Windows 10 Start menu problems: We'll fix them in late October, says Microsoft

Microsoft says it will fix a lingering broken Start menu problem that's been affecting Windows 10 users over the past few weeks. 

Early last week, some users began reporting that the KB4524147 security update was causing printer problems, while others said they were seeing a 'critical error' message stating that the Start menu isn't working. Some users resolved the broken Start menu by uninstalling the update.   

Then on last week's Patch Tuesday Microsoft released KB4517389, addressing the printer-spooler problem that surfaced after users installed an update on September 23, according to Microsoft's known-issues page for Windows 10 version 1903. 

SEE: 20 pro tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (free PDF)    

But while Microsoft acknowledged and appears to have fixed the printer problems, last week it hadn't found the Start menu issues affecting a large number of users. Nonetheless, it said it was investigating, according to Windows Latest.  

It has since spotted a post from a Microsoft engineer on the Microsoft Answers site who says a fix will arrive in late October. 

"We are aware of this issue and estimate a resolution to be released in late October," the Microsoft employee said in a post on Saturday.

The timing suggests that the fix could arrive in one of Microsoft's optional updates that usually happen towards the end of the month.

While that's sort of good news – of course, affected users would appreciate a faster fix – the recent run of issues following Microsoft's Windows updates is causing confusion even among Windows technical experts. 

SEE: Microsoft: Meet Windows 10 'November 2019 Update' and this is the final build

In the meantime, some users have reported fixing the Start menu error by uninstalling both October 8's KB4517389 update as well as the earlier KB4524147 update. 

But, of course, that would mean uninstalling Microsoft's latest security patches. Fortunately, the October 8 Patch Tuesday update was relatively light and there were no fixes for zero-day flaws under attack.

More on Microsoft's Windows 10 updates

• Windows 10: Now you can take calls to an Android phone from your PC
  
• Farewell Windows 10 1703: With its final patch, Creators Update hits end of life
• Windows patch causes more pain: Start Menu, boot and printer problems surface
• Windows out-of-band update: Microsoft's mandatory security patch is for all versions
• Windows 10 users fume: Microsoft, where's our 'local account' option gone?
• Windows 10 1909: Microsoft pushes on with testing as 19H2 update rollout looms  
• Windows 10 1909: Microsoft ends 19H2 confusion, puts all testers on same builds 
• Windows 10: We're now gearing up for 1909 with new throttled release, says Microsoft
  
• No more buggy Windows 10 updates? Microsoft makes it easier to flag early flaws
  
• Windows 10 recovery: Microsoft borrows Apple's Mac cloud reinstall feature
• Windows 10 19H2: If you're on 1903, expect 'far faster' update, says Microsoft
  
• Windows 10 yields more secrets: Microsoft plan to split OS from shell takes shape
  
• How to delete the Windows 10 paging file on every shut-down TechRepublic
• Test Microsoft's Chrome-like Edge browser for Windows 10 CNET