Start11 Release Preview 2.05 Beta Feedback Thread

from Stardock Forums

With the Start11 Release Preview 2.05 beta release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the beta:

Object Desktop members can get the beta from within Object Desktop Manager with 'show beta downloads' enabled:

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page:

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Reporting an issue:

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Start11 v2 a better product.

start menu products
59,887 views 96 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Start11 2.0.6 Changelog (Released 11/08/2023)


11/08/2023

  • Release UI version 2.0 (Start11Config.exe version 2.0.0.6)

  • Resolves crash issue with launching apps from submenus on pinned taskbar items

  • Resolved issue with adding a folder as a group / tab causing a 30 second hang

  • Resolved issue with very slow Start11 configuration window when using ExplorerPatcher

  • Resolved issue with wrong icon showing when you have a pending update in the shutdown menu

  • Resolved potential crash issue after launching an application from the start menu

  • Resolved the non WinX menu animating down when right clicked on the start button instead of up

  • Tweaked DisplayFusion detection for their secondary monitor taskbars

  • Stopped FancyZones dragging window being detected as a fullscreen application for taskbar state

  • Stopped Microsoft XBox gaming overlay being detected as a fullscreen application for taskbar state

  • Added registry keys to replace the displayed username or mask the user picture.  These are S11_MaskUserIcon set to 1 (REG_SZ value) and S11_OverrideUserName set to whatever you want the new name to be.  These are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8

  • Resolved issue with pinned folders not working if they were filtered folders instead showing access denied
    11) Changed icon on Start11_64.exe

  • Fixed installer issue where PinMenu.exe shortcut was created in All Programs \ Stardock (confusing that it was the main exe).

  • Resolved standard Win11 start button being clipped when using some rounded taskbar horizontal offsets - Needs enhanced taskbar enabled

  • Added in support for some lang strings it was not loading up on the menu

  • Speeded-up animations for right-click menus

  • Clicking between the shutdown and sign-out menu should now work

  • Initial import of Win11 pinned menu items now handles pinned websites correctly rather than making lots of MS Edge shortcuts

  • Resolved issue with rounded taskbar causing painting problems with left/right taskbars on Windows 10.  Rounded mode only supports horizontal taskbar

  • Resolved issue changing between non-max to maxed state not changing rounded taskbar state unless another setting was also changed

  • Resolved Windows App style image in config appearing darker than other thumbnails

  • Removed beta text from UI

  • Tweaked center taskbar on Win10 logic

  • Resolved white bar on the start button page

  • Added translucency to right-click menus when on Windows 11 when not using a skin that skins them

  • Resolved menus which should animate upwards animating down instead when too big for the screen

  • Resolved sign out menu overlapping sign-out button when using Win11 style menu with a taskbar at the top of the screen

  • Resolved/reduced custom start button clipping when using rounded taskbar horizontal offsets

11/06/2023

  • Start11Config.exe 2.0.0.5

  • Resolved issue with blur state on maximized windows not overriding to off correctly

  • Enhanced options for rounded taskbar and moved to their own section to avoid UI clutter

  • Resolved issue on Win11 when clicking parts of the config UI to bring it to the top not working

  • Fix painting of restart explorer button thats painting white corners on Win11 incorrectly

  • Resolved issue with not being able to resize the taskbar when using Win10 style buttons on Win11

  • Adjusted settings reload logic to prevent overlapped reloads

  • Added prompts for explorer restarts for features which need it

  • Some UI tidy up

  • Resolved issue with Enhanced mode autohide on Windows 11 not always resetting maximized window area

  • Resolved issue with Win10 style menus incorrectly picking the Windows 11 style text positioning for items in tabbed groups

  • Resolved issue with all apps list not always refreshing when apps were installed or uninstalled

  • Reduced frequency of reloading main menu contents when changes are made to things which are not on the menus

  • Resolved issue with changes to fences causing a refresh of the Start11 menu when there are no fences on the pages

  • Resolved issue with recent documents not showing

  • Resolved issue with some folders not showing contents as a pinned group

  • Resolved a memory and resource leak caused by right click menus

  • Resolved issue with rapid opening of the right click taskbar menu causing actions to happen more than once if selected

  • Resolved reset button for rounded corners settings not resetting correctly

  • Resolved vertically centre taskbar buttons causing a shift when using rounded taskbar buttons

  • Resolved issue with custom colour button in UI being enabled after toggling use Mica effect checkbox incorrectly sometimes

  • Resolved issue caused by new rounded corners mode which caused a looping issue when a fullscreen non maximized window was open

  • Removed double prompt for deletion from a popup folder menu

11/03/2023

  • Config now correctly paints left-hand icons when in dark mode

  • Resolved issue with alpha on maximized mode taskbar not saving correctly

  • Resolved issue with Win10 style button progress bars not painting correctly

  • Added option to make taskbar button backgrounds more solid, ideal for when using very transparent taskbar

  • Tweaked rounded corners on client area content of configuration window

  • Added options to control the rounded taskbar radius and offsets from screen borders

  • Resolved issue with disabling autohide in Start11 config not turning it off

  • Resolved issue with Start11 autohide mode not working with rounded taskbar correctly

  • Added animations to the rounded taskbar

  • Resolved being unable to use the delete option from taskbar popup menus

  • Filtered folders no longer take full path into consideration when filtering 

  • Resolved issue with dark icons being inverted incorrectly when on a dark background

  • Resolved issue with rounded TB going away when not using Enhanced taskbar in S11

  • Resolved issue with toggling Win10/Win11 style taskbar buttons needing an explorer restart.  
    Note: The progress bars on this are still painting as a line rather than a full background, this should be fixed next build.

  • Resolved issue with launching task manager from the taskbar menu locking up the taskbar initially

  • Added new Windows 10 style taskbar buttons

  • Added mode to always combine pinned items but unpin everything else until there is no space

  • Added extra large taskbar mode

  • Added font face and size override control to taskbar

  • Added options to hide the start button on the primary and secondary monitors when on Win11 with enhanced Taskbar enabled

  • Added options to control if a pinned item should show on all monitors, just the primary, just the secondary or automatic based on OS setting

  • Added Start11 autohide mode.  Requires Win11 22H2 or later

  • Added new options to control blur, color, rounded corners, and transparency of the taskbar when maximized window vs normal state

  • Shadow text tweaked to improve visuals

  • Resolved the issue of not being able to view the hidden items list for All apps on the Win10 and Win App style menus

  • Resolved issue with Win11 not saving the correct virtual desktop page for opening a page when on a specified virtual desktop

  • Resolved issue with open menu on this page for current desktop menu item not always showing on all menus (bar Win7/Modern which do not have pages)

  • Tweaked painting of page picker icons as current page one would sometimes paint incorrectly

  • Resolved issue with folder icons not painting an icon when in align left mode

  • Resolved issue with being unable to resize Win Pro menu from right hand side when using narrow mode

  • Resolved issue with hiding recent apps not sticking after restart for Win Launcher/Pro/Apps menu styles

  • Resolved issue with a right click on the top taskbar causing the menu to appear partially offscreen

  • Resolved issue with new search box for apps in some styles not scaling font correctly in mixed dpi setups

  • Resolved issue with inverted text colour on a tabbed group also applying to + and filter icons in the group header

  • Resolved issue with missing color palette choice when clicking on appearance menu link rather than opening via mouseover

  • Adjusted text shadows so DPI is taken into account

  • Added UI option to override Start11 detection of the touch mode taskbar in Win11 22H2 and later should the taskbar contents be misaligned

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Known issues

  • Multi line taskbars in enhanced mode may be taller than needed when rounded.  Also OS autohide does not work with rounded taskbars, they will be square.  It does work with Start11 autohide mode (Win11 22H2 and above)
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

***Reserved***

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Does this still say 2.0 Beta 2 or did I download the wrong one? I was expecting 2.0 Beta 3?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting djc5166, reply 4

Does this still say 2.0 Beta 2 or did I download the wrong one? I was expecting 2.0 Beta 3?

Beta 2 is correct.  The previous ones were beta 1 and 1.02.  This gets a whole number change.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

New beta now deletes files!!  TYTY!  Unfortunately, it also prompts me 2x to delete it:

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

I just updated to the beta version... and had posted shortly before the new version was released, so sorry for the repost. I have the same issue in this beta version. Also the settings interface is VERY slow now...

Original post:

Hi, so far, the upgrade to v2 is nice. The one feature that ALMOST works for me (which is the only reason I have stayed with Win 10 taskbar vs Win11 taskbar, is the ability to pin "This PC" to the taskbar. This version allows me to show all items in This PC, but I can't get submenus to work, so I can't navigate my entire computer from the taskbar like I do on Win 10 taskbar using "toolbars" feature that's been around since probably Win98, if I'm not mistaken....

I did turn on "Show folders as submenus" on the Taskbar pins option page. But, again, clicking on This PC icon in the taskbar just brings up the items for This PC, but not submenus allowing me to navigate through the subdirectories.

Is this intended, or a bug? If intended, please add this feature... with this, you guys will have completely fixed Win 11 for me!

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

On 2.03, now system tray/clock eventually stops animating/updating, although you can still click on it. Tray overflow flyout also becomes non-functional. Did not have this behavior on 2.02.

Also hovering over taskbar buttons stops highlighting them, and window preview stops displaying.

W11 23H2
Modern Style + Enhanced Taskbar

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting djc5166, reply 9

On 2.03, now system tray/clock eventually stops animating/updating, although you can still click on it. Tray overflow flyout also becomes non-functional. Did not have this behavior on 2.02.

Also hovering over taskbar buttons stops highlighting them, and window preview stops displaying.

W11 23H2
Modern Style + Enhanced Taskbar

I have seen this as well. Typically I have to reboot. I tried reloading explorer and signing out which did not work.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Narusegawa, reply 10

I have seen this as well. Typically I have to reboot. I tried reloading explorer and signing out which did not work.

It's weird, everything is still actually functional but it is not painting the updates on the taskbar. Things like my CoreTemp/Afterburner temperature readings go blank. The start menu itself is still updating though.

 

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting djc5166, reply 11


Quoting Narusegawa Naru,
reply 10


I have seen this as well. Typically I have to reboot. I tried reloading explorer and signing out which did not work.




It's weird, everything is still actually functional but it is not painting the updates on the taskbar. Things like my CoreTemp/Afterburner temperature readings go blank. The start menu itself is still updating though.

 


For me clicks work but not in the correct order. For example when I click on a taskbar button the button left of it is clicked. However you are right in that no painting occurs. This includes mouseover, clicks, etc...

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

There is a lot to dig into on this update as it is a pretty big one. I think the first thing to talk about is going to be Windows 12's.. Oops I mean start 11's rounded corner taskbar. The Y offset adjustment is pretty cool as it turns the taskbar into a floating one. However, I am not sure I like the Y offset to be in equal amounts with both below the taskbar and above it. I feel the small offset is about as much as I will ever want when it comes to above the taskbar. Anything more then that starts to eat into screen space for my personal preference. However below the taskbar I could feel more comfortable with a higher level. Overall I do love to see the floating taskbar come to life here.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I have a question. Since Start11 now controls "Group widths," is it necessary to turn on "Show more tiles on start?"

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting pelaird, reply 14

I have a question. Since Start11 now controls "Group widths," is it necessary to turn on "Show more tiles on start?"

It is not.  That simply sets it to 8 wide I think.  It remains to avoid user confusion if they cannot find the right click menu option for it.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting PhoenixRising1, reply 13

There is a lot to dig into on this update as it is a pretty big one. I think the first thing to talk about is going to be Windows 12's.. Oops I mean start 11's rounded corner taskbar. The Y offset adjustment is pretty cool as it turns the taskbar into a floating one. However, I am not sure I like the Y offset to be in equal amounts with both below the taskbar and above it. I feel the small offset is about as much as I will ever want when it comes to above the taskbar. Anything more then that starts to eat into screen space for my personal preference. However below the taskbar I could feel more comfortable with a higher level. Overall I do love to see the floating taskbar come to life here.

The issue with what you want there is when switching from rounded to non rounded the items will shift position or have a non equal amount above and below items.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 16


Quoting PhoenixRising1,
reply 13

There is a lot to dig into on this update as it is a pretty big one. I think the first thing to talk about is going to be Windows 12's.. Oops I mean start 11's rounded corner taskbar. The Y offset adjustment is pretty cool as it turns the taskbar into a floating one. However, I am not sure I like the Y offset to be in equal amounts with both below the taskbar and above it. I feel the small offset is about as much as I will ever want when it comes to above the taskbar. Anything more then that starts to eat into screen space for my personal preference. However below the taskbar I could feel more comfortable with a higher level. Overall I do love to see the floating taskbar come to life here.



The issue with what you want there is when switching from rounded to non rounded the items will shift position or have a non equal amount above and below items.

I think what he is talking about is that screen space added below the taskbar is in an equal amount added to the screen space above the taskbar. The screen space below gives the floating effect, while the screen space above pushes the start menu up the amount of the Y setting creating a much wider gap between the taskbar and the start menu. What I hear is that he thinks the Y setting should only add screen space below the taskbar.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm running Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045.3570) with a custom scaling factor of 125% and the latest Start11 v2 beta.

Some of the icons are fuzzy in Start11 if you compare them to the Windows 10 start menu:

Windows 10:

Start11:

As you can see, the Notepad++ icon is a different/more fuzzy one. Other icons are also more fuzzy.

Windows 10:

Start11:

And here you can see that Start11 even uses different/older more fuzzy Thunderbird icons.

If you follow, for example, the "Thunderbird - Calendar" icon and open the file location in Windows Explorer, you'll see that it uses the new Thunderbird icon:

But Start11 somehow uses old and/or fuzzy icons...

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey everyone, first post here and first time using Start11.

Where can i download beta 2.03 as a trial? I've already tried the previous beta and found many bugs, and i was about to report them, but i guess there's little point now that a new version is available. So i'd like to try out 2.03 and report back. 

I'm liking Start11 v2 beta so far but there's too many bugs that i want to see fixed before the final release before i buy it.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting peter-fb, reply 18

I'm running Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045.3570) with a custom scaling factor of 125% and the latest Start11 v2 beta.

Some of the icons are fuzzy in Start11 if you compare them to the Windows 10 start menu:

Windows 10:



Start11:



As you can see, the Notepad++ icon is a different/more fuzzy one. Other icons are also more fuzzy.

Windows 10:



Start11:



And here you can see that Start11 even uses different/older more fuzzy Thunderbird icons.

If you follow, for example, the "Thunderbird - Calendar" icon and open the file location in Windows Explorer, you'll see that it uses the new Thunderbird icon:



But Start11 somehow uses old and/or fuzzy icons...

The wrong icon for thunderbird is probably an icon caching issue in the OS.  We use what the OS supplies us for the size we ask for.

We will look into the fuzzy icon issue, though I have to ask why a custom scaling factor of 125%?  Non standard scaling factors are not recommended as apps will be forced to resize images sometimes in a non optimal manner.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Had to just turn off Enhanced Taskbar for now, it is just unusable in v2.03 at the moment.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting djc5166, reply 21

Had to just turn off Enhanced Taskbar for now, it is just unusable in v2.03 at the moment.

What settings do you have enabled for that as we are not experiencing any issues here with it.

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 16

The issue with what you want there is when switching from rounded to non rounded the items will shift position or have a non equal amount above and below items.

I believe I may have left out an important detail here

When using the inverted Y axis AND also when apps or file explorer is set to either maximized screen OR a snap layout there is also an inversion between the bottom of the maximized app and taskbar that is equal to the space between the bottom of the taskbar and bottom of the screen. What I am trying to express is that the space between the maximized app and the top of the taskbar should be less in space compared to the bottom of the taskbar and the bottom of the screen.

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 22


Quoting djc5166,
reply 21

Had to just turn off Enhanced Taskbar for now, it is just unusable in v2.03 at the moment.



What settings do you have enabled for that as we are not experiencing any issues here with it.



Actually it doesn't seem related to enhanced taskbar. The system tray ended up freezing even without enhanced taskbar enabled.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting djc5166, reply 24


Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 22






Quoting djc5166,

reply 21


Had to just turn off Enhanced Taskbar for now, it is just unusable in v2.03 at the moment.



What settings do you have enabled for that as we are not experiencing any issues here with it.



Actually it doesn't seem related to enhanced taskbar. The system tray ended up freezing even without enhanced taskbar enabled.

Are you using lots of right click menus / popup menus provided by Start11?

and are you using the rounded taskbar feature or not?