Continuously invoking PowerShell to generate desktop layout files.

May 2, 2025 12:26 PM from

software：start 11 V1.55

system ：Windows11 24H2 26100.3775

I am using Windows 11 24H2 upgraded from Windows 10 recently. After installing Start 11, whenever the File Explorer restarts, Start 11 begins repeatedly invoking PowerShell's Export-StartLayout method without stopping. This powershell process continuously consumes CPU resources.

The PowerShell process is invoked, runs for a few seconds, and then terminates. After a brief interval (a few seconds), it is relaunched with the same command-line parameters, repeating this cycle indefinitely.

Based on data captured by Process Monitor, the PowerShell command being called is: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -command "Export-StartLayout -path 'C:\Users\DIGE\AppData\Local\Temp\tempDS11A.xml'".

I did not observe the generation of tempDS11A.xml in the relevant temporary directory. This suggests the process might be failing, triggering repeated retries. However, when I manually ran the PowerShell command Export-StartLayout -path 'C:\Users\DIGE\AppData\Local\Temp\tempDS11A.xml', the tempDS11A.xml file was briefly created in the target directory but then deleted. If I switched to a different directory, the generated file persisted.

If I shut down the computer, a PowerShell-related application error occurs, similar to the issue described in this forum post：https://forums.stardock.com/514350/powershell-error-upon-shutdown-at-start11-install

I installed a fresh 24H2 system on another drive of the same machine, along with the same antivirus software as my primary system, to simulate the environment. When restarting File Explorer, I observed that PowerShell is only launched once. Additionally, my laptop has not experienced any related issues over the past few years. Only my primary desktop, which recently upgraded to Windows 11 and had Start 11 installed, has encountered this problem.This suggests that my primary system has underlying issues causing PowerShell to be repeatedly invoked. However, I’m unsure how to proceed with troubleshooting this problem.

I have confirmed that the issue is caused by Start 11, as the problem disappears after uninstalling it. I’m willing to assist with debugging on my system to help resolve this issue.

powershell start menu products

1,138 views 2 replies

Reply #1 May 2, 2025 1:07 PM from

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It suddenly occurred to me that manually generated tempDS11A.xml files are being deleted. Could this be caused by Start 11 encountering an XML parsing error, leading to repeated retries? (In reality, the generated file appears to be in JSON format instead of XML.) The content of the so-called 'XML' file generated on my system is as follows:

{"pinnedList":[{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Adobe Acrobat DC.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Administrative Tools\\Event Viewer.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\MATLAB R2023a\\MATLAB R2023a.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Visual Studio 2022.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\v2rayN.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\HiBit Startup Manager\\HiBit Startup Manager.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\HiBit Uninstaller\\HiBit Uninstaller.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Anki.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\WeMod\\WeMod.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\桌面.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Rainmeter.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\DiskInfo64c3K.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\SyncToy 2.1 x64 汉化版\\SyncToy 2.1 x64.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Wise Registry Cleaner\\Wise Registry Cleaner.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\WinHex.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Ubisoft\\Uplay\\Uplay.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\DriverBoosterPortable.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\WizTree\\WizTree.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Smart Defrag\\Smart Defrag 10.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\IObit Uninstaller.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\dupeguru-win64.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\CCleaner.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Administrative Tools\\Hyper-V Manager.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Steam\\Steam.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\steamcommunity_302.exe.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Iceweasel.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\DiskGenius.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\MusicPlayer2.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Beyond Compare 4.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\GOG.com\\GOG Galaxy\\GOG Galaxy.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\CrystalDiskInfo\\CrystalDiskInfo Aoi Edition (64bit).lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\aida64.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\CTR 2.1.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\mpv.lnk"},{"packagedAppId":"RealtekSemiconductorCorp.RealtekAudioControl_dt26b99r8h8gj!App"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\MSI Afterburner.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Dism++x64.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Adobe Photoshop 2024.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Telegram Desktop\\Telegram.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\终端.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\CrystalDiskInfo\\CrystalDiskInfo Kurei Kei Edition (64bit).lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\HWiNFO64\\HWiNFO64.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\toolbox.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\AMD Ryzen Master\\Ryzen Master\\Ryzen Master.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Microsoft Edge.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Word.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Excel.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\PowerPoint.lnk"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.OutlookforWindows_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.OutlookforWindows"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Clipchamp.Clipchamp_yxz26nhyzhsrt!App"},{"packagedAppId":"7EE7776C.LinkedInforWindows_w1wdnht996qgy!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\OneNote.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\File Explorer.lnk"}]}

Reply #2 May 2, 2025 2:26 PM from

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Update：After running for more than 2-3 hours, these calls appear to have ceased, suggesting that they do not loop indefinitely. Therefore, the issue does not seem to be critical.