[Joeicam]

Background
I was helping my friends family remove some spyware and malware from their computer
(with the standard malwarebytes anti-malware and windows defender). I also uninstalled some programs as well. The main user on their computer is a 10 year old girl, who likes to go on youtube and watch videos. Thus, she tries to watch videos at no matter what expense, and no matter what program she has to download.

Problem
I cleaned up their computer to the best of my knowledge. Things were going good (no more pop ups). The only negative thing that I saw change was their Windows 8 Start Menu had changed. The tiles and applications that they had before I started working, were gone.

I checked to see if all their downloaded apps were still installed, and they were, except for the default Windows 8 Tiles. But when I tried pinning them to the start menu, they weren't showing up the same way that they were before.

Is there anyway that I can reset their default start menu? I've been researching the internet, trying different things, but nothing seems to be working. Thanks!

[Advertisements]

STEP ONE: System File Check
Have you run a System File Check yet? If not, that is one place to start. If you're unsure on how to do it, HERE is a guide. There are also two other steps to fixing missing apps/tiles on that page, though I don't recommend them. After the SFC command is done, and you have rebooted - If they still do not appear correctly post back and we'll go from there.

[PhrantiQ]

STEP ONE: System File Check
Have you run a System File Check yet? If not, that is one place to start. If you're unsure on how to do it, HERE is a guide. There are also two other steps to fixing missing apps/tiles on that page, though I don't recommend them. After the SFC command is done, and you have rebooted - If they still do not appear correctly post back and we'll go from there.

[Joeicam]

Yes sir, I did indeed. The first time I ran it it said it couldn't find any problems, but I rebooted anyways.
I ran it a second time to see if it would say the same thing, and it did. I rebooted the computer
once again, but I couldn't see any significant changes to it.
Are the two other steps to fixing them a refresh or system restore?

[PhrantiQ]

Restoring will fix them most likely, but also put back all the infections and more. Also some infections get worse when restored. . . So not the best course of action. Currently are the old tiles just missing or if you put new ones there, they disappear or act up too?

[Joeicam]

Alright. Well the Windows 8 metro applications are gone from the all applications page and the start menu, but their downloaded applications are still there. However, when I pin them back to the menu, I does not look the same as it did before. I an post a screen shot later tonight if that would help?

[Ztruker]

I think your best bet is to restore the computer to it's factory state. How you do this varies with each manufacturer. What is the make and full model number of the computer? Should be able to find the online Users Guide that will describe how to do the restore.

If there is anything on the computer that they don't want to lose then back it up first.

[Joeicam]

Thanks for the help and everything, but I think I'm going to hold off on restoring their computer.
They don't even really use the metro apps anyways. It was more for myself that I wanted it to look
like it used to ha ha. So, there's no other way to get them back besides restoring it?

[Ztruker]

Did you try a System Restore as PhrantiQ suggested? That should fix it.

Also, read here: How To Reset Your Start Screen

[Joeicam]

Did you try a System Restore as PhrantiQ suggested? That should fix it.

No, I think that it would be too much of a hassle to do that since they
didn't use the metro apps anyways.

Also, read here: How To Reset Your Start Screen

Thanks a lot for this! The start menu seems to be looking better now!
Thanks for your help kind sir

[Ztruker]

You're welcome.

[erico2002006]

Yes I am missing my tiles...Not my app tiles but my userdata files tiles...Basically I am missing my documents,my downloads,and my this pc folders in the star menu screen...