Start8 1.02 Update Now Available

A new update is out today for Start8.  Ease the transition to Windows 8 with Start8 by bringing the familiarity of the Windows 7-style start menu along with additional enhancements to Microsoft’s new Windows 8 release.

New in the v1.01 update:

  • US English installs with a language pack installed now pickup the correct language rather than US English.
  • New option for when in a modern UI application to have the Windows key switch to the Windows desktop vs the Start8 menu or Win8 menu.
  • New option for when on the desktop for the Windows key to switch to the last active Modern UI application. If none are running then nothing happens.
  • The height of the start menu now adjusts instantly when you add lots of shortcuts on the right hand side list.
  • Recent Items and Favorites shortcuts now load the translation correctly.
  • Search now shows full results for program search on non English installs.
  • RTL languages like arabic now show the start menu in the correct orientation and position.
  • Fix for all programs text being backwards with RTL languages. Added registry key to enable bottom left corner Modern UI start menu hotcorner. This is enabled by setting AllowStartHotCorner to 1 in the usual Start8 registry keys location.
  • Added registry key to enable winkey + ctrl to emulate right windows key. This is enabled by setting CtrlWinKey to 1 in the usual Start8 registry keys location.
  • Added support for command line parameters via the search field.
  • Made the shutdown button menu auto show on hover on the arrow.
  • When hotspots are disabled the upper right hand pixel is now clickable.
  • Some applications did not remember their maximized window state on launch. This is now resolved.
  • On some machines search could show missing results at the top of the list on slow painting, fast searching machines. This is now resolved.
  • When the taskbar is positioned on the right hand side of the screen the start menu now correctly expands left on jump lists rather than right.
  • With languages where items on the right hand side are exceptionally long, additional space is now allocated to stop them truncating.
  • Fixed a small bug with accessing the Run and Desktop from the Win + X menu when accessed via right click.
  • Separator lines on the right hand side of the list were misaligned when the taskbar was not at the bottom of the screen. This is now resolved.
  • Drag & drop sorting of pinned shortcuts would produce the wrong order with more than 10 pinned items as well as on some quick machines. This is now resolved.
  • Attempting to drag icons using the right mouse button will no longer cause Start8 to wait for escape to be pressed.
  • Right clicking on items in the all programs tree view and adding them as a link no longer causes the tree to refresh and close open folders.
  • Items in the all programs tree view now pickup the native OS translation such as Editor for Notepad on German installs.
  • Tweaks to improve going straight to desktop after login feature.
  • Fixed an issue causing a crash on load due to a modern UI icon parsing issue.
  • Small tweak to all programs tree icon loading.

Registered users can download the update from their account page at https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products or via Stardock Central.

If you're using the trial, you can also get the new build by having an email sent from the Start8 download page at https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/download.asp.

10.18.2012-13.36

17,302 views 20 replies
Reply #1 Top

Wow nice! Thanks for all the fixes and enhancements!

 

You guys are the best! Are you hiring developers? :)

Reply #2 Top

Quoting cookmv, reply 1
Wow nice! Thanks for all the fixes and enhancements!

 

You guys are the best! Are you hiring developers?
End of cookmv's quote
What do you develop?

Reply #3 Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 2

Quoting cookmv, reply 1Wow nice! Thanks for all the fixes and enhancements!

 

You guys are the best! Are you hiring developers? What do you develop?
End of Zubaz's quote

 

GUI applications in C# and J2EE/JSF stuff in Java.

Reply #4 Top

Thanks for Start8 Stardock I LOVE it !, Best 5 bucks I have ever spent  :)

 

I have 1.00 running now whats the best way to install the new version, Do I just run the setup while the other one is running ?

 

Does it overwrite the old version ?

 

FYI: The Check for Updates in the Start8 CP is saying theres no updates available.

Reply #5 Top

Quoting garikfox, reply 5
Thanks for Start8 Stardock I LOVE it !, Best 5 bucks I have ever spent  

 

I have 1.00 running now whats the best way to install the new version, Do I just run the setup while the other one is running ?

 

Does it overwrite the old version ?

 

FYI: The Check for Updates in the Start8 CP is saying theres no updates available.
End of garikfox's quote

 

I was wondering the same thing about the installation. I also have the same issue with it showing now updates available. I happened to find out about it on MajorGeeks.

 

EDIT > Just installed it over the top of the existing install and it worked fine.

Reply #6 Top

The check for updates will not indicate there are updates until download.com is updated as it is a poor user experience to install it and find it wants an update instantly.

I imagine it will be set next week.

Reply #7 Top

Hi all, this version 1.01 on this page is final version or prerelease?

Because when I open Start8 configuration and click on check updates not shows me any updates.

Thanks for reply.

Reply #8 Top

Quoting m1chael2, reply 8
Hi all, this version 1.01 on this page is final version or prerelease?

Because when I open Start8 configuration and click on check updates not shows me any updates.

Thanks for reply.
End of m1chael2's quote

It is the release 1.01.

Due to delays in updating download.com the check for updates will not detect any updates until early next week.

Reply #9 Top

I am unable to emulate the right windows key. I go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8, right-click, new string value, Value=CtrlWinKey and data=1. Is this wrong?

Reply #10 Top

Also, the top left hot corner doesn't work, when the taskbar is on the left of the screen (vertically).

Reply #11 Top

Quoting Dockerio, reply 10
I am unable to emulate the right windows key. I go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8, right-click, new string value, Value=CtrlWinKey and data=1. Is this wrong?
End of Dockerio's quote

Did you reboot after adding that?

Reply #12 Top

Im assuming the correct way to reactivate Start8 is first time run click "Register" button then if you re-install Win8 you install it then "Login" instead of clicking "Register" again ?

Reply #13 Top

Quoting Neil, reply 12

Quoting Dockerio: I am unable to emulate the right windows key. I go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8, right-click, new string value, Value=CtrlWinKey and data=1. Is this wrong?

Did you reboot after adding that?
End of Neil's quote

Yes. If I understand correctly, this should enable the Metro Start screen with Win+Ctrl. I've also enabled the relevant option in "Control" but it doesn't work. Running with UAC disabled.

Reply #14 Top

Ctrl+Win key doesn't work with or without modification of registry key and restart after it. Version 1.02

Top-left hot corner with vertical bar on the left side doesn't show anything.

There is an option to disable Start8? I couldn't find it.

I think that it could be nice option show Start menu as normal application and move start icon to different position on Taskbar and leave behaviour of Windows 8 as is. Only show Start menu nothing else. Maybe assign Ctrl+Win or Shift+Win to show it.

Reply #15 Top

To disable Start8 just go to Administrative Tools > Services and right-click on the Stardock Start8 entry. You can then choose to Stop it from running. If you want to stop it running with Windows then change the Automatic setting to Manual (or Disabled). Best to set to Manual though then you can still run it from a shortcut if you want to.

Reply #16 Top

I see that v1.02 is available.

 

Thanks. -_-

Reply #18 Top

Quoting panenka, reply 15
Ctrl+Win key doesn't work with or without modification of registry key and restart after it. Version 1.02

Top-left hot corner with vertical bar on the left side doesn't show anything.

There is an option to disable Start8? I couldn't find it.

I think that it could be nice option show Start menu as normal application and move start icon to different position on Taskbar and leave behaviour of Windows 8 as is. Only show Start menu nothing else. Maybe assign Ctrl+Win or Shift+Win to show it.
End of panenka's quote

I have double checked and the Ctrl + winkey is working correctly here to emulate a right windows key press.

As long as HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8 has a value called CtrlWinKey with data 1 and type REG_SZ it should be working fine.  Make sure you have the checkbox on the control page called "show the windows 7 menu when I press the right windows key" ticked and that you set the correct one as there are two controls with that name.  One is for when you are at the desktop, the other for when you are in a modern UI application.

Regarding hiding the start button, you can set the image to a blank image to hide it.  We supply such an image with Start8.

Reply #19 Top

Quoting Krustak, reply 18
Can I have info about 1,02? Changelog? Thank you...
End of Krustak's quote

Updated in v1.02:

  • Added typing "C:" in the start menu will launch Explorer to that location.
  • Fixed backspace on empty search box causing the search screen to show blank
  • Fixed non 100% dpi settings causing the start menu to appear too large
  • Fixed Metro apps icons not scaling with higher dpi
  • Fixed occasional corruption of All Programs tree icons on some machines
  • Fixed timing issue sometimes causing explorer to restart if you rapidly clicked the start button
Reply #20 Top

I'm sorry Ctrl+Win as right Win doesn't work. I checked all things again and still no success.

Quoting Neil, reply 19

Regarding hiding the start button, you can set the image to a blank image to hide it.  We supply such an image with Start8.
End of Neil's quote

I don't want disable Start button at all, I want move it to different place on taskbar and work with menu like with another application because current usage of it disable behaviours of Windows 8. I don't want disable behaviours of Windows 8 I want live with them an I want only add Start menu to it.

BTW I must thank you for tab Style. I didn't understand it till I try it. I found that your Windows 7 style with square edges of Windows 8 with flag picture is best option and I found too that Windows 8 styles are not bad too. Thanks once again.