Start11 - Icons Squeezed to the left

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. If I remember correctly, I never seen this reported before. What is your monitor scaling factors? Also need your Windows 11 full version numbers. Use Winver.exe

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Hello Basj,

• My primary monitor is running at 3840x2160, in landscape orientation. Scaling is set to 150%.
• My secondary monitor is running at 3840x2160, in portrait orientation. Scaling is set to 150%.
• Windows 11 Professional 22H2 (x64) - build 22621.2792.
• I had previously installed multiple components in the Stardock/ObjectDesktop suite. I uninstalled all but Start11 - not sure why DeskScapes still appers in "Suggested" (it was uninstalled via appwiz.cpl, and the computer was rebooted multiple times since then).
• Start 11 was uninstalled and re-installed after the demo/trial period ended.

And the screenshot above is from your primary monitor? How does it look when you have it on the secondary (portrait) monitor.

Thanks

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

The issue seems to only occur on the primary monitor. I have not seen the issue on the secondary monitor.

To be honest, I activate the Start11 menu on the primary/left monitor 99% of the time. I rarely activate the Start11 menu on the secondary/right side monitor.

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Thank you!

A variation of this problem has popped up:

Grabbing the menu on the right side does not fix this problem - I would need to reboot my computer.

Notes:

(1) Holding CTRL+left-clicking on my Start button displays a Windows 11 menu that looks normal.

(2) No video driver updates have been installed.

(3) Video resolution hasn't changed (no games were launched).

Does the issue goes away once you restart Explorer.exe? Refer here on how to restart Explorer.exe : https://www.howtogeek.com/198815/use-this-secret-trick-to-close-and-restart-explorerexe-in-windows/

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Hello Basj, I will try to restart the Explorer.exe process the next time this happens & advise. Very strange issue.

Hello again - getting the same issue today re: icons squeezed to the left:

While the workaround was suggested for the other issue, restarting explorer.exe (via a script) fixes the problem. Not sure if this sheds any light on what the problem could be.

The script is dead simple and uses pskill:

c:
cd\
cd windows
cd system32
pskill.exe explorer.exe
c:
cd\
cd windows
explorer
pause
exit

Hello @basj - I posted my issue back on December 11, and I have yet to hear from anyone. Are there any basic troubleshooting steps that I should be doing to resolve my issues?

I feel like I have wasted my money as this product does not work reliably. I see the problems documented above every few days; I am never sure that the Start menu will be "working" when I click on it.

This is far worse that the stock Windows Start experience, which does at least work (I support 100+ Virtual Machines, desktop PCs, laptops and tablets through work).

I would appreciate some feedback - You forwarded my case to the Stardock Support Team on December 12th. What was their feedback?

Hello,

Sorry about this, I have forwarded your problem again to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Thanks, Basj.

In other threads?  Can you cite them, please?

Your issues, to my knowledge, is unique and I am not aware of anyone else reporting it as you have.

Being in IT yourself, you would likely agree that logic dictates that one would look at what is different in your environment.

So you are seeing this issue on the 100+ PCs that you have Start11 installed on... or no, just the one you use to manage them?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager 

Sean, thanks for your reply.

1. I stated that "I see the problems documented above every few days". I am talking about the two issues documented in this thread - there are no other posts or threads (as you see from my profile).
2. I am glad to hear that my issue is unique - but my frustration stems from the fact that there has been absolutely no troubleshooting steps recommended to me by Stardock other than "restart explorer.exe". Should I uninstall the product, perform a registry cleanup, delete Stardock folders from C before re-installing? What steps can the end-user take? If my situation is unique, then surely a clean install would correct the problem?
3. You said - "Being in IT yourself, you would likely agree that logic dictates that one would look at what is different in your environment." Agreed - but I need guidance from you and the team. What am I looking at? Other programs with shell integrations to Explorer and Windows? I have over 400 products (games, old program versions, etc) installed and have no idea what other Stardock Start11 customers are running.
4. You said - "So you are seeing this issue on the 100+ PCs that you have Start11 installed on... or no, just the one you use to manage them?". Not sure where you got that from...I said "This is far worse that the stock Windows Start experience, which does at least work (I support 100+ Virtual Machines, desktop PCs, laptops and tablets through work)." I didn't say that there are 100+ PCs with Start11 on them...I said the opposite. There are 100+ PCs that have the stock Windows Start experience.

I hope this clarifies my points. Can you suggest a course of action? i.e.,

Uninstall Start 11

Delete the following reg keys

Delete the following folders

Reboot the PC

Re-install and do a, b and c.

I look forward to hearing from you.

When this happens are you able to move icons into the blank space?

Also if you mouseover the top of the group, where does the header bar space end?

Hello Neil,

When this happens:

I am not able to move apps from the left side to the blank space - it acts as if there is no blank space there.

>>Also if you mouseover the top of the group, where does the header bar space end?

I am not sure about this - the next time it happens, I will record a short video for you showing what my experience is.

When this happens:

I am able to drag icons in the open space (to the right of the "Settings" icons in the Pinned area).

If this helps:

* I frequently RDP to my main computer from an iPad (6th generation), phone (Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra), MacBook Air (M2) and Windows 11 touch screen laptop. They all have different screen resolutions.

* I had "Splashtop Streamer", "iDisplay" and "Team Viewer" installed.

* "Team Viewer" was removed before installing Start11.

* "Splashtop Streamer" and "iDisplay" were removed after installing Start11.

* I mention these applications as they hook into the video driver and are capable of mirroring the screen to something else. I don't know how Start11 integrates into the Windows Shell and if it needs to communicate with the video driver (more than any other program, like Microsoft Word).

Thanks!

With that being true, it is nearly impossible for us (anyone) to support that many variables.  As I believe you would agree, getting it to a 'new Windows' state helps eliminate (over 400) possible 3rd party interactions and minimal settings changes.

There are two methods to accomplish this.

Can you reproduce it under a Windows Cleanboot:
 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Can you reproduce it under Windows Sandbox:
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-sandbox

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

The issue does NOT repro under the Windows Sandbox. Given that this is my primary computer, I can't test under a Windows Cleanboot scenario (since the problem could take a few days to manifest) - and my computer is used for a variety of things (Hyper-V lab, Plex media server, Cisco VPN
services required for work, Sophos VPN services required for work, etc.).

Before continuing, it is worth mentioning that my PC was purchased in 2018 and shipped with...Windows 8.1 (DELL!!). I ran that for a while (given the workloads on the PC), then upgraded to Windows 10, which ran for a while, and then upgraded to Windows 11. No clean installs.

To try and resolve my problems re: Stardock Start11, I did the following:

UNINSTALL AND CLEANUP PROCESS

• Checked appwiz.cpl - the only Startdock product installed is Start11.
• Uninstalled Stardock Start11. When prompted, I did not save the configuration.
• Restarted the computer when prompted.
• Deleted the folder "C:\ProgramData\Stardock".
• Deleted the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock".
• Deleted the folder "C:\Users\robin\AppData\Local\Stardock".
• Deleted the folder "C:\Users\robin\AppData\Roaming\Stardock".
• Opened the Registry Editor and exported the backup to an encrypted USB flash drive.
• Restarted the computer.

EXTENDED CLEANUP - REGISTRY

I then cleaned up the Windows Registry (more detail at the end of this post - a lot was cleaned up) - and restarted the computer.

RUNNING WINDOWS SYSTEM FILE CHECKER & CHECKING THE IMAGE

• Ran sfc /scannow. Problems were found and repaired by Windows (I retained the CBS.log output, if you wish to review).
• Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth - no issues found.
• Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth.
• Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

CHECKING THE WINDOWS EVENT VIEWER LOGS

• I reviewed the Application Windows Event Log.  Nothing jumped out at me. I saved and cleared the log.
• I reviewed the Security Windows Event Log.  Nothing jumped out at me. I saved and cleared the log.
• I reviewed the Setup Windows Event Log.  Nothing jumped out at me. I saved and cleared the log.
• I reviewed the System Windows Event Log.  Nothing jumped out at me. I saved and cleared the log.
• Restarted the computer.

CHECKING FOR ERRORS POST-BOOT

I checked the Application, Security, Setup and System logs...no new serious errors (GameInput error caused by a bad MS Update in Feb 2023 - this was resolved later and not documented here).

At this point, I will re-install Start11 tomorrow (Friday, January 12) and monitor to see if my two issues re-occur. I am hoping that the cleanup performed above "did the trick".

---

As promised, EXTENDED CLEANUP - REGISTRY (DETAIL) - the following keys, string values and 32-bit DWORD values were DELETED/removed from the Windows Registry:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Stardock

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6A451C0A-9597-4915-BCCE-6E859BC996B2}

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DreamFile

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache
-Deleted any String Values that mention "Stardock"

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\S8Theme

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WbaFile

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DesktopPaints.com

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IntelliType Pro\AppSpecific\DreamMaker.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IntelliType Pro\AppSpecific\EditorDeskScapes.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IntelliType Pro\AppSpecific\Screen10.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IntelliType Pro\AppSpecific\SdDisplay.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IntelliType Pro\AppSpecific\Start11Config.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\InternetRegistry\REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-4262682384-2477868981-1524400528-1001\SOFTWARE\Stardock

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore\5bf6ca11_0

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore\95fe1d12_0

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore\be504f7b_0

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppListBackup\ListOfEventDrivenBackedUpApps_4208457518

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppListBackup\ListOfEventDrivenBackedUpTiles_4208446906

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppListBackup\ListOfEventDrivenBackedUpTiles_4208446917

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockstart11pinmenu.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockstart11start11config.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock deskscapes 11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock groupy2

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock start11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Cloud\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock windowblinds 11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockdeskscapesdeskscapesconfig.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockdeskscapesdeskscapescreatoreditordeskscapes.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockdeskscapesdreammakerdreammaker.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockgroupy2groupyconfig.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockstart11pinmenu.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockstart11start11config.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$appleveltilelist\windows.data.apps.appleveltileinfo$w~{7c5a40ef-a0fb-4bfc-874a-c0f2e0b9fa8e}stardockwindowblindswb11config.exe

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock deskscapes 11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock groupy2

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock start11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\{4295746b-d728-40ab-aee4-66eda3233c9b}$windows.data.apps.appmetadata$appmetadatalist\windows.data.apps.appmetadata$stardock windowblinds 11

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FeatureUsage\AppSwitched
-Deleted any 32-bit DWORD values that mention "Stardock"

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
-Deleted any String Values that mention "Stardock"

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
-Deleted any 32-bit DWORD values that mention "Stardock"

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tasks\{12E63476-5DCA-49BF-BD50-93EDC6BAB51B}

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree\Stardock DeskScapes Review Prompt

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\CrawlScopeManager\Windows\SystemIndex\WorkingSetRules\7*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\Sites\LocalHost\Paths\7*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\StartPages\26*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Search\CrawlScopeManager\Windows\SystemIndex\WorkingSetRules\7*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\Sites\LocalHost\Paths\7*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\StartPages\26*

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Stardock

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-4262682384-2477868981-1524400528-1001
-Deleted any 32-bit DWORD values that mention "Stardock"...failed

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\FirewallRules
-Deleted any String Values that mention "Stardock"

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-4262682384-2477868981-1524400528-1001
-Deleted any 32-bit DWORD values that mention "Stardock"...failed

Computer\HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Stardock

Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-4262682384-2477868981-1524400528-1008\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\InternetRegistry\REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-4262682384-2477868981-1524400528-1001\SOFTWARE\Stardock

Hello Sean,

I have re-installed the product and will keep an eye on it. If either of my issues reoccur, I will advise.

Hello all,

The problem occurred again (icons squeezed to the left). I think this has something to do with RDPing into the computer from my iPad - which I did this morning. I will refrain from doing that for the next bit, to see if this addresses the problem.

...also note: I really don't want to rebuild the PC at this point. I'd rather demote it (secondary desk area) and get something faster (current: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition 8930 with an 8th generation Intel Core i7).

Those Core Ultra's are calling my name...