't know any kind of "work-around". And more, the time spending for pointless searching
is much more expensive than the particular av-software
There other AVs working fine with w10! In yours case "Avast Business" it means some money
But as i said above, time & security are most important, so find another way!
Obviously AVAST trying to prove that the cause is in MS (it's their right & business:)
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I wish you success

[bob3160]

You'll find the answer at:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=176180.msg1250122#msg1250122

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I'm having the same issue. It started with the free version of Avast!. Now that I've purchased the Avast! Internet Security, it will give me the Critical Error each time. If I remove Avast!, then it works fine.

I was an Win 8 -> Win 8.1 -> Win 10 upgrade process.

[bob3160]

I'm having the same issue. It started with the free version of Avast!. Now that I've purchased the Avast! Internet Security, it will give me the Critical Error each time. If I remove Avast!, then it works fine.

I was an Win 8 -> Win 8.1 -> Win 10 upgrade process.

Did you follow the directions already outline here:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=176180.msg1250122#msg1250122

[Bowdon]

This is a Win10 error.

Create a task and run as admin to reboot in safe mode.

Then when its in safemode untick 'boot to safe mode'.. then reboot normally and the error should be gone.

Win10 seems to have a lot of little bugs like this.

[LesF]

It seems to me the culprit is Cortana. IMHO Cortana is something that is totally not necessary and Microsoft should dump it.

You think its bad for you?  I can't even run Cortana here,  as it is not enabled in my country, and yet Cortana still crashes many crucial parts of my O/S and/or desktop.  When I am not using it.  WTF and stuff.

[REDACTED]

I get the same error "start menu and Cortana cannot start" from time to time.

Some may blame 3rd party Antivirus for causing the trouble. I wouldn't be so bold to claim what was NOT proven but, nonetheless, it gave me the clue.

Solution:
1) Start your computer as usual
2) Go have dinner, a jog, a shower... stay away from the computer for as long as you could afford. Allow whatever malicious tasks running in the background to complete. 
3) Login, preferably, when the busy hard-disk LED stops blinking

[bob3160]

I get the same error "start menu and Cortana cannot start" from time to time.

Some may blame 3rd party Antivirus for causing the trouble. I wouldn't be so bold to claim what was NOT proven but, nonetheless, it gave me the clue.

Solution:
1) Start your computer as usual
2) Go have dinner, a jog, a shower... stay away from the computer for as long as you could afford. Allow whatever malicious tasks running in the background to complete. 
3) Login, preferably, when the busy hard-disk LED stops blinking

The actual cure as found on the Microsoft help forum states to simply boot into Safe Mode with Networking
Once in Safe Mode, reboot into Regular Mode and the problem will be history.

[pcguy]

 Booting into Safe Mode and then back into normal mode is NOT the end all fix to this problem! It does not always work.

[Lisandro]

Booting into Safe Mode and then back into normal mode is NOT the end all fix to this problem! It does not always work.

Are you using the latest Windows 10 version and Avast too?
This was an issue in early releases, not anymore...

[REDACTED]

It's still a problem with everything up to date.  Everything on my computer is updated to the most recent versions...Windows 10 and the newest Avast Internet Security.  I experienced the "Start/Cortana" critical error this morning.  This is the third time this error has happened on this computer since the upgrade to Windows 10 a couple of months ago. 

Looking at the Microsoft boards, I don't think this is an Avast! issue, but it happens to Avast! users as well a  lot of others.  I probably jumped the gun upgrading the operating system.  I broke my rule of waiting until the 1st service patch, but as annoying as it is, I can deal with it.

As others have said, the Safe Mode restart method does not always work.  I've ended up just trying different things until I find something that actually does work for the current problem.

Like others, I am hoping a patch is found soon to put the problem "in the rear view mirror".