Start Menu Stops working

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

I've been having an issue lately where my start menu stops working, I will be doing just about anything from idling to playing a game and all of a sudden I will be unable to click my start menu icon and bring up the start menu.

I am still able to hit the windows key to bring it up or use the side pop up menu to bring it up so it isn't explorer crashing it just seems as though it times out.

 

Asus P8Z77-V LE Plus

i5 3570K @ 4.3GHz OC @ 1.145v

G.Skill 4x4GB DDR4

Samsung 840 Evo SSD

2 monitors on 2 550 Ti's 1 monitor on onboard graphics

Corsair 850W PSU

Windows 8.1 Pro

 

It's not due to my overclock either as it does it on stock speeds as well. Any insight is welcome.

[Stevoicus]

which OS you using?

[Stevoicus]

which OS you using?

never mind you're on 8.1 

[Stevoicus]

this may help http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2111253/start-button-charms-stop-working-randomly.html

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

this may help http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2111253/start-button-charms-stop-working-randomly.html

The charms still work and the only thing that seems to correct it is a restart not rebooting explorer.exe. so that's not the issue, it's only the start icon.

[Stevoicus]

sorry to insult you but have you check for malicious software or have you recently had some sort of annoying program messing with things? 

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

sorry to insult you but have you check for malicious software or have you recently had some sort of annoying program messing with things? 

Yep, this is actually a fresh install and has also done the same on previous fresh installs. (recently switched to a UEFI install over a legacy install.)

[Stevoicus]

wow, fresh installs and you have problems like this, thanks microsoft >.< erm, what kind of shortcuts do you have in the start menu? can you troubleshoot by removing any of them?

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

File Explorer, Chrome, Origin, Steam, iTunes, This PC in one block.

Control Panel, PC Settings, Skype, Calculator, Sony Vegas in another.

I doubt it's a shortcut icon since they are just that, shortcuts and not actual programs.

 

wow, fresh installs and you have problems like this, thanks microsoft >.< erm, what kind of shortcuts do you have in the start menu? can you troubleshoot by removing any of them?