Hi.. "The issue reads like a Windows Explorer issue.  Are you using OpenShell when trying to install Start11?  If so, that could be bad.  Please uninstall OpenShell, reboot, and try the Start11 installation again." - I only added Openshell when I couldn't get start11 to install properly.. but will uninstall it, and try installing start11 again.. didn't try restarting explorer last time.. but that would be a pain to do every time the laptop reboots.. will review your notes on using WinDBG, and see if that can find the cause of the issue.. as mention before it's a new laptop, with only drivers installed, now updated version of windows (came with old version of windows 11, but upgrading it to the latest version made zero difference). I guess I could try removing the antivirus software it came with as I have a multi site license of macfee livesafe I could use instead. very little else on startup (I hope). will come back to to this tomorrow or should I say later today (00:43am here). Thanks again for your help. Perhaps my other statement was a bit unfair, and from your own perspective would be nice to know the cause of the issue. Openshell is a fine menu replacement but doesn't have all the functionality of start11.. (as well as the fact I like the grid layout version).

I do agree that something else must be making the blank desktop/zero taskbars on booting up as worked fine when installing into a windows sandbox.. aka interfering with explorer to cause the following memory buffer error:

Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 10.0.22621.4249, time stamp: 0x9d940356
Faulting module name: Start10_64.dll, version: 2.1.1.0, time stamp: 0x66d9d587
Exception code: 0xc0000409
Fault offset: 0x0000000000287f0d
Faulting process id: 0x0x2468
Faulting application start time: 0x0x1DB199BB21793C9
Faulting application path: C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start11\Start10_64.dll
Report Id: cccfff15-9768-47fb-8fae-7750060f6382
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID

Fault bucket 1458925900746444638, type 5
Event Name: BEX64
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: Explorer.EXE
P2: 10.0.22621.4249
P3: 9d940356
P4: Start10_64.dll
P5: 2.1.1.0
P6: 66d9d587
P7: 0000000000287f0d
P8: c0000409
P9: 0000000000000007
P10:

I had better redefine what I said about 'new' - it's new to me hehe.. perhaps I shouldn't have used the term 'brand new' - it was a refurbished laptop from an authorized microsoft dealership. So I was wrong to call it 'brand new' - in fact I don't think lenovo even make the P52 workstation anymore ? Got a brand new SSD on it, as the supplier replaced the SSD to a 1TB drive (they I believe never shipped with 1TB SSDs), and 64GB of ram. Agree shouldn't have stated it was 'brand new' - as would have raised eyebrows on it been a lenovo P52.

Hi - sorry for the delay. had a few issues even accessing windbg when it appeared as a task... (explorer crashes, so taskbar becomes none responsive to even get to the windbg 'popup' (which went minimized).. but here is a link to the .dbg file zipped up.

I hope it helps find the cause of the issue.. 

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AksdqN_62R70eM2v1U-a3P1C3kY?e=63bKm4

Cheers.

Ian

I hope my windbg dump proves useful.. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AksdqN_62R70eM2v1U-a3P1C3kY?e=63bKm4

I provided  a windbg file zipped up and downloadable link, but on "If it fails (black screen \ no taskbar), do the CTRL + Atl + Del to get to 'Task Manager'.  Find 'Windows Explorer' and 'restart' the process.  If its not running at all (bad but would explain a lot), run it" - as explained  b4there is no windows explorer task showing to restart as start11 crashes it, hence the completely blank desktop / no task bar. I did a SFC scan and that also showed no problems.

You would use Ctrl + Alt + Delete to get to Task Manager - its one of the menu options when you do. You would then start Windows Explorer manually as I showed in my image.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

thanks, tried it but explorer will ONLY restart when start11 is removed as a process and service is disabled - with start11 still running, explorer sadly will not restart. Hoping the windbg file supplied offers some support (shows how it conflicted with explorer and therefore crashed the desktop/taskbars).. also did yet another malware/antivirus scan and nothing found.

Thanks.

will leave start11 installed but disabled for now, where the laptop is working fine again.

if i read the windbg error correctly start11 appears to be conflicting with the windows system VERSION.DLL ? or at least it is on my laptop.

Hello reading through this long thread, I was wondering if there was any solution, as I am experiencing the same thing - blank desktop just after installing Start 11 but trial version ?

What Anti-virus software are each of you using?

Are the PCs on a corporate network or home use?

profbaldwin, need to also know what version of Windows for you (winver.exe).

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hi thanks for getting back.. anti virus software made no difference.. originally came with ESET Internet Security - got the blank windows desktop (with inability to restart explorer, as start11 v2 immediately crashes it again), I removed ESET internet security, as also thought it might be antivirus software, but got exactly the same problem (but didn't see any reference to it in the windbg file I provided here) without it - just using windows defender only. Doubt it is the anti virus software.. as again get the same problem just with windows defender only. Only Home use, no corporate network.. obviously using wifi for internet. Very little still actually installed on it.. refurb laptop to be exact, but I brand new formatted SSD drive on it on delivery. Hope this helps.

to be honest for myself, i provided as requested the windbg file, but not sure if anyone has even looked at it.. but kind of moved on now.. left start11 (which was the version downloaded with the 5 license copy from my profile here, but again never get as far as been able to add the license details - 2 licenses used on two windows 10 laptops, where it works 100% fine there) installed but disabled it so can use the P52 laptop.. bought org. for the dedicated graphics card (low level ai work, but no python installed as yet, not actively been using the laptop) - has the default intel graphics one, and a dedicated quadro p1000 as is standard on the lower entry level lenovo P52 laptops. Not sure what else my end I can provide. It's a weird one, as mentioned I have start11 working totally 100% fine on my other windows 10 pro laptops, it's just this windows 11 one having problems.. it seems to be crashing with version.dll in as far as I understand the output of the supplied windbg dump file.

We have looked at it and why I asked what security software you are using.  The crash is happening reading your Machine SID. In my 12 years, I have never seen that happen.  My 1st thought was some security software did not like that we were looking it up.

Because you said it works on a Windows Sandbox, the next natural step is to see if it works under a clean boot.  

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1334935592/Start11+Clean+Boot

This would be the closest we could get to eliminating all 3rd party software and errant Windows settings.  However, if you were unwilling to proceed, ok.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hi thanks for the reply, and looking into it, if it's just setting up a new fresh account and not a complete OS reinstall, I will try to do it today hopefully (quickly looking at the link, looks that way).. it would still be nice to sort out the issue. Thanks for at least finding out the cause of the issue (and it's classic my luck to have a laptop that does it rofl). Yes it worked on windows sandbox. I am pretty sure that on laptop right now I only have windows defender on it, but it's always possible some lenovo driver or 'optimization' service is interferring, so yes it's worth doing.. will try to do it later today.

Thanks.

Hi I tried to setup a local administrator account via instructions but when i bootup on windows 11 it doesn't show it as an option to sign into via password, also trying to switch account doesn't work either from ctrl-alt-del (just shows the default login).. weird laptop.. although i don't like to give up on issues, I think I am going to close this one.. the idea of a clean boot by disabling all services isn't really a valid option esp. with second graphics card.. also ideally need to know the state before i do a mass disable. Sorry to disappoint, but laptop seems to work totally fine without start11, and doesn't negate the quality of your software as it does work fine on my other windows 10 laptops.

Thanks again for your help.. maybe in a few months time I will come back to it.. maybe a future version of start11 will magically work on this laptop..