Office Start Menu Shortcuts Keep Vanishing!

I have Windows 8.1 Enterprise and Office 2013 Professional with all current updates installed. I prefer to run with Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook on the 'Start Menu' and until recently, this has been working fine. For the last couple
of weeks however the shortcuts for Word, Excel and Powerpoint keep vanishing! Strangely, the Outlook shortcut always remains! I can go to the all programs display, select them and use 'Pin to Start' and they obligingly appear, I move them into
the correct group, they stay there for a while and then vanish! It has even done it in front of my eyes! The Start Menu appeared to slide off to the right and then slide back. When it slid back into view, they were gone!
Has anyone else seen anything like this or have any idea what the problem may be?

Hi,
Was your computer in a Domain?
Please check if there is any schedule or GP to regularity reset Start screen layout.
Also, consider the corrupted user profile issue, you can check whether this issue also happened on another user account.
This issue can also be caused by corrupted system components, you can try to use this command to restore healthy:
Please make sure to run CMD as Administrator:
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Update this thread after you check my suggestions.
Kate Li
TechNet Community Support

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I would like to suggest you try these steps to figure out what could be causing this problem.
1. Run Troubleshooter
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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
In addition, you may refer to the following Microsoft TechNet article for the Windows Search related Group Policies.
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http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732491(WS.10).aspx
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Hi,
I would like to suggest you try these steps to figure out what could be causing this problem.
1. Run Troubleshooter
Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Search-and-Indexing-troubleshooter
2. Create a new library and include fewer folders for test purpose. Now search for a file from that folder. See if it works.
Create a new library
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-a-new-library
3. Try to rebuild search indexing. Refer the steps from the following article.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-advanced-indexing-options
Also you may use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to check the issue. The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.
How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
In addition, you may refer to the following Microsoft TechNet article for the Windows Search related Group Policies.
Group Policy for Windows Search
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732491(WS.10).aspx
Hope it helps.
Regards,
Blair Deng
Blair Deng
TechNet Community Support

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