This is a copy of my post from the main "WindowFX 6.13 Release Issue Report Thread" thread.
EDIT - TL;DR (this post was moved from an FX thread) Permitting Start11 v2 to "Let Start11 enhance the Taskbar" in its options causes laggy behavior after having the computer sit there doing nothing overnight (no sleep or hibernation) - much lower are some examples in an image of what is looks like before and after windows explorer recovers (logging in can be laggy, once logged in, either I see only a desktop that is 1/4 sized or its full and the taskbar is half width - the taskbar doesnt work - either I restart explorer to fix it manually in task manager or if I wait a little while explorer restarts itself - also, explorer will have an extra process consumer 4+gigs of memory). Please read the rest of the thread and keep in mind any convo about FX is really, as I now know, about Start11 taskbar enhancing if you want a bit more detail and all that.
I leave my computer on overnight, and almost never restart unless it's time to clean it out of dust, an update for Windows or a driver (etc.), or something like that.
Since installing the latest Windows FX, and only after installing it (this didn't happen with vanilla Windows or only Start11 v2), when going to unlock my computer from an overnight, the whole thing lags very badly and there are other issues: I have to click the lock screen with my mouse or hit enter many times to get it to respond, when it does finally give my unlock option it opens up to a desktop that is 1/4 the proper size and in the upper-left of the screen, and the now-mini taskbar takes a while to actually respond. I either have to wait yet longer for windows explorer to recover and give me back a normal sized desktop that works normally or I have to force it via Task Manager.
in task manager I will notice 2 windows explorer entries (usually there is 1) and the additional one is using a ton of memory that is not typical of windows explorer processes (500MB - this goes away after forcing restarts or letting Windows do it automatically).
Also, I echo what someone else stated that FX doesn't work consistently with all windows, and sometime doesn't work consistently (like it needs some time to "hook" onto a new windows). Some example - Task Manager sometimes doesn't display all animations for minimizing and maximizing - only the opening wobble and close wobble. When minimizing some Office application from the minimize button on their title bar, they minimize vanilla, but will minimize FX style if using the taskbar instead (and they will respond properly according to FX in all other ways). Older apps like Winamp don't work with it at all.
Latest Windows 11 latest everything as of 5/1/2024, also latest Start11 v2 and Windows FX (6.13).
Hello,Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know your Windows build number, please use Winver.exe to get it.
Also, I have forward your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.
ThanksBasj,Stardock Community Assistant.
Windows 11 Pro for Workstation - Version 23H2 - OS Build 22631.3527
Thank you, please wait for respond from Support. Appreciate your prompt reply and patience.
Thank you,
Basj,Stardock Community Assistant
Apologies but disregard the bit about an extra Windows Explorer process with high ram usage - I forgot that was OneDrive based. The lag otherwise and what I said is true (I think Windows Explorer restarting itself just happened to also crash or temporarily push down OneDrive, or something like that).
If you restart Explorer.exe does the lag issue goes away at least overnight?
Yes, either it happens on its own a little while after I log back in and am greeting by the mini desktop, but I can force it by restarting Windows Explorer using that option in Task Manager - then the desktop is normal, full sized, and without lag.
I have this batch file created and place it in my desktop and run it every time I see something not working properly on my system.
taskkill /f /im explorer.exestart explorer.exeexit
Ok, well today it was different, the desktop was normal sized, but the taskbar was half width (the blur and all that went across the entire screen, but the start button to the clock was only half width instead of the width of the screen).
I am afraid I am going to have to back track on saying the Windows Explorer thing was just OneDrive, as when I went into Task manager this time, the extra Windows Explorer prosses was 12gigs! Anyway, while I was looking at that, and after I did a control-print-screen, WE fixed itself by started over. The large prosses went away during this, but was around for just a little while after it was replaces with a normal sized one.
Here are two images of during and after:
WindowsFX-AfterOverNightEtc-Before.png
WindowsFX-AfterOverNightEtc-After.png
EDIT - the time difference between the two is false - both images are within a min of eachother, the time is just letting us know when the issue fires up - which is not that long after I left the computer alone (I sleep roughly 5-11am).
I will now disable FX and see what happens over the next 24 hours, and how it operates after an overnight/overmorning.
Hello,
Not really sure if this has anything to do directly with WindowFX. From what I remember, WindowFX do not alter Windows taskbar in any way at all. Would like to suggest to try Cleanboot and test it out: https://forums.stardock.com/485903/windowfx-support-faq#CleanBoot
Correct, Star11 does, but FX interacts with Explorer in other ways, and Explorer includes, as I am sure you know, the start menu and taskbar and everything associated with those things. Lag Explorer, lag everything else.
Whatever the cause - be it your software, or how it interacts with something else (as in, it's the other thing's fault), I hope we can find a fix. I guess "waking" the computer up (not literally, I just have the Pc lock and turn the screen off, I don't do sleep or hibernate of any kind) and just letting explorer restart is fine as I do love me them new animations, but free and clear is best of all.
Please wait for respond from Support. Appreciate your patience.
Hi JamesSomething,
Looking over this thread, did you do the CleanBoot that basj recommended?
https://forums.stardock.com/485903/windowfx-support-faq#CleanBoot
Please confirm if you've done this, and if it resolves this.
Thanks.
Adam McGuinnessStardock Customer Support Specialist
Well, I guess I have to remake this thread in the Star11 v2 forums. I think the "ahh it must be FX" is because of turned on Enhanced Taskbar in Start11 on the same day (after having had Start 11 installed otherwise for a few days without changing any taskbar setting).
I will have to see now after another overnight (jogging and showering and eating after doesn't seem to be long or the correct time - interesting like enough, its always after bed - makes me wonder if there is some odd interaction with active hours somehow someway whoknows).
Guess I will wait till tomorrow and remake the thread in the start11 v2 forum.
I can now confirm that "Let Start11 Enhance The Taskbar" is the culprit - I disabled that, and poof, problem gone.
Should I copy paste a lot of this into a new Start11 v2 forum thread or the Start11 issues thread?
PS - In any case, some apps ignore FX (start11 config app doesnt care about it), and others (office apps) will only ignore it if you hit a windows minimize button but they wont ignore if you minimize them from the taskbar (then they FX just fine).
Moved you thread to Start11 area and add Start11 on your title.
thank you, much easier than recreated and copy paste and all that
I have forwarded this issue again to Support for their input. Appreciate your report and patience.
To make a very long story short - the issue was my monitor. Change a setting a while back meant every time is woke up, it was basically, temporarily reported 1/4 size to windows/software and then will correct itself. Display Port mode was the issues - going from 1.1 to 1.2 causes this on this model, and going back to 1.1 fixes it.
That said, maybe the software should not care about a change in resolution this way and bug out - but then, who the hell is going around and changing their rez (or having it change in this senario, rather) in this fashion to begin with? lol
The model, for future generations to read about this, is/was the HP Z24N G2.
I have set the mode to 1.2 to see if it would help solve a 75Hz "bug" when using the 75hz mode where nothing in Windows or even games seem to know my monitor is 75 and not 60 - and I never set it back after giving up one late night after a few hours of hunting the internet for answers.
Anyway, case closed.
Great to know that, thank you for reporting that.
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