Error during the installation of Windows 11 update KB5040527 with the consequence Start menu critical error

I have the following problem, or rather I have 2 problems:



I have to explain a bit. The error messages are in German, I tried to use the English version in the thread.

First I wanted to install the Windows 11 update KB5040527. After restarting, an error "Something didn't go as planned. No need to worry - undoing changes". When the system booted up again, the start menu did not work "Critical Error - Your Start menu isn't working...".



I then restarted the PC several times and eventually the start menu worked again. Windows then tried to complete the update with every restart, without an error message, but also without success. At some point there was another error message "Something didn't go as planned...". Windows then stopped trying to install the update and the start menu worked as usual.



I then carried out the following steps.

• 1. SFC scan = no problems or errors
• 2. DISM (checkhealth, scanhealth, restorehealth) = no problems or errors
  
  
• 3. windows update troubleshooting = no problems or errors
  
  
• 4.
  
  
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop cryptSvc
• net stop bits
• net stop msiserver
• ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
• net start wuauserv
• net start cryptSvc
• net start bits
• net start msiserver

I then searched Microsoft Update Catalog for the KB5040527 update and installed it manually. After restarting, an error "Something didn't go as planned. No need to worry - undoing changes". When the system started up again, the start menu did not work "Critical Error - Your Start menu isn't working...".

Since then, my start menu no longer works at all. It always says "Critical Error - Your Start menu isn't working...".



I tried to install the update again normally via Windows Update. This time it went up to 96% on restart, then the same error as above came up.



So my first problem is that I cannot install the Windows 11 update KB5040527.



My second problem is that the start menu no longer works. Regarding the start menu I tried the following:

• I.SFC scan = no problems or errors
  
  
• II.DISM (checkhealth, scanhealth, restorehealth) = no problems or errors
  
  
• III. Troubleshooting via the startmenu.diagcab, which is referenced online. This showed the following result:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Re-install Windows.ShellExperienceHost & Windows.Cortana like here FIX: Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost & Microsoft.Windows.Cortana applications need to be installed correctly.
  
  
• Reinstall System Apps, Cortana & ShellExperienceHost for all Users like here FIX: Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost & Microsoft.Windows.Cortana applications need to be installed correctly.

Cortana & ShellExperienceHost are both not working. ShellExperienceHost is marked as "stopped" in the Task Manager.



Unfortunately, I don't know what to do and hope you might have an explanation or solution for the problem.



Greetings from Berlin



Runout

Hello @Runout and welcome to ElevenForum.


I would try doing an In-Place Upgrade...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Use Option #2 (the ISO method)






Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software


Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)
Hasleo Backup Suite (free)



Get the Windows 11 ISO (Option #2), and save it to your desktop...


Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

Same here, but long ongoing problem. I did a clean install 1/5/24, helped for awhile.
The "Critical error start menu" is new; probably the same Crash Wednesday as yours.
Windows is the most frustrating, least reliable technology I've had in 70 years.

Ghot said:

Hello @Runout and welcome to ElevenForum.


I would try doing an In-Place Upgrade...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Use Option #2 (the ISO method)






Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software


Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)
Hasleo Backup Suite (free)



Get the Windows 11 ISO (Option #2), and save it to your desktop...


Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

Click to expand...

@Ghot

Thanks for the quick reply and the welcome greetings. I have been active on Sevenforum and Tenforum before and my issues have always been resolved. You are simply a super community.

Sorry for my late reply, I will try to do an in-place upgrade, what are the chances of data loss?

Because I am planning to perform a current backup first, as my data is currently not sufficiently backed up. Is it enough to back up the system SSD (500 GB) or should I also include the second hard disk (3 TB HDD)?

I need to know this beforehand.

Thanks again


Runout

Runout said:

Is it enough to back up the system SSD (500 GB) or should I also include the second hard disk (3 TB HDD)?

Click to expand...

Backing up just the Windows drive is fine.
An In-Place Upgrade won't affect your storage disk at all.

Before doing an in-place upgrade/repair which will take much time, I would first try deleting Windows Update cache, restart and search for updates again. Open File Explorer, click on the Windows disk (C:) and from Drive Tools select Cleanup. Click the button for advanced options, wait a few more seconds. Check as many items you want from the list and make sure you also check Windows Update data.