Cannot read context menu from any Start menu items

Folders, shortcuts, all seem to have the same plack text on very dark gray backgrounds

from Stardock Forums

I have problems with specific menus when using the Start programs. Now on Start 11 v.2. When I pull a context menu for a shortcut on the Startmenu, or a folder from the Start/All Program I always get the following context menu color combination. I have so far not been able to get it to change with various skins. In the following screen shot I've done a right mouse click on the Citrix icon and this is the context menu I get.  I've tried several skins, both old and new and they all seem to give me the same issue.

 

As you can see this renders the context menus illegible. Explorer windows, desktop icons and the like are fine, it seems to be context menus from the Start 11 Start menu specifically. But I cannot find out what this item is in the Skin Studio nor in Windowblinds to change the background, or the text for that matter, to make it so I can use these menus. If I go to the Windows regular Start menu I get a different element. If I disable Windowblinds I still get this problem.

Can some tell me what these two elements are so I can try to fix this problem? Or is it a bug?

TIA

start menu products
3,659 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

It's not all skins, by the way, but it is a lot of them, and it appears to also impact the pop-out menus from the right side of the Start 11 panel,  such as Universal Applications Menu.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Can you list some of the skins that has this issue so I can verify it. List some skins that come along with WB would be great or some skin that are freely downloadable via Wincustomize.com.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I have a huge amount of skins installed, so I have no idea what does or does not come with Windowblinds at this point in time. I've been using it since the late 90s.

Working:

Altero by Lightstar

Ax MacPC

Not working:

Acrylic 7-Win8 Trans

7 Plus

eXperience11 Blue(Win11)

Luna 2020

Mustang

MustangGT

Mostly but not entirely older skins that don't work. If I knew what the GUI element was I'd gladly go in and fix the ones I like to use. But I don't know how to find out what the elements are and trial & error is way too time consuming so far.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

For those of you with the menu issue, you can avoid this by setting the following registry key : 

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8

Create a value called "S11_MenusAreSolid" with type String, data should be "1"

This will be addressed in the next beta update of S11

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Excellent. Did just what it says on the tin. Thanks, Neil.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

OK this worked.  I just wonder if I have to remove this key after upgrading to V2.03

Thanks

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting joelbb, reply 6

OK this worked.  I just wonder if I have to remove this key after upgrading to V2.03

Thanks

You do not need to.