Critical Error - Your Start menu isn't working. (likely Windows Update related)

[Will]

Decided to take my PC out of the preview builds after the latest updates seem to have borked some stuff, including a nice "Critical Error" for the start menu.

First time I've ever seen this:


Critical Error
Your Start menu isn't work. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in.
Sign out now


The original issue started after the latest preview Windows Update, which resulted in some drivers having issues with hardware enforced stack protection. Uninstalling the update fixed the driver issue, but has resulted in this weird start menu Critical Error.

Likely don't need any immediate support, as I can run some troubleshooting + wait for the next Windows Update to be fully released which will probably resolve, but it's an interesting error I've never seen before.

 

[Will]

FYI when I do click sign out now, I get an error code pop-up:

The instruction at 0x00007FFB6AFE3FAA referenced memory at 0x0000000000000024. The memory could not be written.
Click on OK to terminate the program

 

[SmoovNerd]

Getting the same error here right after uninstalling OS Build Preview KB5040527.

 

[Will]

No luck with any results - installing one of the more recent Windows Updates resolved some symptoms (e.g. the start menu), but still seems like there's an underlying issue.

Created a thread hereto investigate the Windows Update issues:
Windows corruptions after uninstalling preview cumulative update build