What happened to my icons on the start menu?

[Windows Central Question]

The arrow that is at the bottom left of the start menu (windows 8.1) is missing and instead is a rectangular box. Also in the same start menu in the top right where the account profile picture and name is, to the right of that there are two boxes. Suggesting that something is missing. Please respond with a fix or a link to where I could ask this on Microsoft website.(Couldn't find a place to ask)