Windows 10 Start menu and Taskbar flickering - Shell Experience Host

[ScratchCat]

I updated my computer to the Fall Creators update and due to a lack of storage (64GB boot drive) had to immediately delete the old version of Windows - this seemed reasonable as everything was working fine.

After a couple of days the Start Menu would not open and the taskbar would flicker every 10 seconds, any UWP apps would be closed/minimised. The computer will return to normal after a few minutes and then shortly after return to flickering. During the flickering hundreds of errors appear in the event viewer as below:

Spoiler

Faulting application name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.16299.98, time stamp: 0x5a1aada9
Faulting module name: StartTileData.dll, version: 10.0.16299.192, time stamp: 0xaa2fdde7
Exception code: 0xc000027b
Fault offset: 0x0000000000172468
Faulting process ID: 0x4ac
Faulting application start time: 0x01d3c8472ef2090a
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\System32\StartTileData.dll
Report ID: 1b27896d-4f2c-4b93-b8c7-027e3d986c96
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_1.9.6.16299_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: CortanaUI

 

Faulting application name: ShellExperienceHost.exe, version: 10.0.16299.15, time stamp: 0x59cda974
Faulting module name: StartTileData.dll, version: 10.0.16299.192, time stamp: 0xaa2fdde7
Exception code: 0xc000027b
Fault offset: 0x0000000000172468
Faulting process ID: 0x1474
Faulting application start time: 0x01d3c845dd934d80
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ShellExperienceHost.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\StartTileData.dll
Report ID: f5428015-bb13-4375-87e3-fb73f53dd378
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_10.0.16299.15_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: App

 

These errors also appear if one attempts to use cortana/search or open the start menu.

Each time the flickering occurs the ShellExperienceHost uses ~30% CPU for a few seconds and then crashes/disappears from the Task Manager.

Task Manager does not flicker - This seems to indicate it is not a graphics card driver issue.

 

Attempted solutions:

1. Deleting TileLayerDatabase
2. Cloning TileLayerDatabase from a working system
3. Create a new User
4. Reinstallation Windows.
5. Editing profile in registry
6. Updating graphics drivers
7. Removed graphics drivers
8. Powershell scripts to reinstall Cortana/Shell Experience Host/Start Menu.

 

At this point the best solution seems to get rid of Windows 10 and replace it with the more reliable Windows 7. Any other ideas or hints would be welcome.

[meenmeen1103]

So you tried a fresh, new install and it didn't fix this? Did you delete all old partitions on the drive?

[ScratchCat]

22 minutes ago, meenmeen1103 said:

So you tried a fresh, new install and it didn't fix this? Did you delete all old partitions on the drive?

Wiped drive completely. Repair installation and "upgrade" to 1709 again did not work either.

[meenmeen1103]

Did you use microsoft's media creation tool to download the ISO file?

[ScratchCat]

2 hours ago, meenmeen1103 said:

Did you use microsoft's media creation tool to download the ISO file?

Yes.

Additionally SFC and DISM do not find any errors.