Cant click on Start Menu or Taskbar icons, only keyboard navigation working with white boxes when I hit tab


FranksMan

New member
Local time
9:10 AM
Posts
1
OS
Windows 11
Happened yesterday out of nowhere and I do not how or why. I was playing Rocket Leage and then when I quit I y the whole start menu has stopped responding to my mouse. When I click on the start icon instead of the start menu popping up a white box appears around the icon. If I hit enter or space the menu pops up and I can then navigate around it using the keyboard, but also then I can click on things. To get to other pinned applications on the task bar I have to hit tab and the white box moves across to the right and even goes into the system tray.

I can open any of these by hitting space. Everything else works. I am typing this right now on Firefox that I opened after tabbing over to it and then hitting space to open it.

I just tried opening the Snipping Tool to try to take a screenshot of the white box and couldnt click on anything in there, the same white boxes and keyboard only navigation were present. This is odd.

I have tried restarting.
Shutting down and restarting.
Tried going into the task manager and restarting Windows Explorer.

Other users accounts on this machine do not have this strange behavior. RIght now its just mine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
Welcome to the forum.

Hoping that you can navigate to attempt a Repair Install via Windows update. (Option One)


Also, it helps if you can fill out your "Computer Specs" as detailed as possible.

Good luck 🙏
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard thingy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Other users accounts on this machine do not have this strange behavior. RIght now its just mine.

Alternatively, you could ask for help to create a new user profile (Admin) then migrate the original profile to the new account... I can't help with the migration, just the process of new accounts:




Change from user to admin account


You can always remove a user account if needed:


Also:


 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard thingy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Easiest option to try first, and the least invasive: use a System Restore point (assuming you have one)

Happened yesterday out of nowhere and I do not how or why.
So pick a restore point created before that.
E.g. Win key + r, rstrui.exe
Or- boot to Advanced Startup options and run it from there (you will need the password).


If it works- it's an easy solution. Otherwise see above.

Note:
a. I have a restore point created daily on schedule (tenforums tutorial).
b. 3rd party disk imaging used regularly and routinely gives a robust recovery option.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo t480s
    CPU
    i7-8650U
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 620
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
You re-register Start Menu with attached batch script.


Batch:
:: Re-register Start Menu in Windows 11

@Echo Off

(Net session >nul 2>&1)||(PowerShell start """%~0""" -verb RunAs & Exit /B)

:choice

Cls & Mode CON  LINES=11 COLS=70 & Color 0E & Title Created By FreeBooter
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo           Re-register Start Menu for All Users (A)?   
Echo.       
Echo           Re-register Start Menu for Only Current User (C)?
Echo.


Set /p input= RESPONSE:

If /i  Not %input%==A (Goto :_Ex) Else (Goto :_AllUsers)

:_Ex
If /i Not %input%==C (Goto :choice) Else (Goto :_CurrentUser)



:_CurrentUser

Cd %TMP%

PowerShell Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force


Echo Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost ^| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} > CurrentUser.ps1
 
Powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -File CurrentUser.ps1

Del CurrentUser.ps1


Cls & Mode CON  LINES=11 COLS=60 & Color 0E & Title Coded By FreeBooter
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo          Re-registering Start Menu for Current User
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Ping -n 6 localhost >Nul
Exit





:_AllUsers

Cd %TMP%

PowerShell Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force

Echo Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost ^| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} > AllUsers.ps1

Powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -File AllUsers.ps1

Del AllUsers.ps1

Cls & Mode CON  LINES=11 COLS=60 & Color 0E & Title Coded By FreeBooter
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo         Re-registering Start Menu for All Users
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Ping -n 6 localhost >Nul
 

Attachments

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1

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