Kevin Korotev

Join Date 12/2021

Won't Hold Changes

Start11 Windows 10 style

The best way I can describe this never-ending problem is to speculate that Start 11 reaches a maximum number of changes/additions/revisions to the UI before it starts to forget, go back, fritz out, etc.

I get it all set up to go, then make that one next change and the UI goes nuts. I get double icons, icons that lose their group identity, and any number of variations of the same buggy behavior. Saving each iteration my set-up as a backup file, then restoring, is hit and miss accurate.

Prior to this and related or not; dragging and dropping icons from one group (or even the main page) becomes a game of CHASE! I move the icon to where I want it to insert itself and the icons run away/shift out of the way/avoid getting "caught" and showing the upper right "+"sign. It's infuriating.

Ideas?

Kevin

I should add that I have uninstalled, wiped the registry of "Stardock" then re-installed to no avail.

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Please give us your full Windows version from winver.exe or the Windows Settings>About page.
Also, your full version of Start11 from the About tab in the Start11 settings.

I have 233 shortcuts in 27 Tabs on two pages in Start11v2 - 2.1.1.0 using the Windows 10 style and I don't see this issue on my system.

Windows 11 - 22635.4510

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Edition Windows 11 Pro

Version 23H2

Installed on ‎12/‎10/‎2023

OS build 22635.4510

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1060.0

Start 11 version 2.11

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Okay thanks for that info. You seem to be running the same Windows version and Start11 version as I am.

Please let me know how many shortcuts and tabs/groups do you have on your Start11 menu?

Possibly post a screenshot of your Start11 menu.

Also, did you originally install this version of Start11v2, or have you been updating from previous versions?

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All tolled, there might be 30 links within all groups.

The duplicates, thumbs with titles, un-thumbed links are all an aberration of a perfect looking page that switched to this as I tried to add another link to one of the groups.

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I have uninstalled and reinstalled many times...cleaning the registry each time. The last 2 or three attempts were made with freshly downloaded installation files.

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I don't think the number changes/additions/revisions to the UI has anything to do with your issue. I make changes multiple times every day, and have not experienced any issues.

I know you have uninstalled and reinstalled, and deleted the registry settings for Start11, but let's try to do a purge and reinstall.

Follow the instructions here

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1349320730/Start+Menu+purging+and+re-installing

Download a fresh installer from your account downloads page and reinstall. Make sure to restart after the purge and again after the new install.

Report back with you results.

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Will Do. Thanks!

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I have made multiple attempts and always get here:

Know too what I get with each purge attempt:

Regarding the program being loaded on another machine; Not true. Never has been.

Kevin

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You may need to delete a few activations possibly caused by multiple attempts to reinstall.

Follow the directions here to deactivate installations.

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1260191763/How+to+review+and+manage+your+current+activations

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Everything is reset. Because I suspect I will now have to start over; adding everything back one by one; and depressed at the prospect of spending the hours it will take; I turned my attention back to the "Start 11 get confused" theory.

I loaded the last backup I made and although it worked great initially, as soon made changes, it whacked out again. Changing "Group widths" or any other wholesale sizing change is guaranteed to goof it up.

So...I opened the backup file in a text editor and it is huge. 74,000 characters. I suspect this is the result of a couple years of tweaking and changing. I suspect bad entries or worse, duplicate/re-direct/cyclic commands are cluttering the file.

Simply put, is there a "Backup File" cleaner? A duplicate entry finder? You know what I mean, I'm sure.

Anticipating your answer, the next idea would be exporting data from the file that contains the JUST THE LINKS to the folder/files/websites contained within the command lines? I'd have, at least, a reference guide to re-building each shortcut?

Thanks for all your help today, pelaird. You're a guru, for sure.

Kevin

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Are you able to zip up your backup file and send me a private message with a link to download it so we can try to reproduce the problem locally?

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Quoting Kevin Korotev,

reply 10

So...I opened the backup file in a text editor and it is huge. 74,000 characters.

FYI, my backup file is 765,268 characters.

Are you by any chance running CCleaner?

Definitely send the backup file to Neil so he can test it.

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I believe I have sent a PM link to the file.

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I guess "HUGE" is relative.

I don't run CCCleaner, but could. That's junk cleaner, is it not?

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Quoting Kevin Korotev,

reply 14

I guess "HUGE" is relative.

I don't run CCCleaner, but could. That's junk cleaner, is it not?

I asked because CCleaner has been responsible for causing issues with Stardock products by deleting important files.

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Ahhh. I see. No worries here.

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Neil? Did you get it?

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While you're waiting for Neil's response, you could try the purge and reinstall, but don't load your backup settings. Then start adding shortcuts one at a time to see if your issue is resolved, or rears it's ugly head again. It really shouldn't take that long to add 30 shortcuts, especially if they are apps you have installed. Use the All Apps section and right-click to Pin to Start11, or right-click an existing group and select the appropriate listing.

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I started this exact process yesterday. Thanks!

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My re-building is already going bad. Have sent a newer backup file to Neil despite not having heard from him about the 1st one.

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Quoting Kevin Korotev,

reply 20

My re-building is already going bad. Have sent a newer backup file to Neil despite not having heard from him about the 1st one.

Can you please explain in more detail what exactly is happening?

Also, do you by any chance have "Synchronize pinned items from the OS menu with Start11 (sign out required)" turned on in the Start11 Advanced Settings?

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Hope this helps?

Regarding your 2nd question; NO

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I don't see a name for the top group, or do you have it blacked out for privacy reasons?

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It's intended to be a visual menu. There will be no names/titles in the end.

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Quoting Kevin Korotev,

reply 24

It's intended to be a visual menu. There will be no names/titles in the end.

I’m afraid that might be the issue. Start11 needs a group name in order to assign the shortcuts and icons in the registry. Create a group and then add those shortcuts, and see if that clears your issue.

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