Taskbar Periodically Disappearing/Reappearing

Windows indicating Game Mode During This

from Stardock Forums

Hey all.

I've been using Groupy2 happily since launch. However, I've run into a strange problem that is impacting both a desktop and laptop. When Groupy is active, once in a while, my Windows taskbar will quickly disappear and reappear, almost like Explorer was restarted, though I don't believe it was. When this happens, my Microsoft Teams will flash the warning it puts up when you go in Do Not Disturb mode, which usually happens when doing something like starting a game. The only real commonality between my desktop and laptop is that they both use NVIDIA graphics (3080 on the desktop, 3060 mobile on the laptop), but other than that, their configurations are quite different.

Anyone run into this and have any thoughts on how to resolve it?

Thanks!

groupy taskbar windows 11
33,202 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I don't see the issue on my system. But, how do you determine that the issue is from Groupy2?

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok, First, please try these steps. Uninstall Groupy2, reboot immediately after the uninstall is done (important), reinstall Groupy2, reboot again. Retest it and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

No joy unfortunately. There must be a software conflict happening somewhere, but I'm not sure what it would be.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

It almost sounds like a window is being detected as filling the entire screen including the taskbar area.

What are you doing at the time?

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

As far as I can tell, nothing specifically. To my perception at least, it's random. I agree with your theory, I'm just not sure what's actually causing that because it stops if I disable Groupy. I'll keep my eye on things and see if I can determine a pattern.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

I have found the problem. The latest release of Groupy is conflicting with some component of DisplayFusion. I've used both for many years and it seems to be the Groupy 3 update where this started. Should I submit a support ticket for this? It could require a fair bit of troubleshooting to run down. Not running DisplayFusion is not an option.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 8

I have found the problem. The latest release of Groupy is conflicting with some component of DisplayFusion. I've used both for many years and it seems to be the Groupy 3 update where this started. Should I submit a support ticket for this? It could require a fair bit of troubleshooting to run down. Not running DisplayFusion is not an option.

We are not the only app that has had conflicts with Display Fusion (and other multi-mon) apps - I would guess you have seen a few others yourself.  This is not a knock on those products - we are sure they are well designed and constructed - it's the nature of what they do that is the issue. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Due respect, but that's not helpful. I've been using DisplayFusion for over a decade and have never had any issues with it conflicting with other applications (including Groupy) until Groupy 3. And turning off Groupy resolves the problem.

Is there going to be any kind of troubleshooting process done here to try to narrow down the conflict or is this just going to be a case of two applications I paid for passing the buck between each other?

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 11

I've been using DisplayFusion for over a decade and have never had any issues with it conflicting with other applications (including Groupy) until Groupy 3 Groupy 2. And turning off Groupy resolves the problem.

That is surprising as there are a few noted in their own forums:

https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/

Again, that is not a knock on them; they are a good group, make a fine product, and are as responsive as we are with clients. They have reached out to us for other issues in the past:

https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/can-displayfusion-conflict-with-start11/?ID=f4063d7b-a8cc-4745-8f11-b1399d51d21a

Have you since posted there and solicited feedback from them yet?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

I have not, but I will do so today. I agree that it could be on there end and they'll hopefully be able to find something. I just wondered if there was anything that could be done on this side (whether log retrieval or something else) to help narrow it down as well.

I'll post something in their forums shortly and we'll see what is said.

Thanks.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 13

I have not, but I will do so today. I agree that it could be on there end and they'll hopefully be able to find something. I just wondered if there was anything that could be done on this side (whether log retrieval or something else) to help narrow it down as well.

I'll post something in their forums shortly and we'll see what is said.

Thanks.

Very much looking forward to that, Parallax, and if there is something found we can help with, we would surely be open to doing so.

Thanks for the feedback and effort, Parallax.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Very much worth installing the 2.12 release of Groupy as well just to sure you have the latest version.

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Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Looks like 2.12 isn't installed at least on my laptop. Updating now and we'll see what happens!

Here's a random question: Do we actually have to reboot after updating any Stardock products or does that really matter? Always been curious. :)

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Since some Stardock product, such as Groupy, Fences, Windowblinds etc, work directly with Windows system. From what I know It is required to reboot the system after installed.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 16

Looks like 2.12 isn't installed at least on my laptop. Updating now and we'll see what happens!

Here's a random question: Do we actually have to reboot after updating any Stardock products or does that really matter? Always been curious. :)

Basj is correct.  However, I have often hoped that some magic code fairy would make it so that no app (we are certainly not alone) required a reboot post-update.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 19

Sadly, updating to the new version didn't help. :(

I created a thread on the DisplayFusion forums and linked it back here. Hopefully they have some thoughts.

Please do let is know if they respond.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey Sean.

They actually did. They asked me to pull some diagnostic logs from DisplayFusion and they're going to analyze them.

Thanks!

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Parallax, reply 21

Hey Sean.

They actually did. They asked me to pull some diagnostic logs from DisplayFusion and they're going to analyze them.

Thanks!

I had seen after I asked, yes.  That is encouraging.  Very willing to work with them should they ask for it. 

It is very much appreciated that you reached out to them.  While it may have initially seemed like we were lazily tasking you with doing it, as shown in your thread there, we knew there were things only you could provide and detail to them. 

Again, looking forward to what transpires there; thanks again. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks Sean. Yeah, I misunderstood what you saying. My bad. Working in IT, I am very used to vendors playing hot potato with issues so it tends to trip me up sometimes. :) The BinaryFortress guys have been helpful before (and TIL they're actually local to me) so we'll see what they say.

Cheers.

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Sounds a bit like the issue I posted about a while back...

https://forums.stardock.com/521400/get;3897052

Didn't get a response at the time but so I have just been monitoring.  I have also tested with DisplayFusion and Wallpaper Engine.  Same issue with the taskbar flickering when a wallpaper change is triggered.  At the time of my post I contacted the author of JBS but never received a reply.  

I have also tried testing in clean install VM's for both Win10 and 11 with nothing but JBS or DisplayFusion installed.  Both have the same taskbar flickering issue as soon as Groupy2 is added.  

Windows built-in wallpaper slideshow does not trigger the problem.