Win10 edge missing, start menu, apps & infocenter don't open & Get-AppXPackage not working

Question

A few days ago my win10 pro machine (x64/build 14393) stopped opening the start menu (which is not so important since I still can use ClassicShell), and - more importantly - the info center and all apps are missing (including Microsoft Edge).

I've tried a few things to solve the problem. Among these are:

• Switch to another (newly created) user - problem is there as well ruling out solutions related to AppData\Local\TileDataLayer directory, i.e. Windows 10 Start menu, notification center, store apps not working
• Do a sfc /scannow (completed without error - see below)
• Do a dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth (completed without error - see below)
• Try the powershell Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | ... solution mentioned here: Microsoft Edge missing in Start menu and pins and here: Windows 10 Start menu, notification center, store apps not working
• Remove some recently updated software, i.e. Avast Virusscanner & Visual C++ Redistributables
• Tried the start menu troubleshooter supplied by MS here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12385/windows-10-troubleshoot-problems-opening-start-menu-cortana
  • This tool tells me that Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost and Microsoft.Windows.Cortana aren't correctly installed. Also the registry key HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeviceAccess\Global is not accessible by the current user and the tile database and the application manifest are corrupt. None of the problems are fixed though.

The Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers returns the following error (I use a german language Windows but I found a translation):

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppXPackage : Das Datenbank-Datenträgerimage ist falsch formatiert.
Das Datenbank-Datenträgerimage ist falsch formatiert.
In Zeile:1 Zeichen:1

translating to:

Get-AppXPackage : The database disk image is malformed
The database disk image is malformed
At line:1 char:1

What can I do to fix these issues (I believe the Get-AppXPackage error message and the other things might be related)?

Here are the outputs of the things I've tried:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow

Systemsuche wird gestartet. Dieser Vorgang kann einige Zeit dauern.

Überprüfungsphase der Systemsuche wird gestartet.
Überprüfung 100 % abgeschlossen.

Der Windows-Ressourcenschutz hat keine Integritätsverletzungen gefunden.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Tool zur Imageverwaltung für die Bereitstellung
Version: 10.0.14393.0

Abbildversion: 10.0.14393.0

[==========================100.0%==========================] Der Wiederherstellungsvorgang wurde erfolgreich abgeschlossen.
Der Vorgang wurde erfolgreich beendet.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Answer 1

I recently faced exactly the same problem. About 10 minutes after a fresh install, all the above functionality (Edge, Start Menu, Calculator, Notification Center, Search, etc) stopped working. Also for me the troubleshooter mentioned Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost and Microsoft.Windows.Cortana were not installed correctly.

SOLUTION: I finally traced it down to a conflicting NVIDIA graphics driver being automatically installed by Windows (for my external video card). After installing the latest driver update from the NVIDIA website (+restart) my problems were resolved and the troubleshooter completed without finding any issues.

Although this may not be the problem in your case (as you mention it may have been your SSD), all the symptoms were the same for me. And as the solution is not obvious (from what the troubleshooter says) I decided to share it here.