unable to access applications

[violawumi]

my laptop is on but all icons on the lower part wont appear,the mouse cursor kepps rolling like its loading when i move the cursor, i cant access the start part because of this. the applicatons on the homescreen open just fine however

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @violawumi,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your laptop turns on, but the taskbar icons are not appearing and the mouse cursor keeps showing a loading symbol when you try to access the Start menu. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Restart Windows Explorer
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart. This reloads the taskbar and Start menu.

Restart the computer
If Task Manager opens, click Restart from the Power options.
This clears temporary system glitches that can prevent the taskbar from loading.

Check for a frozen system process
In Task Manager, look for any application using very high CPU or Memory.
Select it and click End task if it is not essential.

Run System File Checker
Open Task Manager → File → Run new task, type cmd, check Create this task with administrative privileges, and click OK.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter to repair missing or corrupted system files.

Boot into Safe Mode (if the taskbar still does not appear)
Restart the computer while holding Shift, then go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
Choose Safe Mode to check whether the issue is caused by a startup program or driver.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,