windows 10+Avast = unpleasant user experience

[lakrsrool]

Wow, another off topic novel.

Wow, I'm at a loss as to why you continue to express so much rancor towards me.  That said, as to you're "off topic" characterization, you might go back to my post and notice (if you read more carefully) that I was responding specifically to ONLY this extracted part of Dijenga's post.

For the 2 months I was without Avast, I used Windows Defender ... no problem, but prefer having the option of a boot time scan, unavailable anywhere else.

I've been looking at Vipre if this problem isn't addressed and fixed. Haven't read anything about their having problems with Windows 10.

So Bob, you do see the context, right? You'll notice the references to these two other AV competitors.  So how is my post "OFF TOPIC"?  I see no problem offering an opinion that might be helpful regarding what was posted, DO YOU?.  And I would add that pointing out how well Avast is rated by comparison should be something you of all people would appreciate.

With that out of the way, I try to be as understanding as the next guy, but you are habitually referring to the term "novel" regarding my posts, yet just in this topic alone you have replied to a post by SugarD-x that had 565 words as opposed to my post with 301 words.  You might also notice that there were two other posts with 189 and 220 words that you've replied to as well.  Let me be clear these longer posts do not bother me at all, however it appears that for some reason mine certainly do uniquely bother you.  Btw, who made you the word-count monitor anyway?    (just a bit of humor Bob) 

Bob, do you think maybe we could have a little more comity between us if possible as opposed to the apparent animus you frequently express towards me?

I want you to know that I always do appreciate very much your helpful comments and I would like to say that it would be nice if we could keep it that way and perhaps you could please refrain from the repeated inexplicable expressions of hostility towards me if at all possible, what do you think Bob?

[REDACTED]

I was bit with the "Critical Error: Start Menu and Cortana failed to start" this morning.  Uninstalling Avast got me back in operation.  I'll be running Windows Defender as much as I dislike it until this is sorted out.  I've seen where Avast apparently believes the issue is on the the Windows 10 side, but around 90% of the posts I read when troubleshooting the issue mentioned Avast by name so it appears to be some conflict between the two.  It would be nice for Avast to have a 90% market share, but I know that is not the case.

Just as background, I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to friends and family.  I have carried three licenses to Avast Internet Security with licenses on auto-renewal (I have over two years to run on the current licenses) and have Avast Mobile (great app) loaded on our Android devices.  I'm pulling for Avast to work with Microsoft to get this sorted out, but for now regrettably, I'll drop back to something else until the issue is corrected.

The computer currently affected is a Windows 10 recently upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium.  It ran flawlessly until this morning.  I'm running and I7 processor and am 64bit.

[bob3160]

I was bit with the "Critical Error: Start Menu and Cortana failed to start" this morning.  Uninstalling Avast got me back in operation.  I'll be running Windows Defender as much as I dislike it until this is sorted out.  I've seen where Avast apparently believes the issue is on the the Windows 10 side, but around 90% of the posts I read when troubleshooting the issue mentioned Avast by name so it appears to be some conflict between the two.  It would be nice for Avast to have a 90% market share, but I know that is not the case.

Just as background, I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to friends and family.  I have carried three licenses to Avast Internet Security with licenses on auto-renewal (I have over two years to run on the current licenses) and have Avast Mobile (great app) loaded on our Android devices.  I'm pulling for Avast to work with Microsoft to get this sorted out, but for now regrettably, I'll drop back to something else until the issue is corrected.

The computer currently affected is a Windows 10 recently upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium.  It ran flawlessly until this morning.  I'm running and I7 processor and am 64bit.

How did you remove Avast

[essexboy]

The computer currently affected is a Windows 10 recently upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium.  It ran flawlessly until this morning.  I'm running and I7 processor and am 64bit.

How long was it running without problems ?

[REDACTED]

How to uninstall Avast! is a great question!

I initially tried the usual method from the Windows 10 icon on the lower left hand side of the screen ignoring Windows 10's offer to retry (for about the 5th time).  That did not work (assuming that is tied to the Start menu error).  I have RevoUninstaller loaded on my computer as well.  Opening RevoUninstaller and the clicking the Avast! icon got me to the Avast! Uninstall/Repair menu.  I don't know what I would have done after that other than maybe make this my 3rd Linux computer.     Seriously, I would have been back for more research.

[lakrsrool]

How to uninstall Avast! is a great question!

I initially tried the usual method from the Windows 10 icon on the lower left hand side of the screen ignoring Windows 10's offer to retry (for about the 5th time).  That did not work (assuming that is tied to the Start menu error).  I have RevoUninstaller loaded on my computer as well.  Opening RevoUninstaller and the clicking the Avast! icon got me to the Avast! Uninstall/Repair menu.  I don't know what I would have done after that other than maybe make this my 3rd Linux computer.     Seriously, I would have been back for more research.

Have you tried uninstalling avast using this tool: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html

If you're using the Home version, reinstall avast from here: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

[lukor]

Hello Guys,
we are monitoring this issue ("Cortana or start menu not working") and are talking with Microsoft about this. Currently we all believe it is a problem (or several issues) in Windows and Microsoft is trying to fix this.

One of the attempts to fix this can be in the following update: KB3105210
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3105210

The list of changes mentions start menu and cortana reliability fixes.

Another attempt to fix this can be expected from the upcoming TH2 release of Windows 10. Please try the latest build from the Windows 10 Insider Program. If anyone is experiencing the same issue with the latest Insider build, please let us know (e.g. post here or write to me directly). We would like to escalate the issue again, if it is not fixed in TH2 Windows 10 Release.

Thanks a lot.

What we've also seen is that a restart or a few restarts resolves the issue with startmenu not opening. (restarting is also part of the Avast uninstallation, but you can restart without uninstalling as well).

Lukas.

[REDACTED]

How did you remove Avast

No, reboot into safe mode when uninstaling isn't the only thing that makes PCs without Avast to run without issues. ;-) Tested. Maybe it's Microsoft's fault, but some AVs like Avira free seems to be able to "fix" it..

[Dijenga]

1. You didn't speak to Avast but to a "tech" at a third party support group that didn't know anything except what's written in his cheat book.

So, are you telling me that they were lying when they said there isn't a problem, or was Avast lying when they gave me a number to call their tech support?

Regardless, I've been lied to. Continuing to use this defective product violates two very important principles:

• Never Lie To Someone Who Trusts You.
• Never Trust Someone Who Has Lied To You.

2. The problem happens on computers that have never had Avast installed on their systems. It's a Windows 10 Problem.

I was an early adopter of windows 8. First thing I did was install Avast. Never a hiccup. In fact, I've run it on Windows 7, Vi$ta, XP, 2000 and an old windows 98 computer without problems. Avast was installed on this computer BEFORE I did the Windows 10 upgrade. Never before had a problem.

3. I've not had the problem again in the current Preview Builds. (I'm currently using 10576)

Good for you. However, it does not address the lies of Avast or the lack of a solution.

4. Using the Avast removal tool (aswclear) reboots your system into Safe Mode (with networking) and therefore utilizes the recommended Microsoft
fix for the Start Menu and Cortana problem.

That is, at best, a temporary fix. I have done it multiple times ... occasionally twice in the same day. I tried a reinstall of Avast, and this morning was unable to even access the start menu by right clicking. Had to use the control panel shortcut I put on my desktop. It is sub par performance.

5. No one lied to you.

YES THEY HAVE AS YOU ARE NOW! BY YOUR ACCUSING ME OF LYING - YOU ARE CONTINUING THEIR LIE.

[pcguy]

Another attempt to fix this can be expected from the upcoming TH2 release of Windows 10. Please try the latest build from the Windows 10 Insider Program. If anyone is experiencing the same issue with the latest Insider build, please let us know (e.g. post here or write to me directly). We would like to escalate the issue again, if it is not fixed in TH2 Windows 10 Release.

Thanks a lot.

What we've also seen is that a restart or a few restarts resolves the issue with startmenu not opening. (restarting is also part of the Avast uninstallation, but you can restart without uninstalling as well).

Lukas.

Well according to this thread

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1278123-windows-10-critical-error-start-menu-and-cortana-aren-t-working and the post from Dec 1st by garyleung that even a clean install of 1511 did not fix the issue.

[bob3160]

Another attempt to fix this can be expected from the upcoming TH2 release of Windows 10. Please try the latest build from the Windows 10 Insider Program. If anyone is experiencing the same issue with the latest Insider build, please let us know (e.g. post here or write to me directly). We would like to escalate the issue again, if it is not fixed in TH2 Windows 10 Release.

Thanks a lot.

What we've also seen is that a restart or a few restarts resolves the issue with startmenu not opening. (restarting is also part of the Avast uninstallation, but you can restart without uninstalling as well).

Lukas.

Well according to this thread

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1278123-windows-10-critical-error-start-menu-and-cortana-aren-t-working and the post from Dec 1st by garyleung that even a clean install of 1511 did not fix the issue.

You mean according to one post within that thread.... I've never had it happen since installing or updating to version 1576


@Dijeng,
I never called you a liar. I simply stated facts.

[pcguy]

The thing is this particular problem one can not be 100% positive its been fixed. I have seen several posts saying that they thought they have fixed the issue only to have it show up weeks later. TH2 has been out for 2 weeks now so its hard to say whether infact it has been fixed.

The computer here is someone else's had an issue with the start menu disappearing aka not showing up when clicking on Start button, none of the fixes 10 days ago worked. I wound up creating a new account via command line and that worked for about a week and now this Cortana issue has reared its head. I am leaning to doing a clean install of Windows 8.1 on it and making sure that Windows10 upgrade does not happen again on it.

[bob3160]

The thing is this particular problem one can not be 100% positive its been fixed. I have seen several posts saying that they thought they have fixed the issue only to have it show up weeks later. TH2 has been out for 2 weeks now so its hard to say whether infact it has been fixed.

The computer here is someone else's had an issue with the start menu disappearing aka not showing up when clicking on Start button, none of the fixes 10 days ago worked. I wound up creating a new account via command line and that worked for about a week and now this Cortana issue has reared its head. I am leaning to doing a clean install of Windows 8.1 on it and making sure that Windows10 upgrade does not happen again on it.

See my reply in your other topic:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174748.msg1272648#msg1272648

[REDACTED]

Adding a new experience to this topic.

Using an HP laptop, nearly no custom software, Win7 + Avast was working fine. Upgraded to Windows10 and start menu and every win10 app would not open. I tried the restart to safe mode, verify files with sfc and powershell methods, nothing fixed it permanently (it would work for a day and stop again). Uninstalling Avast fixed it for good. Re-installing Avast the problem came back. So, sorry, but this anti-virus is getting removed permanently.

[REDACTED]

Hello Guys,
we are monitoring this issue ("Cortana or start menu not working") and are talking with Microsoft about this. Currently we all believe it is a problem (or several issues) in Windows and Microsoft is trying to fix this.

One of the attempts to fix this can be in the following update: KB3105210
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3105210

The list of changes mentions start menu and cortana reliability fixes.

Another attempt to fix this can be expected from the upcoming TH2 release of Windows 10. Please try the latest build from the Windows 10 Insider Program. If anyone is experiencing the same issue with the latest Insider build, please let us know (e.g. post here or write to me directly). We would like to escalate the issue again, if it is not fixed in TH2 Windows 10 Release.

Thanks a lot.

What we've also seen is that a restart or a few restarts resolves the issue with startmenu not opening. (restarting is also part of the Avast uninstallation, but you can restart without uninstalling as well).

Lukas.

So I have the latest version of Windows 10 (1115), and I have the updated version of Avast, and I am still having problems with my start menu and cortana not working. I just paid for Avast Pro, and I'm not impressed at all, that this isn't fixed by now (both Microsoft and Avast). I'm running a fix to reinstall my Windows apps, and I'm hoping that works, but I'm still seeing a ton of people posting about this. I haven't tried booting into Safe mode yet (waiting for this other thing to finish first). Just wanted to let you know, that this isn't fixed with the latest upgrades.

Thank you!