RC1 Taskbar empty + Explorer Issues

Also can you check if there is anything in the event log around the time which might prove useful.

Obviously depending on your level of technical knowledge a dmp file from a crash would be great, but understandable if thats not something you have any experience with.

I use Dual Monitor tools to control mouse pointer . event viewer has a lot of yellow and red issues but all refer to dcom , kernel, disk and so. Three monitor of different sizes and 46'' tv connected

I'm having the same issue. This is a clean install via the MCT Provided by Microsoft for Windows 11. Only installed applications are the default apps with windows 11, Chrome, Object Desktop Manager and Start 11 Beta. 

All of the different start menu themes work properly until you select the option to move the start button away from the default centered position. At this point the entire task bar breaks and clicking it appears to restart explorer.exe. I was able to get out of this state by using Start 11 to move the start button back to the middle and turning off Start 11. 

What logs would help with this. Since the computer itself isn't crashing, I'm not sure what kind of logs would be appropriate here. I work on a help desk so I should be able to pull any logs you guys need for this. 

Thanks

Had this same issue. Running the purge_start11 script fixed that particular issue for me.

https://forums.stardock.com/486022/start10-support-faq#reinstalling

No, I do not have any monitor management software (DisplayFusion, ActualMultipleMonitors, etc) installed or running. 

 winver is noted below as far as the PC with the 3 screens, I'm using Nvidia driver v472.12-desktop-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch-whql and below is the setup from the control panel

And so, the fun stuff. I ran the Purge_StartALL.cmd which generated several errors, as seen in the photo taken (no print screen or copy to paste option due to how it ran). I removed existing setting as I do. After a re-boot of the PC, I re-installed Start11 v0.9.

Single taskbar = no issue. But the moment I turned on "Show my taskbar on all displays" I got the explorer running higher CPU, slowing the machine down, with the "hourglass" when I moved the mouse over the task bar. Once I was able to turn off "Show my taskbar on all displays". The taskbar ran as normal, with no hourglass.

Below is a screengrab highlighting where the option is turned on/off within Win11 and the Start11 app

The photo of the display having ran Purge_StartALL.cmd as downloaded from your link.

SHA-1 0B404C725446BDABA027CF5A99A18AA49C6A66E8

Interesting the script references Start 8 (which I have used, when it was THE app). The script appears to have done the work I already tried.

Removing existing settings

The copy of Start11 v0.9 used from your website, has a hash of SHA-1 3BAFA2BADF3ABA4E360EC2C8427C4870B366561A

I notice you mentioned you also running Fences, Curtains and Groupy on your Windows 11 system? This 3 Apps is not compatible with Windows 11 yet. Curtains for one is having issues in Windows 11 as mentioned somewhere. It is best to run Windows 11 without them.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

As noted, I removed curtains. As for Groupy and Fences, both apps are running as per within windows 10, meaning no issues. Both are used as they do serve (for me) the purpose they are designed to do.  Are you really saying un-install don't use your apps on win11?

For clarity I have run windows 11 moving from Dev and Beta channels. All Stardock apps installed have worked without issue. * Curtains was not installed on the 3 screen PC, only the single screen PC.

Again, the first two beta's of Start11 worked without issue, on the 3 screen PC. The only change on the system is V0.9. If I clean out all Start11 data and re-install an early beta it works, as intended. 

For Curtains, yes, I saw a couple of comments from the Dev team, advice users to not use Curtains on Windows 11 until a compatible version is release.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Same issue here - Blank Taskbar / Crashing Explorer / Heavy CPU Utilisation

Triple monitor setup - left/right/center config - Scale at 100% - Start Menu aligned left.

I initially updated from the 0.5(?) beta - Then uninstall/re-install - Then uninstall with remove settings/re-install - Now Purge script/re-install.  Reboot between uninstall/re-install and also directly after install.  Same crash each time.

In place upgrade to retail Win 11 Pro 21H2 (22000.194) - Beta worked without issue - 0.9 has forced me to uninstall completely to be able to work.  I don't have any other Stardock products or any monitor management products that could have an impact.  As I said, on the beta, it was 100% fine.

Application log just shows unknown errors causing explorer.exe to crash and System log shows Start11 terminated unexpectedly, but no other info.

I did find a bunch of errors in the system log though:

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:40 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_1000.22000.194.0_x64__cw5n1h2txyewy!CortanaUI did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:39 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_1000.22000.194.0_x64__cw5n1h2txyewy!Global.IrisService.AppXk4vtemtqrygqybv239mnaysgpbnbzdjr.mca did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:39 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_1000.22000.194.0_x64__cw5n1h2txyewy!Global.Accounts.AppXrjkczk9sedea5x6ev4segkbdds1ceg32.mca did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:38 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server {AB8902B4-09CA-4BB6-B78D-A8F59079A8D5} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:36 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_10.0.22000.37_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy!App did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:36 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_1000.22000.194.0_x64__cw5n1h2txyewy!CortanaUI did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:27:35 Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM 10010 None The server {9BA05972-F6A8-11CF-A442-00A0C90A8F39} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Error 08/10/2021 07:21:34 Service Control Manager 7031 None The Stardock Start11 service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 1 time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 2000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

To those having this issue, do you have your start button on the left and do you have the option to replace your start button with a custom image enabled?

And if so, and you do not have a custom image, does that resolve the issue?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Hi - For the first couple of attempts, I had the start button on the left and selected a Start icon from the list in the config - So not a custom, but chosen from your supplied icons.  Following the purge all script, I ran and installed with only defaults - No changes at all to whatever is installed.

My Windows 11 standard start is already left-aligned though - In case Start 11 is using that on install.

I had the issue and both of the above are true. Turning the "Use Custom Start Button" to off and rebooting resolved the issue for me.

The issue with the start button on the left and custom start button and 3 monitors should be resolved in the next update as we have it fixed internally.

Interesting comment. So now, I have all four of my installs installed.

And back to the problematic high CPU usage and the taskbar issue with multi-screen setups.  Firstly, I have the start button and menu to the left position of screen.  Now the custom start button option. It's ON by default!!! Otherwise, how would you tempt users to use your/ or their own custom start images. I personally have only used your stock options (going back to Start8).

Now having turned OFF the "use a custom start button image" within the app. Then I then turned ON the multi-screen taskbar option in windows settings and behold all three screens now have a taskbar. Since you have offered this option and it works. I can only guess you have found a coding issue relating the "custom start button" that creates the issue (high CPU and taskbar not functioning appropriately) for so many people, with more than one screen.  

This means until you resolve the coding issue. It would be wise to let users know that you should turn OFF the "use a custom start button image" within the app". Until you have a working solution. Below is the option what users with multi screens should set to OFF. Now the taskbar is using the Windows11 default image.

I can confirm that disabling the "Use a custom start button image" option allows me to boot without issues.

I now have the issue that, unless Start 11s config is launched, I only get the Windows 11 start menu.  The moment I have Start 11 config open (not minimised btw) then start 11 works as expected.  The Windows key works correctly, but clicking the start button does not.

Is that on all monitors and is it just Start11config that needs to be open or any window at all?

Config needs to be open and not minimised on any screen and then Start 11 works correctly on each Monitor.

Interestingly, I went into a game and, since coming out of the game it's stable and working correctly.  Although following a reboot it does the same thing :/

Reboot, needs config loaded.  Launch full screen game and come out - Stable and working as expected.

At least I have a workaround

for me  setting the taskbar to only one monitor solves all issues

except:

widges panel  big and strange

windosw 11 widgets

So, I figured I would post a small update - This morning, booted up and was having to use the windows key to get to Start11 as before.  I hadn't gotten around to running a full screen game to fix it, but I played a video (not full screen) from Youtube in my browser, and now Start 11 is working normally.

Not sure how, or even if, that could help...but I wanted to make sure that I give all of the info.

widges panel  big and strange only in primary monitor

I am not sure thats anything to do with Start11 itself.

From the screenshot it looks like the widgets panel which is a webpage is thinking the display scaling is larger than it is.

Does this go away with a reboot?

I had honestly thought I tested this, but apparently I didn't.  If I have any window open on my main monitor it works fine, the moment everything on that screen is minimised, it reverts to the Windows start menu.

Set the default monitor to each one until reach the Huion 16''  here  gets its size ,  back to main monitor and works fine