Start button doesn't respond, can't uninstall ExplorerPatcher.

[thatpaulschofield]

After running the ep_setup.exe, the Windows Start button does not respond to clicks or to the Windows key on the keyboard.

When I attempt to uninstall ExplorerPatcher via Add/Remove Programs, I get the popup saying "the backup files from a previous update are still being in use." I can do a fresh reboot of the system, and try to uninstall again, but I get the same popup.

Please help, I really like having a Windows Start button!

[pyrates999]

See this comment on how to manually remove EP: #4628 (comment)

Do you have thirdparty antivirus installed?

[tekjock]

my AV that detected it, ExplorerPatcher was added to the white list, and now i cannot remove it still, I am still prompted daily by it and see properties on the task bar context menu.

Can you provide a list of Files, Services (if any) and registry keys that this installs so I can manually remove

[dsfh34336]

We just deployed SentinelOne a couple of weeks ago in our environment. I ran into the exact same issue with the Start button not opening the Start menu. You need to do all of the exclusions pyrates999 linked to, specifically the two folders at the bottom of the list. The ones in the SystemApps folders. Until I put those in, it did not work.

The exclusions you need are:
File Exclusion:
C:\Windows\dxgi.dll

Folder Exclusions:
C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher
%APPDATA%\ExplorerPatcher
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy

Also, side note. The comment about "For SentinelOne, your username needs to be a member of the local administrators group for the exclusions to work." is not accurate. None of our users/employees are members of the local administrators group on our computers, including myself, and adding the above exclusions in SentinelOne fixed the problem for me.

[tekjock]

I would just like a list of files and registry items to delete, I still see properties on the right click on the start menu.

[pyrates999]

With EP still installed:

run the explorer patcher properties application, run this from the run menu:
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI

Then go to advanced and make sure the option Do not change the taskbar context menu (e.g. do not display the "Properties" is enabled. Then you can right click on the taskbar and you should no longer see the Properties option.

If it still is showing, click on restart file explorer in the bottom left in the EP properties application.

You can also try to open up task manager and kill explorer.exe and then run task manager again and run explorer.exe.

Also try restarting your computer.

[tekjock]

the file ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll does not exist, it was half uninstalled, all that is in that folder is ep_taskbar.5.dll and I cannot delete it. and when I try to go to properties

something is causing this to run on startup and I would like it removed.

Like I had asked, is there a list of files, folders, registry items, or services that are tied to this that I can remove

[pyrates999]

You will need to add any exclusions to your AV and then reinstall EP. From there, you can use it's uninstall to remove EP.