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Start11 1.45 Beta Feedback Thread

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Start11 1.45 Beta Feedback Thread

from Stardock Forums

With the Start11 1.45 beta release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the beta:

Object Desktop members can get the beta from within Object Desktop Manager with 'show beta downloads' enabled:

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page:

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Reporting an issue:

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Start11 a better product.

 
start menu products
114,723 views 54 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top

On May 25th I reported that I can't make the Start Menu transparent on Windows 11 Professional Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.1778) with Start11 1.4.4 or 1.4.5 beta. Of course I'd already searched for solutions to the issue before reporting it here.

However I haven't received a reply, though other posts have, so I know that someone from Stardock is reviewing the posts on this forum. So I'm wondering how I can contact technical support, as it appears I'm not going to get any information on this forum.

So can someone from Stardock please let me know how I can contact them and open a ticket? I am a paying customer and need to get Start11 working as advertised before I can continue to install anything else on Windows 11.

Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Muncrief, reply 17

No matter what I try I can't get menu transparency to work, though the taskbar transparency works fine. I installed Start11 1.4.4 fist, and when it didn't work I just tried the 1.4.5 beta.

This is on a raw Windows 11 Professional Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.1778) install, with no other apps installed except Start11. Hopefully this can be fixed, as the Windows 11 GUI is an atrocity. Even if Start11 works it's going to be bad, but a functional Start11 would certainly help.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm a retired R&D hardware/firmware/software engineer and understand that Windows 11 is still in an Alpha state, so I don't blame the Start11 developers for having difficulties with the never ending Windows 11 changes. 
End of Muncrief's quote

Quoting Muncrief, reply 26

On May 25th I reported that I can't make the Start Menu transparent on Windows 11 Professional Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.1778) with Start11 1.4.4 or 1.4.5 beta. Of course I'd already searched for solutions to the issue before reporting it here.

However I haven't received a reply, though other posts have, so I know that someone from Stardock is reviewing the posts on this forum. So I'm wondering how I can contact technical support, as it appears I'm not going to get any information on this forum.

So can someone from Stardock please let me know how I can contact them and open a ticket? I am a paying customer and need to get Start11 working as advertised before I can continue to install anything else on Windows 11.
End of Muncrief's quote

The forums are where we support app functionality unless you have a business contract. Were your issue specific to this version in question, it would be appropriate for it to be posted in this thread.  However, it does work with the latest version posted:

https://forums.stardock.com/518875/get;3888969\

Win7

Modern

Win10

Win11

As it appears to be something else, it would be prudent to create a new thread to have it addressed there.

Thanks,

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Cave, reply 25


Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 24






Quoting Cave Waverider233,

reply 22


I noticed that with Start11 1.4.5.1 beta (and earlier), The Windows key still only brings up Start11 on the Desktop, during gaming or when an application like Steam is in Focus, it now always brings up the Windows 11 Start Menu, no matter which settings I set in Start11 with the latest Windows 11 Update.
Before this Windows 11 Update, the Windows key brought up the Start 11 menu no matter what. Is it possible to restore the previous Start11 behavior?



Do you perhaps have UAC disabled or Steam set to launch elevated?

I have UAC set to "never notifiy" (not sure if that's actually fully off or not). It's how I've had it forever and it always worked fine. Is that problem?

It doesn't only happen with Steam, though, when playing any non-Steam games or even just starting their launchers, or even if the window focus is on something like HWInfo64, MSI Afterburner, CRU etc. the Windows key also brings up the Win11 menu instead of Start11.

I'm using the "Modern Style", Start11 menu by the way.


Update: I changed UAC to the second lowest level "Notify me only when apps...", and the problem is still the same - it didn't make a difference in Start menu behavior, so it doesn't seem to be related to UAC.

End of Cave's quote

As a test set it to the default behaviour which is the second item down.  You will need to restart.

It is likely the problem is elevated apps.

Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you for the reply. Menu transparency still doesn't work for me, even after a clean install with 1.4.5.1. But I'm going to restore my Windows 11 from a backup made before ever installing Start11 and will see if it works then. If not I will start a new thread as you suggested.

Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 28


Quoting Cave Waverider233,
reply 25






Quoting Neil Banfield,

reply 24










Quoting Cave Waverider233,



reply 22




I noticed that with Start11 1.4.5.1 beta (and earlier), The Windows key still only brings up Start11 on the Desktop, during gaming or when an application like Steam is in Focus, it now always brings up the Windows 11 Start Menu, no matter which settings I set in Start11 with the latest Windows 11 Update.
Before this Windows 11 Update, the Windows key brought up the Start 11 menu no matter what. Is it possible to restore the previous Start11 behavior?




Do you perhaps have UAC disabled or Steam set to launch elevated?


I have UAC set to "never notifiy" (not sure if that's actually fully off or not). It's how I've had it forever and it always worked fine. Is that problem?

It doesn't only happen with Steam, though, when playing any non-Steam games or even just starting their launchers, or even if the window focus is on something like HWInfo64, MSI Afterburner, CRU etc. the Windows key also brings up the Win11 menu instead of Start11.

I'm using the "Modern Style", Start11 menu by the way.


Update: I changed UAC to the second lowest level "Notify me only when apps...", and the problem is still the same - it didn't make a difference in Start menu behavior, so it doesn't seem to be related to UAC.



As a test set it to the default behaviour which is the second item down.  You will need to restart.

It is likely the problem is elevated apps.

End of Neil's quote
Thanks. I tested it, and it indeed seems to be having focus on any game or application where UAC pops up that causes the Win11 Start Menu to appear instead of the Start11 menu when pressing the Windows key. It happens when UAC is on the default option, too.

Is there any way to change this behavior? Do I need to install Start11 as Admin or is there a registry key I can set to change elevated access behavior to the way it was before the Windows Update?

Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top

I restored Windows 11 from the backup I had before installing Start11 and the Start Menu transparency works now with version 1.5.4.1. The only problem remaining is that I can't get rid of the Start Menu blur, but there doesn't appear to be a setting to disable it. However the Taskbar transparency works perfectly with the blur disable setting.

In any case I appreciate the Start11 developers diligently working on the problems stemming from the architecture changing updates Microsoft keeps introducing, and see you have a lot on your plate now. So since I don't really need Windows 11 immediately I'll continue to use Windows 10 and check back in a week or two.

It's no biggie as it's not difficult for me to create and restore backups, and wow, I hate the Windows 11 user interface anyway. As I said in my OP, it's an atrocity! The only thing I've seen Microsoft release that was worse is Windows 8, so at least Windows 11 is only the second worse :)

Once again, thanks to the developers at Stardock for all your hard work on Start11.

As Arnold said, I'll be back ... :)

Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Muncrief, reply 31

Once again, thanks to the developers at Stardock for all your hard work on Start11.
End of Muncrief's quote

You are most welcome - thank YOU for your patience and patronage.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #33 from Stardock Forums Top

I am having this same issue as well.  Has there been a fix yet?

Quoting darkstorm46870, reply 14

i hoped the beta will fix it but not. Since the latest MS patch KB502644 yesterday, the windows key is opening the orignal start menu only. Any workarround? I can open the Start11 menu only using clicki-clicki.
End of darkstorm46870's quote

Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting glencandle, reply 34

I am having this same issue as well. Has there been a fix yet?
End of glencandle's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. If you have not using Start11 V1.45 Beta, yet. Please do this. Uninstall Start11. Reboot immediately after uninstall finished (important), Download and install Start11 V1.45 Beta: https://forums.stardock.com/518875/. Reboot again and retest it.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting basj, reply 34

Uninstall Start11. Reboot immediately after uninstall finished (important), Download and install Start11 V1.45 Beta: https://forums.stardock.com/518875/. Reboot again and retest it.
End of basj's quote

I followed this procedure and am still having the same problem.

(I originally posted about it here.)

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

I can happily report that installing the beta fixed my issue (with the Windows key not opening the Start11 start menu).  Huge relief, thanks!

 

Quoting basj, reply 34
Quoting glencandle,
reply 34

I am having this same issue as well. Has there been a fix yet?


Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. If you have not using Start11 V1.45 Beta, yet. Please do this. Uninstall Start11. Reboot immediately after uninstall finished (important), Download and install Start11 V1.45 Beta: https://forums.stardock.com/518875/. Reboot again and retest it.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.
End of basj's quote
Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top

The Start11 1.4.5.1 release  seems to partially solve the Windows 11 KB5026446 update issue I experienced in that no matter how Start11 was configured, both Winkeys would only open the Windows 11 start menu. Now the left Winkey will open the Start11 start menu. However, no matter the Start11 configuration, the right Winkey still will open only the Windows 11 start menu. Hopefully, this will be resolved in a future Start11 release.

Reply #38 from Stardock Forums Top

My Start11  taskbar Clock stops working when I start the game windowed, MechWarrior Online, via Steam.  Have reported this problem for previous point releases.

 

Reply #39 from Stardock Forums Top

Problem carried forward from 1.44 Beta thread - no response there;

It's still an issue - although now infrequently, so it's a big improvement from 1.44 beta - and restarting the computer will usually allow the full set of notification icons to appear. However, doing a Shift-Restart typically causes a failure.

Reporting this again since it still fails with the production release:

 

WAS Reply #16 in 1.44 Beta -- May 6, 2023 12:26:03 PM 
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
 

Dell G7 7700 laptop with 2 external monitors (1 HDMI, 1 DP)

Windows 11 Pro 22H2 22621.1778

This has been a problem with every version since Start11 v 1.4.j279 beta, and is still present in this latest one:

On boot, the 'main display' screen shows the notification area on the right with only 3 or 4 icons to the left of the clock (there should be 11), the overflow (^) menu shows a few icons (there should be 15), the Start button is on the left, and there's a totally blank taskbar area in the middle (no pinned icons, no background). This is after all of the other Windows Desktop icons, etc., have been displayed as usual. Hovering over the blank area of the taskbar shows an hourglass, as if it's waiting for more apps/processes to load. Sometimes, waiting another minute or so allows some (but not all) additional icons to appear.

Restarting the Win Explorer process from Task Manager generally results in more notification area icons displaying - and the middle portion of the taskbar usually paints along with the correct pinned icons - but typically still not showing the full set of notification area icons.

Reverting to 1.4.j279 immediately fixes the issue again. 

Reply #40 from Stardock Forums Top

All,

Start11 1.45 Beta had been updated to 1.4.5.2 (file version, UI 1.45)

Click here for the updated changelog:

https://forums.stardock.com/518875/get;3888967

As always, thanks for your feedback and continued support.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #41 from Stardock Forums Top

Start11_1.4.5.1-Setup.exe seems to have fixed my issue with most of the System Tray icons not appearing after booting up. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to try Start11_1.4.5.2-j310-Setup_sd.exe. :D  

Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top

Installed Start11_1.4.5.2-j310-Setup_sd.exe

First boot after install, only a few icons on the right with missing (transparent) middle:

After about 30 seconds or so it finally painted the middle and added a few more icons with only a few (out of 14) in the overflow:

After waiting several minutes, restarted WinExplorer process, it added all but one icon with all in the overflow:

After yet another reboot, added the one missing Windows Security icon:

Pretty much the same results as reported previously (back to 1.4.j279 beta).

Reply #43 from Stardock Forums Top

What is the link to download Start11 V1.4.5.2?  Is anything else needed?

I'm a paying customer and having the problem where mouse clicks on the Start button give me the Start11 menu, but pressing the Windows key press gives me the Windows 11 menu.

Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting tooradd, reply 43

What is the link to download Start11 V1.4.5.2?  Is anything else needed?

I'm a paying customer and having the problem where mouse clicks on the Start button give me the Start11 menu, but pressing the Windows key press gives me the Windows 11 menu.
End of tooradd's quote

The link should be available in your account product page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #45 from Stardock Forums Top

That's not working. When I go to the https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products page I get the following messages:

My Downloads
No registrations found.

Didn't find the product you were looking for? Visit your Order History page to view your recent purchases. Once your product is installed and activated (instructions are in your receipt), you will see your product on this page.

 

When I go to the Order History page https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/orders there is history of my purchase/order:

Order History
Completed Orders

    Order Date
        Monday, December 5, 2022

    Order #
        STARDOCK221206-7325-XXXXX

    Items
            Start11™
            Download Software
            Download Product Key Status (.csv)

When I click the Download Software link V1.4.4.0 is the version that gets downloaded.

 

This is why I'm asking for a link to download Start11 V1.4.5.2.

Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting tooradd, reply 45

That's not working. When I go to the https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products page I get the following messages:

My Downloads
No registrations found.

Didn't find the product you were looking for? Visit your Order History page to view your recent purchases. Once your product is installed and activated (instructions are in your receipt), you will see your product on this page.

 

When I go to the Order History page https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/orders there is history of my purchase/order:

When I click the Download Software link V1.4.4.0 is the version that gets downloaded.

This is why I'm asking for a link to download Start11 V1.4.5.2.
End of tooradd's quote

Hello,
Please raise support ticket using the link below, use the product not receive option. Include all information details. Remember to record down the ticket number for future reference if needed. Do not raise multiple ticket, that will make your ticket back to the end of the line. Send once and wait. Ticket will be answer by the order they send in.

https://stardock.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/4/group/13

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #47 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting aamadorj, reply 4

Start11 1.45 Beta is working much better than 1.44 with my three monitor setup. All windows are returning to the expected place after sleep. Thanks, devs.
End of aamadorj's quote

1.4.5.2 beta also seems to fix the taskbar misalignment issue when waking up from sleep. Thank you for your hard work Stardock.

+1 Loading…
Reply #50 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting pablovieira, reply 49

Hi, please, how to download the last version of Start11?
End of pablovieira's quote

Hello,
You should be able to download it from your product account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.