start folder settings icon missing

[Stockmavn]

Start folder icon for settings is gone. Was there last week. Now, only Power, Documents & my account picture. How can I get the settings 'gear' icon back on the start folder when I left click on the Windows start button.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Stockmavn

Welcome to the HP Support forum ! Thank you for your post.

Does this help >> http://www.intowindows.com/fix-settings-missing-from-start-menu-in-windows-10/  ?

Open Settings app. Since the Settings icon is missing from the Start menu, click on the Action Center icon in the system tray and then click All Settings tile to open Settings. You can also open the Settings by simultaneously pressing Windows logo and I keys.

Once the Setting app is launched, click Personalization.
Click Start.
Click the link labelled Choose which folders appear on Start.
Finally, turn on the option labelled Settings to add Settings icon back to the Start menu.

If the first one above did not help and you are sure you did try everything there, check >this<

Let me know how it goes. Provide your feedback and don't hesitate to post again.

[Stockmavn]

Hello. The problem is, the 'switch' to turn the settings icon on in Personalization is grayed out. I've tried the Microsoft troubleshooter. Did not find a problem to fix. Ran SFC / Scannow, did not help. Any other fix I can try? Thanks. Richard  P S - BTW, the Action Center and Cortana are gone from the Information bar and the Task bar as well. Some sort of corruption?

[IT_WinSec]

Hello,

Your user account profile seems corrupt.

• Please, create a new user account (local account)

 Option 3 or Option 6 - instructions here >> http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5440-user-account-add-windows-10-a.html

• Once ready, restart your PC and login to the new user account.
• Copy all your personal files from the old account into the new user account profile. Eventually, you may migrate to MS account if you want.
• Delete your old corrupted user account. Instructions here >> http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5464-user-account-delete-windows-10-a.htmlAdditionally, you may delete it from C:\User\xxxxxxxxxxx  <

Hope this helps.