Start11 v2.08 Unusable - Freezing

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I am on the same version as yourself and I don't have freezing issue. If it was working before the Windows update, might be something not install properly while updating Windows. Would like to suggest to rollback to previous version Windows, reboot, retest if anything working with Start11, once that is check and confirm working, please try updating again. Make sure to reboot after the update done and retest Start11.

Below is my screenshot of Start11 on my Windows 11 working without freezing issue.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

You know I had a little issue just now too. I was dragging an icon from the programs to the icon part using the windows 10 form, and it crashed a few times. After I right click and pinned the icon, it formed a group. before there was no group because I erased them all and started over. After the one group was created, I was able to drag icons normally. Is that something like what happened to you?

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Look like your issue is different than the OP. Please create your own thread if you see the issue appearing consistently.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

I rolled back the version, nothing changed, it still freezes. Tried sfc /scannow and it didn't find any errors either.

Please try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

I uninstalled, restarted, ran the purge script, restarted, ran the purge script again, restarted. Installed Start11, and it seemed to work ok. As soon as I restored my settings file, it immediately locked up as it was doing before.

Look like you have corrupted setting. Please do reset settings.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Resetting the settings had no effect, Start11 is still frozen.

My guess is that you just need to do the purge and reinstall again, but this time don't do the restore your setting after the reboot. Manually redo everything again and save that setting.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Once I reset my settings, a reboot restored functionality. Now I need to see exactly what setting was causing the freezing to start with.

I've found the setting that causes the freezing: Let Start11 Enhance the taskbar (On).

Doesn't matter what settings I change in that menu, with the Enhance the taskbar on, the taskbar freezes constantly.

Try this, Cleanboot: https://forums.stardock.com/505872/start11-support-faq#cleanboot. 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Do you now have, or have you ever had, an another app which makes changes to the taskbar? If so, this app, or the remnants of an app, may be causing this issue.

I've tried a clean boot, and once I enable just Start11 and turn on Let Start11 Enhance the taskbar, it once again freezes.

I've never installed another app that changes the taskbar. Start11 is it.

Please try testing on Windows Sandbox : https://forums.stardock.com/505872/start11-support-faq#windowssandbox. Try it and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I tried the Windows Sandbox, and Start11 functions correctly with Let Start11 Enhance the taskbar on.

That show that there is something in your current Windows causing the issue, please check your system.

Please try the following:

-For Win8/10/11 Users: Open the Start Screen, and type 'cmd'. Right-click on the search result and select 'Run as administrator' from below.

-Type: sfc /scannow

-Wait for the scan to complete (this can take several minutes)

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

If the SFC finds errors, but cannot fix them, please also run the following command in the same command prompt window:

dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

The above command should assist with replacing any damaged or problematic system files. Please note, however, since it may require restoring certain files, this process can take some time and you will need to be patient until it has completed.

Please let me know whether this resolves your problem or if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

SFC did not find any errors. I ran that when the issues first started as a first step.

Sometimes the Windows recent updates was the issue. Something went wrong when updating. If possible, please try to uninstall the latest update that giving you the issue.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

If you look back at the beginning of this thread, the first thing I did was roll back the Windows update, and that had no effect.

There is a new Start11v2.09 Beta out recently. Please try that version and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Where do I get the beta? I only have a link to the current stable release.

Sorry, I though you already know where to look for, please use this link: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

The beta seems to have fixed my taskbar from freezing, but now my whole system stutters and kicks me out of Overwatch about every 10 minutes or so while I'm playing it, so the beta made it worse than before.

How sure are you that Start11 are causing this issue for you? I don't think Start11 has anything to do with how a game work.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant