Windows Menu on the left pane, Combine taskbar icons and hide the labels

1) I have two Win11 PCs, both running 23H2 build 22631.3447 and I have Start11 V 2.07 on them. The first PC shows a shortcut to the Windows menu on top of the Start11 menu left pane and the other does not show it. I could not find a Start 11 setting for that, so I made a settings backup on the first PC and imported these settings to the other PC. Unfortunately, the second PC still does not show the shortcut to the Windows menu. So I wonder if anyone can help me with that?

2) I reinstalled Windows 11 on my second PC (i.e. not just upgraded) and spent hours trying to set the taskbar to force group the taskbar buttons to combine and remove labels. No settings and no amount of registry editing and group policy editing (suggested on the Internet) did work. When I imported the settings from the first PC this had a (very welcome) effect on the taskbar buttons suddenly being combined without the labels. In the Start11 settings, I found nothing related to that. I am just mentioning this because I am pretty sure that there are people having the same issue with taskbar buttons not being grouped.

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Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues.

Need to know which Start11 startpanel you're using? Windows 7/Modern style? If so try this setting.

Try these setting. Its under Taskbar: Enhanced taskbar settings. No registry editing needed.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Hello basj,

just before I read your reply, I found a solution (kind of). On the first PC (the one showing Windows menu), I found the shortcut
C:\Users\lado\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu\Windows Menu.lnk
which I copied to the other and it worked.

Of course I did try what you suggested and it works like a charm! In hindsight I must be as blind as a bat to be able to miss that one!

I appreciate your help, thank you,
otalado

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Hi, again Basy,
I forgot to ask: Do you have any idea, why the taskbar button grouping started to work when I imported the settings from the other PC that was made before Win11 23H2 was released ?? Unfortunately, I did not take a backup before importing the settings, so I cannot compare the settings. With 285 lines in the settings file my chances of figuring that out are slim...

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I don't think Windows version effect the saved setting, since Start11 should also work on those older Windows 10/11 version. So my guess it probably work in your situation. I am not that knowledgeable on the internal of Start11. But, that is my take on it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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