How to fix Start Menue missing items

[PertPerth]

How to fix Start Menu missing items

Hi All
I've been trying to find help from Google - to no avail.
My problem is I think I have a virus or something - My windows "start" menu is missing the turn off, restart and Run... commands.
Has anyone had this issue before? How do I fix it?

Techy people, please help!
Thanks

 

[Weird Harold]

My windows "start" menu is missing the turn off, restart and Run... commands.
Has anyone had this issue before? How do I fix it?

Sounds like a corrupt registry file more thanit sounds like a virus.

Does the Shutdown function show up when you hit CTRL-ALT-DEL?

If you're not running WInXP or later, that probably means re-installing Windows from scratch. XP and later, you should have a restore point saved from before the corruption happened that you can go back to.

If you're not running a real-time virus check like AVG or PC-Cillin, you should be. Go to trendmicro's website and run their "Housecall" virus scan or google "online virus scan" for one of the other available online scanners. The online scanners bypass any chance that a virus has attacked your virus protection.

 

[mjl2010]

Hi All
I've been trying to find help from Google - to no avail.
My problem is I think I have a virus or something - My windows "start" menu is missing the turn off, restart and Run... commands.
Has anyone had this issue before? How do I fix it?

Techy people, please help!
Thanks

which version of windows are you running?

 

[kindashy]

Assuming you do not have a virus. I would first try Repairing Windows Installation: http://lifehacker.com/software/top/...sing-data-or-reinstalling-software-191277.php This is not a perfect solution.

 

[PertPerth]

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600.

I run AVG - with auto updates daily. No issues were ever found.

No, if I Ctl-Alt-Det - there is no option to restart or shutdown. Only Logoff.

Thanks again

 

[Weird Harold]

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600.

No, if I Ctl-Alt-Det - there is no option to restart or shutdown. Only Logoff.

I may not be much more help here because I runa dinosaur sysem with Win 98SE; I don't have much hands on experience with any version of Win XP. However...

XP has a Sysem Restore function; if your problem isn't older than your earliest restore point, that's probably your best bet.

If you logoff and hit Ctl-Alt-Del with no users logged in, does it give you a shutdown option?

If you have more than one user on your sysem, do the other users have he same problem? (If you set up a new user without using your user as the template is the problem duplicated?)

I'm trying to determine if it's the menu that is the problem or if the shutdown module (actual executable portiion of the OS) has disappeared.

If it's just the menu that's corrupt, the System Registry file is probably where the problem is located and Windows is notoriously oblivious to problems in the registry short of a completely missing registry.

 

[mjl2010]

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600.

I run AVG - with auto updates daily. No issues were ever found.

No, if I Ctl-Alt-Det - there is no option to restart or shutdown. Only Logoff.

Thanks again

Have you tried allowing it to start up in safe mode? Do you know how?

Logoff. Shut off computer. Wait 10 seconds.

Turn computer on. During boot up, right after the memory check, press the F8 key about once every 2 seconds until a menu comes up.

Choose the one where you start windows in safe mode.

Allow windows to load. Let it finish. The screen will look different and should say Safe Mode in several places. Depending on the version, you might get a window telling that you have booted in safe mode and what it means. Never mind, First thing to do is see if there is a shut down now.

XP may not have the shut down option on the task controller (CTRL-ALT-DEL) window. It might be something else. Look for it in the usual place.

So now, if you have a shut down option, just shut down completely. Start up again... and see if the problem magically fixed itself. Safe Mode does that, fixes things....

MJL

 

[Weird Harold]

Turn computer on. During boot up, right after the memory check, press the F8 key about once every 2 seconds until a menu comes up.

Just FYI, MJ -- holding down the CTRL key during boot will bring up the boot menu on most systems without the frustration of missing the tiny little window for Windows to recognise F8.

 

[mjl2010]

Just FYI, MJ -- holding down the CTRL key during boot will bring up the boot menu on most systems without the frustration of missing the tiny little window for Windows to recognise F8.

It doesn't on mine so I forgot about it. Good point though.

 

[PertPerth]

It doesn't on mine so I forgot about it. Good point though.

...so I started in safe mode and did a system restore to a few months ago (the longest I could). No difference.

I'll probably end up re-installing windows. It's the simplest way I know how to fix it...just a pain in the ass re-installing everything!! I have an external harddrive for backup, so my data isn't really an issue. Just time.

thanks all

 

[Bert Notorius]

Are the missing options available if you log on as administrator? Could be a local security issue.

Question:

If I login as Administrator, the Shutdown and restart options are visible. However, if I login using a User account, these options are not available. How can I activate these settings in my User account?

Possible Solution:

1. Go to Start>> Administrative Tools>> Local Security Policy.
2. Expand Local Policies and click on User rights assignment.
3. In the right pane double click on Shut down the system and add the users group.

 

[Weird Harold]

Possible Solution:

1. Go to Start>> Administrative Tools>> Local Security Policy.
2. Expand Local Policies and click on User rights assignment.
3. In the right pane double click on Shut down the system and add the users group.
[/I]

Good find!

That looks like exactly what the problem is and an easy way to fix it. (it's actually what I thought it was, a corrupted Systen Registry, but XP happens to have a way of re-building the effected part of it.)

 

[Bert Notorius]

Except she said she is using Home. I checked my niece's laptop and Home doesn't have local policy enabled. So, I don't know.

 

[Yang4yin]

If you can login as the Administrator and get the correct "Turn Off" options, it could be a corrupt user account. You could create a new user account and move your personal settings to the new account.

 

[Quoll]

It seems like everyone is getting close, maybe this will help.

"Shutdown" option missing from the Start Menu and Ctrl+Alt+Del dialog box
View products that this article applies to.
Author: Raghu Boddu MVP
Community Solutions Content DisclaimerArticle ID : 555449
Last Review : September 2, 2005
Revision : 1.0

SUMMARY
The "Shutdown" button may not be available in the Start menu and grayed out when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

Back to the top
CAUSE
This issue is due to the Local Computer Policy settings.

Back to the top
RESOLUTION
To resolve the issue, perform the following:

Click Start, Run.
Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Navigate to the following path:

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar

Double-click "Remove and Prevent Access to the Shut Down command"
Select "Not configured" or "Disabled"
Close Group Policy window.

Back to the top
MORE INFORMATION
Related articles:

MS Knowledge Base article #303070 - "Logoff" and "Shutdown" Are Missing from the Start Menu When You Use Remote Desktop

Important: This article includes modifying the registry. It is recommended to have a good backup of the registry, before making the modification. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, go through the following Microsoft Knowledge Base:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/ - Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

Back to the top
APPLIES TO• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002


Back to the top

 

[PertPerth]

Thanks everyone.

Harold, Bert N is right, I dont have access to any Local Security Policy. And anywho...it's just me on the computer - I am the administrator and therefore have access to everything.

Quolll...yep, close, but still no cigar! As my first post said - I am also missing the "run..." command!

BAH! Poopy windows!
Thanks again

 

[Weird Harold]

it's just me on the computer - I am the administrator and therefore have access to everything.

Try setting up a new, user and see if you can set the Local Computer Policy that way. If you can, give the new user Admin-level access and use that to repair the Admin

Perhaps you can find an after market utility to edit the registry in place of using the gpedit.msc and run command? I know there are after market utilities to replace almost all windows "tools and utilitiies" because the windows versions are poorly designed aferthoughts in most cases. Norton Utilities includes a Registry edit and repair program, but I've never seen the XP version so I have no idea if it will help.

When you resolve this problem, and it's looking more and more like you'll need a completel clean install to repair it, set up an everyday login user for your system so that you are NOT llogged in as the Administrator all the time. There are things that you shouldn'tbe able to access by accident and logging in without full admin privileges protects your computer from those accidents. It also protects the administrator account from accidental modification most malicious programs so it's available to help repair problems with other user accounts.

Of course, you can always resort to taking your computer to a repair shop and let them dig through their specialized diagnostic and repair software to see if they have something that can correct the problem without re-installing Windows.

 

[Quoll]

Thanks everyone.

Harold, Bert N is right, I dont have access to any Local Security Policy. And anywho...it's just me on the computer - I am the administrator and therefore have access to everything.

Quolll...yep, close, but still no cigar! As my first post said - I am also missing the "run..." command!

BAH! Poopy windows!
Thanks again

Hmm, have you tried to open a command prompt via the accessories menu?

 

[Weird Harold]

Hmm, have you tried to open a command prompt via the accessories menu?

That's no quite the same as the Run command on the Start Menu -- A "MSDOS prompt" won't run a "windows only" program like gpedit.msc (it's pretty much limited to .COM, .EXE, and .BAT program/batch files.

It might be worth a try, but I'd be really surprised if the differences between "Windows/Start/Run" and "MSDOS Command Prompt" had been eliminated between Win 98 and Win XP

 

[Quoll]

That's no quite the same as the Run command on the Start Menu -- A "MSDOS prompt" won't run a "windows only" program like gpedit.msc (it's pretty much limited to .COM, .EXE, and .BAT program/batch files.

It might be worth a try, but I'd be really surprised if the differences between "Windows/Start/Run" and "MSDOS Command Prompt" had been eliminated between Win 98 and Win XP

You might well be right, I haven't played around with XP all that much, it was a piece of advice I came across, can't hurt to try.
I'll see what I can find out about command prompts in XP.

 

[Quoll]

Moot point, gpedit.msc isn't part of "home" apparently.
Everything I,ve read so far seems to indicate it was most likely caused by a virus, so scan with everything you've got and then try some online scans.

I did find this registry fix, for the run command I have used stuff from this site before and have not had any problems, however do a search on it anyway just to ease your mind.

Kelly's Korner

If you decide to try this one just right click the link and save as norun.reg



"To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by right clicking on the file and selecting Edit."

Restore run command


I haven't finished looking through the fixes there, but I will try after I have done my civic duty today (is it wrong that all I'm looking forward to is an end to the bloody advertising).

 

[cd1_christine]

Kelly's Korner

If you decide to try this one just right click the link and save as norun.reg

I was going to suggest Kelly's Korner, too. Great site.

From the site:

------------------------------

Run Command Missing

Right click the Start button and select Properties, then Customize. Scroll down and put the check mark in the Show Run entry. If you're using the new Start panel, its on the Advanced tab.

Or check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoRun
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

Note: It seems that under "XP Theme", not more than eleven (11) items can be displayed together at the right-hand column (with blue background), which at times, disables/removes the Run Command even with it being checked.

---------------------------------

Probably the same thing your norun.reg file does, but maybe worth looking at, also.

CD

 

[PertPerth]

First, let me say thank you (again) everyone! My hair is starting to fall out from the stress!I'm still on my way to completely reinstalling windows. It's stressing me FAR too much, so I'm going to be happier starting anew and knowing that whatever was wong is gone.
I'm going to wait until I'm back from my holiday - hell, I might even take it into a shop and get someone else to do it for me!

I was going to suggest Kelly's Korner, too. Great site.

From the site:

------------------------------

Run Command Missing

Right click the Start button and select Properties, then Customize. Scroll down and put the check mark in the Show Run entry. If you're using the new Start panel, its on the Advanced tab.

Or check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoRun
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

Note: It seems that under "XP Theme", not more than eleven (11) items can be displayed together at the right-hand column (with blue background), which at times, disables/removes the Run Command even with it being checked.

---------------------------------

Probably the same thing your norun.reg file does, but maybe worth looking at, also.

CD

It's not there to check the box - I looked for that before.

Thanks again

 

[Quoll]

First, let me say thank you (again) everyone! My hair is starting to fall out from the stress!I'm still on my way to completely reinstalling windows. It's stressing me FAR too much, so I'm going to be happier starting anew and knowing that whatever was wong is gone.
I'm going to wait until I'm back from my holiday - hell, I might even take it into a shop and get someone else to do it for me!


It's not there to check the box - I looked for that before.

Thanks again

Fair call, enjoy the holiday.