Win11 Explorer won't run

from Stardock Forums

I updated Start 11 to the beta, and now I just get a black screen when Win 11 starts up.  It appears that File Explorer either won't start or it is somehow now corrupted. I can get to Task Manager via the ctr-alt-del combination, but other access such as the Windows key just don't respond to anything. If I try to restart Explorer I just get the same black screen.

I've run DISM and SFC with no issues found. I've uninstalled Start 11 (and Object Desktop by going into task manager and running the uninstall.  Still, I'm locked out of Explorer.

When I updated to the Start 11 beta I went into configure and enabled Start 11 to enhance the taskbar. I think that might be at the root of the issue, but I can't figure out how to undo things and get my Explorer back.

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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

If you have uninstalled Start11 then it shouldn't be a factor here.  Enabling the enhance taskbar feature in Start11 does not alter anything in the OS, it only alters Start11 itself.

To double check can you find any start11 processes running in taskmanger processes?

Have you possibly installed anything else to alter the taskbar or has Windows installed another update?