Start 11 randomly disappears on main monitor

No idea what causes it.

from Stardock Forums

I'm on version 2.11.

Sometimes when I boot up windows Start 11 is nowhere to be seen on my main monitor. This is very annoying as I can't seem to get the taskbar on my second monitor when this happens. Makes me unable to start Discord as it's always starting in the background for an example. Sometimes it's working but after playing a game or doing some other activity it suddenly disappears again and is only showing up again if I'm lucky after I reboot.

My apologies: when I'm mentioning the "taskbar" I'm referring to the space where you see the clock and some small icons in the right corner of the screen.


Below you can see the "start11" bar is visible - this is my main screen. All screenshots are taken of my main screen. This particular screenshot below doesn't show the space where the clock and date is visible, although it is.


What does it look like? Well. Sometimes the bar is visible like above, other times it seems like it has moved below the screens viewpoint revealing a single pixel worth of visibility. If I drag my mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen and click somewhere I can start apps - but I can't hit the button opening the task bar. I can't take a screenshot of it unless I use an external camera which I have done, semi-poorly.



Again Sorry: "TASKBAR" I'm referring to is the area where the clock and date should be for an example.

taskbar should be here, also start bar in.

start menu products
8,457 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know more on your Windows full version and OS Build number.

Also, please try this, uninstall Start11 reboot immediately, re-download Start11v2.11 directly from your account product download page. Install it. Reboot immediately again right after installation is done. Retest and report back.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello basj,

Thanks for your help. I've now done as instructed. Will begin testing if problem persists. Hopefully I will remember to come back here with new updates whether it works or not.

Windows 10 Pro
Version: 22H2
Build: 19045.4894

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Great, hope that fix it, but, if it is not, do report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

It worked for a day roughly  but it's starting to act up again - whole bar is missing from the main screen. ^_^'

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you for the suggestion! I will try to take some time to test this.
However I've recently remembered how this started, it was after some Windows update a 2-3 months ago when using Start 11. I've been sick for a long time so I just haven't had the mental strength to start investigating. I have used Start10 at least 3 years before I upgraded and it's never acted up before! I haven't added anything new to my start-up routine since then.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

After two days of testing I can't say I have become any wiser. I have tried 'clean boot'. It worked fine.

The problem is that I can't pin point a cause. Sometimes it works all day without issues and sometimes it's disappeared very soon after logging into Windows - OR it disappears after playing a game in fullscreen.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Do you have any other 3rd party application that also change how your taskbar work? For example, Displayfusion, Explorerpatcher, StartAllBack etc and some hardware monitor software add their own icon/notification on taskbar tray area. Please also look into software that come preinstall in your system. Graphics Drivers overlays etc

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

I do not to my knowledge. I can list all the apps I have in my taskbar tray area.

- Powertoys
- Nvidia Settings
- Netlimiter
- Wireguard
- Plex Media Server
- Daemon Tools Ultra
- Bluestacks (android emulator)
- reWASD (reprograms game controller)
- ROCCAT Tyon (mouse)
- MSi afterburner
- Slack
- Camera Hug (elgato)
- Listary (Apple spotlight search for windows)
- Malwarebytes
- Wallpaper Engine (animated wallpapers - steam)
- Rainmeter
- Steam
- Lightshot
- Adobe
- EOS Utility
- Spotify
- Mailbird
- IDM(internet download manager)

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

I don't have some of those listed on my system to verify. What you can do is, try look into those than have interaction with your system display. For example, Wallpaper Engine, try using static wallpaper for few days and see if the issue appear. Also, Powertoys, which Powertoys utilities you turn on everytime? For me, I just use FancyZone and no issue on that one.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

I have tried to deactivate Wallpaper Engine from initializing at boot (since October 8) and this seems to have remedied the issue.

So that's a relief!

Not sure if it's Wallpaper Engine in it self that causes the issue or if there's some settings within the app that causes Start 11 to act this way. Don't you think it's strange that it only affects the main screen and not both?

I have contacted them and asked if there's a chance they might look into this possible conflict, hoping they'd answer.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Updating this thread regarding Wallpaper Engine not being compatible with Start 11.
I have sent several messages in various ways to the developers about this but I haven't received any answers so I would assume they don't care.

TLDR
If you want to keep using Start 11, unless Stardock wants to look into this issue themselves - be prepared to lose your beloved wallpaper app in turn to use Start 11.

Reply #13 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 #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting hellodanko, reply 12

Updating this thread regarding Wallpaper Engine not being compatible with Start 11.
I have sent several messages in various ways to the developers about this but I haven't received any answers so I would assume they don't care.

TLDR
If you want to keep using Start 11, unless Stardock wants to look into this issue themselves - be prepared to lose your beloved wallpaper app in turn to use Start 11.

Its not a slight on WPE, they make a fine and very popular product, but it's not the 1st time we have had reported issues like this when WPE is used.

That said, when this happens, if you restart Windows Explorer, does it resolve the issue?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager