It was due to a corrupted live tile database. I found a guide online which walked you through how to create a new database and overwrite the existing but it needed some help. This is my attempt to rewrite the how-to to include more information and be easier to follow for those experiencing similar issues. To resolve this kind of issue, you have to repair the potentially corrupted Group Policy using the options given in this post.As you know, Group Policy is a feature in the Microsoft Windows Active Directory which allows an admin to make changes in the features on Windows PCs that are on the network. How to Fix Tile Database is corrupt. One such reason is that the ‘Tile database is corrupt’. This can lead to the Start menu not working, or tile icons disappearing. Here are three ways to fix the problem. New Tile Database File.

This is the second part of the article on Windows 10/Server 2016 Start Tiles management.

The first part of this article is available here. The primary focus of part #1 was delivering a pre-arranged Start Tiles layout to the user, in a number of different ways to meet different requirements.

Now, the second part of the conundrum we set ourselves was not just how to deliver customized default Start layouts, but also how to save and persist them once the user had elected to make changes. Because in a non-persistent VDI or RDSH environment, one isn’t very useful without the other! Also, whether you’re in a non-persistent environment or not, you may want to save and roam them anyway.

The methods we used for supplying default layouts in the first part of this article will all work with the techniques/tools specified here for saving and persisting, with the obvious exception of method #2, which enforces a non-customizable layout every time you log in. Methods #1 and #4 only apply at first user logon, whereas method #3 will add the “enforced” icons to whatever you have saved.

To cover all eventualities, we are going to do our persistence testing on the following items:

1. An App-V shortcut
2. A pinned folder from the local filesystem
3. A pinned RDP connection
4. A web shortcut
5. A UWP app shortcut (on Windows 10 only, UWP apps not available on Server 2016)
6. An “expandable” Tile with three web shortcuts in it (Windows 10 only, not supported on Server 2016 yet)
7. A “legacy” desktop app shortcut
8. A pinned Microsoft console document
9. The title for an app group

That should allow us to cover all the wonderful things users are likely to pin to their Start Tiles. They are all referenced with a key in the image below.

But first, a quick recap on how the Start Tiles data is actually saved.

Architecture

In earlier versions of Windows 10, Microsoft elected to use a database file to save the Start Tiles data. It was called vedatamodel.edb and sat in %LOCALAPPDATA%TileDataLayerDatabase. It was also linked to the Tile Data Model Server service and the State Repository Service, both of which maintained hooks into the database file that prevented easy saving.

Come Windows 10 version 1703 and Tile Data Layer was listed as “deprecated”, meaning no further development was being undertaken. Under the hood, it transpired that Microsoft had fallen back on a more familiar way of saving the settings, storing Registry values alongside filesystem data. The values and files in question were:-

• HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionCloudStore
• HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerSlowContextMenuEntries
• HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionContentDeliveryManager
• {CSIDL_PROGRAMS} (which on these OSes normally maps to %APPDATA%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms)

However, Server 2016 still (currently) uses the TileDataLayer method, so for any of these tools or techniques that specifically grab defined settings rather than scooping the entire profile, there may have to be sub-sections by OS. For Windows Server 2016 you need to grab the following:-

• %LOCALAPPDATA%TileDataLayerDatabase

There may also be caveats around how to actually save this – we will test it individually with each of the methods listed below.

So it’s now simply a question of setting up your preferred way of grabbing these settings and reapplying them. Let’s test some of the more popular methods:-

Methods of persistence

FSLogix Profile Containers

I’ve already mentioned that FSLogix Profile Containers is currently one of my favourite bits of technology. And it wouldn’t be one of my favourite bits of technology if anything was hard 🙂 Suffice to say, using FSLogix Profile Containers in the same default config we shared in the first part of this article (because it grabs the entire profile) means that all of our Start Menu and Start Tiles settings roam without issue. This works on both Windows 10 1803 and Server 2016 – no special configuration required.

Microsoft User Profile Disks

With the results in from FSLogix, there probably wasn’t any need to repeat the tests we did with UPD, given that FSLogix and UPD share a lot of similarities in operation. UPD is a much more cut-down product, both in terms of features and OS support, but the initial operation – the mounting of a VHD from the root of a user profile – remains the same. So no surprise if I tell you that UPD manages to roam the settings without any issues, much the same as FSLogix.

Ivanti User Workspace Management

Next we have Ivanti, a far more broad suite of user environment management products, but one that not surprisingly has a bit more overhead in terms of setup, infrastructure and support.

Ivanti UWM’s Environment Manager feature operates more targeted than the likes of FSLogix and UPD, capturing specifically the settings that you wish. So, we have set up a Windows Personalization Group in the Personalization Server feature which captures the following filesystem and Registry settings:-

For Windows 10 1803, this works absolutely perfectly. However, because Server 2016 still uses the TileDataLayer component, you need to create a Windows Settings Group for Server 2016 that includes the following:-

{CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA}TileDataLayerDatabase

The built-in Windows Settings Group for Start Menu can handle this, if required, although it may need fine-tuning on the Conditions side, otherwise you may get conflicts between the settings for Windows 10 and Server 2016 (assuming you were using both of these OSes in your user environment). If you are accessing both Windows 10 and Server 2016 instances, it is best to separate these into two disparate settings groups, as there is some overlap between both.

Citrix User Profile Management

Citrix User Profile Management succeeds in roaming the Windows 10 1803 with near-to-default settings. The basic settings I used for FTA management in Windows 10 (shown below) also work for Start Tiles management.

Server 2016 is slightly anomalous. Although the database file is captured, there is a little corruption observed when roaming to a new system (shown below), mainly that icons are blank for some of the shortcuts

To get around this, you need to set the TileDataLayer folder to sync rather than capture it in the normal UPM way. Here are the settings required to make this work for Server 2016:-

Sims 4 photography mods. Once the UPM config is adjusted in this way, Server 2016 roaming works perfectly.

Microsoft roaming profile

Given that all you require is to grab the local user Registry and the Programs folder, you’d expect a standard Microsoft roaming profile to work, on Windows 10 1803 at least.

However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. Even with the GPOs applied that prevent a roaming profile from being “re-initialized”, the Start Menu either stubbornly resets itself to whatever is defined in the default user profile at every logon of a roaming profile user, or appears corrupted.

I’m not entirely clear on the reason for this – I was expecting it to work. However, it does appear clear that when using a standard roaming profile (or mandatory, for that matter), nothing is ever written to the CloudCache Registry key we mentioned earlier, which is odd. It seems that when using a roaming profile writes to this Registry key are disabled. It also seems as though the {CSIDL_PROGRAMS} folder only roams partially, appearing on the Start Menu but not the Start Tiles. If my gut feeling is right on this, that a roaming profile is prevented programatically from writing to CloudCache, then the Tiles will never be able to roam.

Because Windows Server 2016 still uses %LOCALAPPDATA%, and this is never present by default in a roaming profile, then Server 2016 won’t work out-of-the-box for a roaming profile either. You can use this method to get it to work (this was written for earlier Windows 10 versions but works without issue on Server 2016), but because of how it is configured, it is not very sustainable in the long term.

So roaming profiles simply don’t work for this, which is disappointing because they now work OK for FTAs, but they’re still not capable of doing what they say on the tin!

VMware User Environment Management

VMware User Environment Management (VUEM) was an acquisition of a company called Immidio, and a technology which I (for reasons of time only) missed out when dealing with FTAs. However, when it comes to dealing with the Start Tiles you can manage this with VUEM by using this configuration:-

However since version 9.4 has been released there is a pre-defined Windows Setting you can leverage to do this for you rather than create it specifically as I have done above. This creates all the required settings for you automatically.

For Server 2016, this obviously needs to be adjusted slightly, because we need to grab the TileDataLayer files. VMware UEM does not manage this natively, but always-helpful VMware bod Pim van de Vis wrote a blog article that will show you how to achieve this by using a PowerShell script (the blog says Windows 10, but the method should work on Server 2016 too).

Microsoft User Experience Virtualization

UE-V didn’t originally manage to roam Start Tiles settings on Windows 10, but you can use this article to get it working to some degree on the 1709+ versions. There are some discrepancies as mentioned in the link – however, removing the Caches folder entry does sometimes rectify this.

This does not work on Server 2016, however, as it still uses the TileDataLayer which UE-V cannot handle.

Summary

So, if you want smooth roaming of your settings on Windows 10 1803 and Server 2016, you will need a third-party tool. In this testing, FSLogix Profile Containers, Ivanti DesktopNow and Citrix User Profile Management work the best for this, I’d choose one of these.

VMware User Environment Management manages Windows 10 without issue, as long as it is the later version, it can do Server 2016 as well but this is a little hacky.

User Profile Disks works passably for both but is limited in a number of ways and can become problematic if the VHD locks. It is, though, the only no-cost solution that actually works for our test parameters.

Microsoft User Experience Virtualization can only do Windows 10 later versions, but is a little unreliable, and can’t do Server 2016 at all currently.

Roaming profiles, even though I don’t see a reason why they shouldn’t work, seem to be incapable of saving the required data simply because they are a roaming profile. Very odd, but roaming profiles have never been high on Microsoft’s priority list.

There are a couple of technologies I meant to test but didn’t have time to – LiquidWare Labs ProfileUnity and Scense. I’m pretty sure these should be able to do Windows 10 at the very least and possibly Server 2016 as well. Unfortunately I ran short of time but may add testing sections for these in the future. However if you are using one of these or even another tool or maybe even rolling your own method, the Registry items and filesystem entries specified in this article should allow you to save and roam the settings without issue.

More articles coming soon – stay tuned.

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Yesterday my start menu suddenly stopped working on my Windows 10 machine. After rebooting, running sfc /SCANNOW, multiple PowerShell commands, and recreating my user profile, I could not get the start menu to come back up. In addition, the search didn't work, Microsoft Edge, and Settings. This wasn't related to a bad Windows Update. It was due to a corrupted live tile database. I found a guide online which walked you through how to create a new database and overwrite the existing but it needed some help. This is my attempt to rewrite the how-to to include more information and be easier to follow for those experiencing similar issues.

6 Steps total

Step 1: Create two new profiles

If there's only one user present on the machine, you will need to log into two additional users to create new profiles. You have to do this because you will log into one to copy the database of another to fix the database of the troubled user. You can't copy the database of an account you're logged in since it will be 'in use'.

I logged into the domain administrator and local administrator account. You can log into either new account, just be sure that one of them is an administrator and can access other user profile folders.

Step 2: Reboot

This is important. The corrupted database will say it's still in use if you try to replace it without rebooting. This will make sure that the process that's accessing that database is terminated. This also assures that all users have been signed out.

Step 3: Login as an administrator

I logged in as the domain administrator to copy the local administrator's database to replace mine.

Step 4: Replace the corrupted database

Browse to C:UsersOtherNewAccountYouAreNotUsingAppDataLocalTileDataLayer

Tile Database Is Corrupt Windows 10 1903

Right click on the folder Database and click copy.

Now browse to C:UsersUserAccountExperiencingProblemsAppDataLocalTileDataLayer

Rename the Database folder in that account to Database.old

Now paste the Database folder you copied from the other user account. This will remove all modifications and shortcuts you've added to the start menu but hey..at least it'll work now!

Step 5: Reboot for the last time

Tile Database Is Corrupted 2004

Hopefully you have a SSD to make this less painful :) Dragon mania hack download.

Tile Database Is Corrupted

Step 6: Sign into the user account that originally had the problem

The start menu will now work, as well as everything else that wouldn't respond. As described above, you'll lose all modifications and shortcuts to the start menu since you copied the style from another user account. You'll also notice that the locally installed apps will NOT show under All Apps. This is a quick fix, simply pin anything as a shortcut to the start menu (browse to Program Files to pin a program). Suddenly all of your apps will appear under Recently added and show up again under All Apps.

It's an easy fix but a strange problem. I can understand how this will affect Cortana but I don't understand why it would make Microsoft Edge disappear and make Settings unresponsive. I'm not aware of the cause either. At least if you're challenged with this in the future..the fix is here!

References

• Original how-to

Tile Database Corruption Issues

15 Comments

Tile Database Is Corrupt Infopackets

• Jalapeno
  T-RAV89 Dec 14, 2015 at 02:15pm

  Nice write up.
  I have two windows 10 machines and my start menu, search and task bar always stop working if the computer isn't restarted for about a week. After a restart everything is fine. I wonder if your steps will help this less extreme situation. If I try it I'll let you know.

• Jalapeno
  Emerson1 Dec 14, 2015 at 03:05pm

  There is also a file that Microsoft put out that helps to fix this issue, I don't recall if it kept my settings and such or not
  CSSEmerg67758.diagcab

• Poblano
  dlw111111111 Dec 14, 2015 at 03:18pm

  My solution is not use the Windows Start Bar with all those busy tiles. I removed all the tiles and placed the programs I use on the task bar. Easy. My Start Bar is bare as can be.
  I don't use the 'apps' or download any new items from the apps store.
  I did notice since the PDF extension defaults to a MS Edge extension and I figured out how to change it. (I don't use Edge either) and when I looked at my Adobe program it was for MS 8. Guess MS assumed everyone would use Edge to open pdf's. Meh.
  I downloaded the new version from the Adobe website. Added program to task bar and works great.
  Thank you for the nice write up though. Leave it to MS to fu a start bar.

• Thai Pepper
  BDunbar5012 Dec 14, 2015 at 06:30pm

  I had no idea this was happening. I'm glad I know ahead of time, now. Thanks!

• Jalapeno
  JoeB13 Dec 26, 2015 at 05:43pm

  I've been fighting this problem on my home PC for 2 days and was about to format/reload. Mother of God, thank you.

  I'd run the SCF/DCIM/SCF gauntlet, and the CSSEmerg67758.diagcab troubleshooter had all done nothing to help resolve. I'd assumed that it had to be user-specific because only one of the two user accounts on the machine was being affected; but was running into a dead end there.

  You are a saint, starg33ker, and my the new year bring you all of the finest things!

• Pimiento
  BigEinNM Dec 28, 2015 at 06:35pm

  I was able to solve the problem simply by adding another user account (admin), restarting, logging into the new account, launching a couple of the programs that weren't opening (Outlook 2010 and Chrome), restarting and logging into the original account experiencing the problem. Somehow that jarred something loose and fixed the problem without copying the database folders.

• Chipotle
  Canadian Tech Guy Mar 16, 2016 at 08:21pm

  Thanks for this. We are later adopters and are about to deploy. This had never come up in my testing, so thanks for making me aware of both the issue and the fix.

  CTG

• Jalapeno
  BringerOfLaw Apr 7, 2016 at 02:54pm

  Banging my head against the wall on this one.. I've followed the steps above to no avail. Tried renaming the DB folder to 'old', no luck. Tried naming the entire TileDataLayer folder to 'old', no luck. Created a new User acct, verified that I could launch programs from its Start Menu, followed the 6 steps above, still no luck. At this point, I start rolling it back with System Restore, since the Start Menu was working fine last week. May have stumbled across the answer during that process. I rolled it back one point at a time, scanning for affected programs each time before pulling the trigger. The Start Menu started working again after I rolled it back past a Chrome update. Chrome was the only program affected by that particular restore point, and once it was out of the way, Start began working again. Here's my guess (and it's just that): There was a shortcut to Chrome on the Start Menu after the System Restore was performed. Chrome updates in the background without notification. The shortcut in the Start Menu is somehow version specific, and craps out when the connection between it and the actual Chrome application is broken. Now, that doesn't explain why a new copy of a clean TileDataLayer DB won't fix it (since the Chrome shortcut wasn't on the other accounts), but there may be something else in the profile that ties in somewhere. That might also explain why the Admin and Domain Admin acct Start Menus continue to work, since they're basically at default. Your mileage may vary..

• Anaheim
  Christian9499 Apr 25, 2016 at 01:44pm

  I followed all the steps but also without any luck.I am evaluating Win10 for our Company and this is the only problem I couldn't find a fitting workaround for. ..
  What I found out is, that this error somehow announces itself.
  Before I am no more able to click onto the start menu button without getting this odd error, I cannot access specific mapped DFS-drives/folders any more. This DFS-Folders (m:admindata ; m:kaspersky ) are mapped to hidden shares on my admin-Server and i should have RW-rights.
  I am still able to access DFS-folders within m:/ that are mapped to shares on other servers. AND I am able to access the M: shares to the admin-server from other computers I am still logged in.
  All shares are on servers with server 2012R2
  After a reboot the start menu is still dead but the shares are working again.
  Maybe this behavior will help someone findig a solution.

  Right now I am doing a bare metal restore from my network based Veeam Endpoint Storage every time this happens (about 8 times the last 3 months). This costs me 'only' 80 minutes at this workstation. Deleting and recreating/restoring the userprofile would take up to 3 hours. so you can see - not a very good workaround businesswise

• Chipotle
  Steven61 May 4, 2016 at 03:04pm

  I have had this happen to two different systems (an End User and Mine), it happened to my system about a month ago and I had not seen this post (not sure how I missed it) I simply reinstalled Windows 10 right over the top of the running version like an upgrade and that fixed the problem, my only issues with this is that of course it reinstalled all the Crap that Microsoft feels we need on a work system (xbox, solitaire..) but fortunately I have a couple PowerShell scripts (including the DeCrappifier in the SW script repository) that remove that stuff quickly. It also removed my Pinned Documents from the Applications pinned to my taskbar but that is a fairly small price to pay.

  I found this post while looking for an alternative to reinstalling Windows for my End Users system, Hadn't considered the Google Chrome aspect, but based on the steps above I may stick with simply reinstalling Windows 10 Again. :)

• Thai Pepper
  BenSetliff Jun 2, 2016 at 07:01pm

  Thank you! Just used this for my home computer that upgraded from 8.1 to 10.

• Pimiento
  recrujo Jan 17, 2017 at 08:25pm

  After trying everything else, found that this 'simple' solution worked !!! Thank you

• Pimiento
  CmdrSpiner Mar 24, 2017 at 11:58pm

  The PowerShell script restored the base Windows apps and shortcuts. Adding %appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart Menu to the indexing options restored all my installed programs. This solution restored complete Start menu functionality including the system icon and the tile screen. Brilliant! Thank you!

• Jalapeno
  Rich Stop May 9, 2017 at 06:18pm

  I had been having this issue for a couple of months and stumbled upon this solution. So far so good!

• Mace
  BiscuitKing May 14, 2019 at 01:33pm

  I haven't seen this happen yet but have saved this as a favorite just in case.