With the Start11 v2.5 beta release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.
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If a beta was released, Object Desktop Members would see it in the ‘Object Desktop’ section.
Individual purchases would see it on their registration of the product under their download page.
Right-click the Product in Steam
Properties
Betas
Select the beta branch at the top right (there is no password)
Example
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/steamwebhelper_2024-02-19_17-44-35.png
Please include the following for anything found:
Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)
Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen
Screenshots and videos are very helpful. Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post. Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.
If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions. If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.
Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Start11 v2 a better product.
No other programs installed, I had a Windhawk mode, "Taskbar Thumbnail reorder" and your reply made me think that this might be the problem, I deactivated and rebooted without it, still no thumbnails.My Windows version is 23H2, 22631.4602.I will try to re-install Start11 and come back here to write if it fixes the issue
Is that the only windhawk mod you are using?
I got the same problem.
Star11v2, ver2.49.1; Windows 11 23h2 (v22631.4602); in 4k resolution. Using Groupy 1.51 and fences 4.22
I believe there are some OS registry keys to alter the default size but there was a suggestion those were broken in recent insider builds.
Ah, OK. I hadn't noticed what size they were without Start11. Thanks for clarifying that. I'll see if I can find out about those registry keys. Thanks again.
New feature of vertical taskbar is excellent, long waiting for, works perfect. One remark however. Make taskbar a bit wider, whereby 2 icons of system tray are positioned side by side. Also helps to make time and date more readable, too small now. This wider vertical taskbar was part of Windows 10.
It was then thenonly mod active, but Windhawk played no role, I totally uninstalled it and nothing changed. Then I completely uninstalled, rebooted and re-installed Start11, the problem is still there. I am back now to horizontal taskbar.
Will we, if not in 2.5 but in a future version, be able to reverse the order I see in the images - that is, can the start button be at the bottom and so forth, instead of at the top when using side-aligned task bar?
I was just thinking that this morning. I kind of like the left, vertical taskbar, but not with the start button at the top. I know, I know, we have been asking for vertical taskbars since Windows 11 debuted, and now we are making even more requests for additional tweaks. Give us an inch and we want a mile.
I would like to add my voice to this one - I think it would be brilliant.
The bottom left corner has been the "go to" position for the Start button since W95, so it is ingrained into many people's muscle memory. When Microsoft introduced the vertical task bar they moved the button to the top left, which for me and presumably others felt less natural.
I would absolutely love Start11 to allow the user to choose an inverted task bar, such that the Start button is bottom left, rising vertically would be the app icons, and the system tray top left. That would be fantastic - I would love it. Now that Stardock has made the big step required to offer a vertical task bar, I suspect inverting it would be relatively straightforward. Obviously it would be a user option.
Yay! The instructions at this link work:
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/change-size-of-taskbar-thumbnail-previews-in-windows-11.6340/
On my PC I had to add two new keys (explained in the link). However, you can only increase the size values up to 512 (200H), which is still usefully bigger than the standard thumbnail window size. Values above that are treated as 512, so there is clearly a blanket maximum size for the thumbnails set elsewhere, or possibly even hard-coded.
No they're not, you state it yourself "Nearly all normal Windows 11 installs" so not all and as Windows Server 2025 is the same core as Windows 11 (before it the same with Server 2022 based on Windows 10), it proves it's not needed. We've been running without it and the IE controls since Windows 10 launched on at least 5 machines on 6 servers and nothing that matters has not worked - even Start11 was perfectly happy until now.
Before someone asks, we remove it for the same reasons we remove browsers and for systems that need to remain secure.
So, the main strange thing that I have encountered is that some pinned icons can get bugged and when a window for that icon is open, the Start button disappears and everything is shifted up. Then the first icon acts as though it is the Start button unless you click exactly on the icon... then you might get what the icon shows instead of the Start menu.
If I unpin the offending icon, I'll probably get this behavior on a different icon. If I drag the offending icon to another position, it remains the issue. Rarely if I unpin enough things and re-pin, the issue will be hiding until I open enough windows. I couldn't get rid of it completely.
v2.49.1 (never had 2.49.0)Windows 11 24H2, 26100.2605 (2 day old system)
New bug discovered: Plugging an external monitor, the start button at the secondary taskbar (all center aligned) disappears, left start button and center aligned, some pinned icons do not show correctly, left aligned seems to be ok. Have to restart explorer and things get back in order.
Windows 11 Pro 23H2
Start11 2.49.1Very minor issue. More something for an improvement than a 'bug'. When 'hotpluging' an monitor in a more exotic multi screen layout, and using Taskbar enhacements with vertical and top alignments some misplacement of the taskbars can occur. See illustrated below. I have not tested what factors can change and what factors cannot change, while still reproducing the issue. The matter is minor as signing the user session off and back on with monitors already connected, does correct the taskbar arrangement.I'm feeding this back more because as logging on and off resolves the matter, this may be a trivial improvement to make with a workaround/refresh.(could this be more of an impact for devices that routinely hot-plug screens such as fold out laptops?)
result below (scroll zoo out)
Removing it manually negates it being a 'normal install', yes?
That said, its not a required component (its for the changelog prompt and other messaging).
Sean DrohanStardock Product Lifecycle Manager
Same issue. I cannot figure out how to resize the vertical taskbar. It's pretty skinny and a bit hard to use. Resize works fine when docked to bottom, just not when it's vertical which is honestly the main reason I purchased this.
Which is probably 99% of all Windows installs, does everyone keep Notepad, Wordpad, Paint, Teams, "Games", News, Weather ....... installed on their machines?
Anyway, back to the beta. Seems to work just fine on Windows Server 2025 so far. I still need to use it a bit more and rebuild my original start menu again - of course, without webview.
To help to debug: The initial problem was discovered by plugging/unplugging one external monitor with the same resolution. Plugging the laptop to my dock, only 2 of the 6 external monitors presented the problem. Again restarting the explorer brings everything in order. Please let me know if you can reproduce or need screenshots
I have two minitors setup -when enableing vertical taskbar - main window has vertical taskbar on th left, the other monitor stil has horizontal taskbar
Probably you have to activate it for the secondary monitors too
I have been waiting for left/right alignment for years! Made me start using Start11 immediately!
I have a couple issues though:
Another thing, the button images are messed up.
This is the top left of my taskbar.
It should have been Windows button, Outlook, Edge, Edge and Explorer.
The Windows button and the Outlook button have merged and a click alternates randomly between either.
Got sizing to work. Strange I was changing a bunch of settings in the rounding and blue panes and it started working. Changed them again and it started. Seems like some of the padding settings lock out sizing.
Start Button not Displaying as Expected
Here are my findings after testing:
Scenario 1Taskbar: Align LeftVertically center the taskbar buttons ONHide the start button on the primary display OFFNo apps pinned to the taskbarNo apps openResults: Start button hidden, but clicking where it should be opens the start menu; Pressing the WinKey on the keyboard opens the start menu
Scenario 2Taskbar: Align LeftVertically center the taskbar buttons ONHide the start button on the primary display OFFWith either an app pinned to the taskbar, or an app openResults: Start button displays, and clicking it opens the start menu; Pressing the WinKey on the keyboard opens the start menu
Scenario 3Taskbar: Align LeftVertically center the taskbar buttons ONHide the start button on the primary display ONNo apps pinned to the taskbarNo apps openResults: Start button displays, but clicking it does not open the start menu; Pressing the WinKey on the keyboard opens the start menu
Scenario 4Taskbar: Align LeftVertically center the taskbar buttons ONHide the start button on the primary display ONWith either an app pinned to the taskbar, or an app openResults: Start button hidden, and clicking where it should be does nothing; Pressing the WinKey on the keyboard opens the start menu
Windows 11 Pro - 22635.4655; Start11v2 - 2.4.9.1
Some issues similar (maybe the same) as others have reported for the vertical taskbar:
Taskbar resize works fine top or bottom, but not when aligned vertically. Running Win 11 24H2 on a Samsung G95 57" "dual monitor" setup with DisplayPort and HDMI inputs.
On the plus side, resizing vertical taskbars works great on my ARM Samsung Book.
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