Start ver 2.1 Slowness and increasing CPU usage

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Try this, since you already have Start11 uninstalled. Try re-download the latest Start11v2.1, install that one. Reboot immediately after installation done, retest and see if the issue reappear. If the issue still appear, please record a video of the slowness and high cpu usage, post the video to any video sharing site such as Youtube, make it public and post its link here.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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I already did what was indicated and the problem continues.

Only by uninstalling the program does the problem disappear.

Logic and common sense indicate that it is the program itself.

Why a video?

Also, I do not have a program to record the screen and I will not install a free program for that. And I will not create a YouTube account either, which I do not have and I am not interested in investigating how a video is uploaded to a platform. I have never done it.

The most logical thing, and what I have done with all platforms, is that the product generates a log file and sends it for analysis.

That video thing seems absurd to me. That is why I paid for a license to have support without requiring additional programs or using platforms that I have never used and will use.

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Okay, understand. Do know the issue is unique to your system. So that is why I asked. Since you said you have done the proper uninstalled and reinstall steps with all the important immediate reboot. Next you should try Cleanboot. Refer here for steps: https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1334935592/Start11+Clean+Boot. Do note that these steps need to be done properly and carefully. Try it and report back.

Why I need a video? To see how slow it actually is. It much better to actually see than just imagining things.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I experienced a similar problem after the upgrading to 2.1

Luckily I still had an old installer for 2.05 lying around. After downgrading back to 2.05, CPU utilization returned to normal/expected levels.

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Quoting stevenwilson,

reply 4

I experienced a similar problem after the upgrading to 2.1

Luckily I still had an old installer for 2.05 lying around. After downgrading back to 2.05, CPU utilization returned to normal/expected levels.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Try this, Uninstall Start11, reboot immediately. Try re-download the latest Start11v2.1, install that one. Reboot immediately after installation done, retest and see if the issue reappear. If the issue still appear, please record a video of the slowness and high cpu usage, post the video to any video sharing site such as Youtube, make it public and post its link here.

Also, need Windows full version and OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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What process is using the extra cpu?

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I have a similar problem using Start 2.1 on Windows 11 23H2, I believe the culprit causing the high CPU usage is 'Windows Explorer.' If I restart Explore via Task Manager, CPU usage goes back to normal until the system is rebooted.

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I'm also on Windows 11 23H2, and I agree that it does indeed seem to be Windows Explorer that causes the problem.

I fired up Process Explorer and took a snapshot of what it was doing - one of the Start11 DLLs seems to be doing a lot of thrashing:

I can also confirm that restarting Windows Explorer (via Task Manager) seems to calm things down to "normal" levels.

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Same issues here from day one. it's very difficult to restart explorer when your entire desktop input is frozen.

was working flawlessly prior to the ARM update. Unfortunately I deleted the older version. The issue is with ARM coding, not explorer! because the issue started AFTER the ARM update was installed.

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Quoting chthonic,

reply 9

Same issues here from day one. it's very difficult to restart explorer when your entire desktop input is frozen.

was working flawlessly prior to the ARM update. Unfortunately I deleted the older version. The issue is with ARM coding, not explorer! because the issue started AFTER the ARM update was installed.

Hello to all reported this issue,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, please confirm that everyone reporting this issue are on ARM base system.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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the ARM update was issued to ALL, not just mobile devices. I think that was part of the issue.

I found a fix for PC that may or may not work for others. Will post if asked.

It looks like the ARM update that was pushed to PC users "glitched" the windows shell setting. My fix corrected this issue and I am working normally now.

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Quoting chthonic,

reply 11

the ARM update was issued to ALL, not just mobile devices. I think that was part of the issue.

I found a fix for PC that may or may not work for others. Will post if asked.

It looks like the ARM update that was pushed to PC users "glitched" the windows shell setting. My fix corrected this issue and I am working normally now.

Great, glad to hear that. Hope it resolved for everyone too. Appreciate your feedback.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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the PC Fix:

1. Download ExplorerPatcher and a fresh copy of Start11 v2 but do not install!
2. use Revo Uninstaller to uninstall Start 11 - choose to remove from ALL profiles including leftover items.
3. on the scan page - choose ADVANCED - the one with the GEAR icon.
4. when the uninstall completes, say NO to reboot. then install ExplorerPatcher.
5. change the taskbar version back and forth between windows 10 and windows 11 a couple of times, making certain that the taskbar size under win10 bar is set to SMALL. (The initial install will change your desktop and taskbar interface momentarily. you will have to manually launch the EP config window from the start menu.)
6. after you have switched the taskbar setting back and forth, make sure it matches your current OS version. then click on RESTART EXPLORER!
7. After Explorer restarts, uninstall Explorer Patcher and Restart completely!
8. Re-install Start11.

Things "should" work correctly after that.

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Thank you for the community support.

It has been more effective than the absent and null support from the brand.

Now that we know with more accuracy the origin of the fault from the brand.

When will they resolve it and release an update?

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Quoting Gerzamora73,

reply 14

Thank you for the community support.
It has been more effective than the absent and null support from the brand.
Now that we know with more accuracy the origin of the fault from the brand.
When will they resolve it and release an update?

Quoting basj,

reply 10

Hello to all reported this issue,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, please confirm that everyone reporting this issue are on ARM base system.

Hello,

Please confirm, you also having this issue on ARM base system?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Quoting chthonic,

reply 13

the PC Fix:

1. Download ExplorerPatcher and a fresh copy of Start11 v2 but do not install!
2. use Revo Uninstaller to uninstall Start 11 - choose to remove from ALL profiles including leftover items.
3. on the scan page - choose ADVANCED - the one with the GEAR icon.
4. when the uninstall completes, say NO to reboot. then install ExplorerPatcher.
5. change the taskbar version back and forth between windows 10 and windows 11 a couple of times, making certain that the taskbar size under win10 bar is set to SMALL. (The initial install will change your desktop and taskbar interface momentarily. you will have to manually launch the EP config window from the start menu.)
6. after you have switched the taskbar setting back and forth, make sure it matches your current OS version. then click on RESTART EXPLORER!
7. After Explorer restarts, uninstall Explorer Patcher and Restart completely!
8. Re-install Start11.

Things "should" work correctly after that.

Have you used explorer patcher installed on your computer before?

I am wondering if this has left invalid values somewhere.

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Quoting stevenwilson,

reply 8

I'm also on Windows 11 23H2, and I agree that it does indeed seem to be Windows Explorer that causes the problem.

I fired up Process Explorer and took a snapshot of what it was doing - one of the Start11 DLLs seems to be doing a lot of thrashing:

I can also confirm that restarting Windows Explorer (via Task Manager) seems to calm things down to "normal" levels.

Can you use Windows Taskmanager and right click on the explorer process and create a Debug dmp file and then host it somewhere and either post a link here or send a private message to me. That should allow us to identify what some threads are doing. Ideally also use process explorer to show the threads as above so we know which thread ID is the issue.

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Quoting Gerzamora73,

reply 14

Thank you for the community support.

It has been more effective than the absent and null support from the brand.

Now that we know with more accuracy the origin of the fault from the brand.

When will they resolve it and release an update?

Have you previously used anything which might alter the explorer taskbar such as ExplorerPatcher?

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I have had a debug dmp file provided by a customer and it looks like CrowdStrike is installed on the machine.

Does everyone with this issue have CrowdStrike? I.e. are these all corporate installs of Windows not home pcs?

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sdrohan

Join Date 10/2012

+635

We would like to gather some more information on this issue. In particular, we would like to know:

If you are using Start11 in a corp env
If the PC is using Crowdstrike
Do you have ExplorerPatcher, Fences and \ or ObjectDock installed? Have you ever had ExplorerPatche installed on this PC?
An export of your System Information. Example:

That you can upload to a shared drive service of your choice (DropBox, OneDrive, GoogleDrive) and PM me the private link to it.

We will look it all over and get back to you.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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In my case I do not have what you mention installed.

Only Fences from Steam version 3.1.6.1

I have never installed ExplorerPatcher

And my team is domestic.

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Same Issue to me, Start 11 v.2.1 slowed my desktop and windows management (dragging browser windows took over one second in delay) my specs are overkill for this kind of software: ryzen 5 5600, RX 6650 XT and 32GB ram 3200MHz all in a 2tb gen 3 NVMe.

My other Stardock software is Fences 4 (from stardock site) and is working flawless after uninstalling start 11, when start 11 (last version) was there, there was a slow down in animations of roll down and roll-up of every fence.

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Could someone experiencing the issue use the save settings feature in Start11 and then upload a copy and send a link to it via a private message to me please.

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Same issue here. Started with the Start11 update. Not in a corporate environment, no Crowdstrike...

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Quoting KristeenK,

reply 24

Same issue here. Started with the Start11 update. Not in a corporate environment, no Crowdstrike...

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Would appreciate if you could help out and send in your saved setting to Neil via PM, as mentioned in his comment above.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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