Solved Missing Windows 11 Toolbar after Windows update.

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

Opened Win 11 this morning and there was an update to windows, which I downloaded and started the installation.
This lasted so long, I rebooted the PC (held button down 4 seconds) and when it re-loaded, the Windows Toolbar was missing.
Have used SFC, DISM, DSKCHK to see if there are any problems with the system - None.
Have looked at some different options from the Internet, to no avail.
Has anybody got some ideas on what the problem might be.
At one point I saw a message about 'ms-settings' not having an App, so this might be a good starting point.
Any idea how to progress this please?

glasskuter · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
the Windows Toolbar was missing.

Do you mean "taskbar"? If so, are you running any 3rd party apps that alter the GUI. If so, either update to a newer version of the app or uninstall it. Restart and see if taskbar comes back.

Berton · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
I rebooted the PC (held button down 4 seconds)

That usually is about 8 seconds to get a full shutdown, I go a little longer to make sure.

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
Opened Win 11 this morning and there was an update to windows, which I downloaded and started the installation.
This lasted so long, I rebooted the PC (held button down 4 seconds) and when it re-loaded, the Windows Toolbar was missing.
Have used SFC, DISM, DSKCHK to see if there are any problems with the system - None.
Have looked at some different options from the Internet, to no avail.
Has anybody got some ideas on what the problem might be.
At one point I saw a message about 'ms-settings' not having an App, so this might be a good starting point.
Any idea how to progress this please?

I assume you mean taskbar not toolbar. Is the Start Menu present?
You said you have used the typical system checkers, how did you run those without a taskbar?
Could you tell us what 3rd party program(s)/app(s) you use at start-up.
Please post screenshot if possible.

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

Apologies - Taskbar not Toolbar.
There is absolutely nothing where the Taskbar should be, no 'Start' icon etc.
Have checked all round the edges of the screen as well, although mine was only ever moved to the 'left' of the screen at the bottom.
As far as I know there are no 3rd party apps that alter the GUI except that which works for the graphics board, which hasn't been updated for a while.

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
Apologies - Taskbar not Toolbar.
There is absolutely nothing where the Taskbar should be, no 'Start' icon etc.
Have checked all round the edges of the screen as well, although mine was only ever moved to the 'left' of the screen at the bottom.
As far as I know there are no 3rd party apps that alter the GUI except that which works for the graphics board, which hasn't been updated for a while.

Go to your command line the same way you ran sfc and enter the following:

Code:

net user administrator /active: yes

Now log out and select user Administrator. (please be patient as it needs to load a few things)
Does the GUI load then?

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

OAT said:
I assume you mean taskbar not toolbar. Is the Start Menu present?
You said you have used the typical system checkers, how did you run those without a taskbar?
Could you tell us what 3rd party program(s)/app(s) you use at start-up.
Please post screenshot if possible.

No start menu.
To get to "CMD as Admin" is a convoluted process via Task manager and creating a new process.
It took me a little while to work out how to do this as most things suggested on the internet were suggestions that involving mechanisms that I had no access too.
Any 3rd party programs used at start-up have been used without problems for some time time now - Is that what you wanted a screenshot of?

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
No start menu.
To get to "CMD as Admin" is a convoluted process via Task manager and creating a new process.
It took me a little while to work out how to do this as most things suggested on the internet were suggestions that involving mechanisms that I had no access too.
Any 3rd party programs used at start-up have been used without problems for some time time now - Is that what you wanted a screenshot of?

By 3rd party, I mean something like Explorer patcher or anything that will modify the behavior of Windows itself.
What is your version please? Ctrl+Alt+Del , select Task Manager,Run New Task , Winver.exe

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

OAT said:
By 3rd party, I mean something like Explorer patcher or anything that will modify the behavior of Windows itself.
What is your version please? Ctrl+Alt+Del , select Task Manager,Run New Task , Winver.exe

Don't think I run any 3rd party stuff like that then.
Version is 23H2 (OS Build 22631.3235)

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
Don't think I run any 3rd party stuff like that then.
Version is 23H2 (OS Build 22631.3235)

Thank you.
So the log on as Administrator did not bring the interface either?
How about Ctrl+Alt+Del , select Task Manager,Run New Task , explorer.exe ?

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

OAT said:
So the log on as Administrator did not bring the interface either?

I haven't done that as I am not certain what the password is for Admin, and I don't want to lock myself completely out of the PC.

On a different slant, I just discovered that both KB5035226 and KB5034848 were installed this morning, before it locked up.
I had walked away to allow it to do it's thing, but didn't realize there were 2 updates.

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
I haven't done that as I am not certain what the password is for Admin, and I don't want to lock myself completely out of the PC.

There is no password for admin if you did not set it . Just press enter. You will not get locked out.
Besides you aee already locked out as it is, in a way.
In order to find a solution, it is crucial to see if the behavior is repeated with another user.
If that does not work, use a restore point from before the updates.
Good luck.

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

OAT said:
There is no password for admin if you did not set it . Just press enter. You will not get locked out.
Besides you aee already locked out as it is, in a way.
In order to find a solution, it is crucial to see if the behavior is repeated with another user.
If that does not work, use a restore point from before the updates.
Good luck.

I'm currently waiting for the Win 11 PC to log in as Administrator - taking a while. Will let you know what happens when it finishes.
In the meantime I believe the KB5035226 looks like a strange update - not in the update history for Win 11 as far as I can see!
I'll double check that number when the PC is back online.

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

OAT said:
There is no password for admin if you did not set it . Just press enter. You will not get locked out.

Please see attached for Administrator login screen.

Flashorn · Mar 2, 2024

I don't see a taskbar or is it hidden ?
The update you installed would be an Preview update which should never
be installed until the patch Tuesday updates as it will be included in that
batch. Since the updates were not permitted to finish before you restarted
the PC I'm pretty sure the updates did not finish the process and as such
you are now missing some Windows components.
IF you have a System Restore point as was mentioned by @OAT , I believe
this would be the best path to follow. Just make sure to Exit (not uninstall)
all 3rd party security programs before using the restore app.

OAT · Mar 2, 2024

In order to access your restore point(s), do as above for other tasks but instead enter:

Code:

rstrui.exe

bugspop1 · Mar 2, 2024

I agree about the System Restore Point!
The Restore is most likely going to be your best bet.

Just a Question: What happens when you press the Windows Key on the Keyboard?
Does the Start Menu Open, I don't recall anyone asking?

BaJohn · Mar 2, 2024

About missing components:- Surely "sfc /scannow" or "DISM ...etc" would have found them. They found nothing.
About pressing the Windows Key:- Does nothing whatsoever with any of the other keys, or by itself.

I'll try and put together a 1, 2, 3, ...plan tomorrow so I know exactly what I need to do (I'm on UK time), in the right order.
It's been a trying day and I need to get some sleep.
Thanks for the help so far ....

Spunk · Mar 2, 2024

Go to the Task Manager, start a New Task. Type Control Panel in the Run box and press Enter
Click Recovery/Open System Restore. Do a System Restore to a time before this happened.

Flashorn · Mar 2, 2024

BaJohn said:
About missing components:- Surely "sfc /scannow" or "DISM ...etc" would have found them.

Unfortunately, no . It sometimes doesn't work as it should and I've seen members
having to do a inplace upgrade to repair what was broken.
Windows always creates a restore point before installing updates. Choose the one that
was created before this update.