Startisback Sad Face [better] May 2026

Save this as fix_startisback.bat and run as Administrator.

@echo off
title StartIsBack Sad Face Fixer
color 0C
echo ==============================================
echo      StartIsBack - Sad Face Repair Tool
echo ==============================================
echo.
echo [INFO] Detecting StartIsBack installation...
echo.
:: Detect 32/64-bit paths
set "SIB_PATH="
if exist "%ProgramFiles%\StartIsBack\StartIsBackCfg.exe" set "SIB_PATH=%ProgramFiles%\StartIsBack"
if exist "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\StartIsBack\StartIsBackCfg.exe" set "SIB_PATH=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\StartIsBack"
if "%SIB_PATH%"=="" (
    echo [ERROR] StartIsBack not found in standard locations.
    echo Try reinstalling StartIsBack first.
    pause
    exit /b 1
)
echo [OK] Found at %SIB_PATH%
echo.
:: 1. Kill stuck explorer instances
echo [STEP 1] Restarting Windows Explorer...
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe >nul 2>&1
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
:: 2. Unregister and re-register StartIsBack shell extension
echo [STEP 2] Resetting StartIsBack shell integration...
regsvr32 /u /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack64.dll"
regsvr32 /u /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack32.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack64.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack32.dll"
:: 3. Clear possible corruption in user registry
echo [STEP 3] Cleaning user StartIsBack registry flags...
reg delete "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "ErrorCount" /f >nul 2>&1
reg delete "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "Crashed" /f >nul 2>&1
reg add "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "Reset" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1
:: 4. Restart explorer
echo [STEP 4] Launching fresh Explorer...
start explorer.exe
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
:: 5. Optional: Clear icon cache if sad face persists
echo.
set /p "CLEAR_ICON=Clear icon cache? (y/n): "
if /i "%CLEAR_ICON%"=="y" (
    echo Clearing icon cache...
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe >nul
    del /f /q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db" >nul 2>&1
    del /f /q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*" >nul 2>&1
    start explorer.exe
)
:: 6. Final check
echo.
echo [DONE] Sad face should be gone.
echo If problem remains:
echo  - Run: sfc /scannow
echo  - Reinstall StartIsBack (preserves settings)
echo.
pause

1. Reset the Icon Cache (Most Common Fix)

The StartIsBack icon is stored in the Windows icon database. If that database is corrupted, the "Sad Face" appears. startisback sad face

Download the script "reset icon cache" or run Command Prompt as Admin:

ie4uinit.exe -show
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
del /A /Q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db"
del /A /F /Q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*"
shutdown /r /f /t 0

Alternatively: Restarting the StartIsBack service via Task Manager (End task on StartIsBack64.exe then re-run it) often resolves the sad face temporarily.

3. Verified Solutions (Ordered by least to most intrusive)

Step 1 – Clear Icon Cache

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
del /A /Q %localappdata%\IconCache.db
del /A /F /Q %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*
start explorer.exe

Step 2 – Run System File Checker

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Reboot after completion.

Step 3 – Update or Reinstall StartIsBack Save this as fix_startisback

Download the latest version of StartAllBack (StartIsBack is discontinued for Windows 11; use StartAllBack v3.6+).
Uninstall the old version via Control Panel → reboot → install fresh.

Step 4 – Check Segoe UI Symbol Font

Open C:\Windows\Fonts\SegoeUI-Symbol.ttf
If missing, copy from a working Windows PC or run sfc /scannow to restore.

Fix #3: The "Windows Update Rollback" (Temporary Fix)

If the sad face appeared immediately after a Windows Update, you have two choices: Wait for the StartIsBack developer to patch it (usually within 48 hours) or revert the update. @echo off title StartIsBack Sad Face Fixer color

Step 1: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
Step 2: Click "Uninstall updates."
Step 3: Find the most recent "Security Update" (e.g., KB503xxxx). Uninstall it.
Step 4: Pause Windows Updates for 1 week.
Step 5: Check the StartIsBack forum for a new version that supports the update.

What If Nothing Works? (The Final Resort)

If you have tried all five fixes and the sad face still stares back at you, you are likely facing a deep-seated OS conflict. At this point, you have two options:

Switch to Open-Shell (formerly Classic Shell): It is free, open-source, and slightly more resilient to Windows updates, though less polished than StartIsBack.
In-Place Upgrade of Windows: Download the Windows ISO, run setup.exe, and select "Keep personal files and apps." This reinstalls Windows core files without deleting your data, which often resolves the underlying hook failure.

How to Prevent the "Sad Face" From Ever Returning

Once you fix it, you want to keep it fixed. Here is your maintenance checklist:

Disable Automatic Driver Updates: Windows Updates often include driver updates that mess with UI hooks. Use the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter from Microsoft to block specific updates.
Delay Feature Updates: Set your Windows Update policy to "Semi-Annual Channel" or defer feature updates by 30 days. This gives the StartIsBack developer time to release a patch.
Keep StartIsBack Updated: Do not ignore update notifications. The developer releases patches within days of a major Windows update.
Exclude StartIsBack from Antivirus: Some aggressive antivirus software (looking at you, McAfee and Avast) will quarantine StartIsBack64.dll as a "potential hack tool." Add the StartIsBack folder to your AV whitelist.