Start11 2.51 Release Changelog (Released 01/27/2025)

1/27/2025

Version

• UI: 2.51

• Stat11Config.exe: 2.5.1.3

Platforms

• Stardock and Steam

Changes

• Limited vertical taskbar to half screen width maximum

• Resolved issue with turning on secondary screen taskbar when using a vertical taskbar, especially a right aligned one on the secondary.

• Resolved issues with DisplayFusion when replacing the OS taskbar on the secondary displays on Win11 with enhanced taskbar enabled.

• Linked to the above, resolved issues with multiple monitors when having no taskbar on the display and using apps which alter the work area

• Added a registry key S11_UseNewFolderBrowser which when set to "1" will tell Start11 to use newer style Folder picker windows.  This goes in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Start8\Start8.ini\Start8 and is type string.

• Resolved the root cause of the non responsive secondary taskbar rather than the workaround that was in use

• Added in registry key "S11_OnlyShowReboot" to only show reboot option rather than any other options (business users)

• Ensured larger start buttons resize correctly when used on a vertical taskbar

• Resolved a positioning issue for certain custom start buttons when used on a vertical taskbar

• Tweaks to how work area sizes are calculated to handle slower applications such as ObjectDock (switching from autohide to non autohide sometimes caused the wrong amount of space to be allocated)

• System tray icons made slightly less spaced on vertical taskbars

• Resolved issue with run as admin for some other apps

• Further work area tweaks for mixed dpi setups

• Fixed black icons in universal apps menu when using Win7 style and apply colour to taskbar/start in the OS

• Disables more submenu and uninstalling option for web links

• Fixes run as admin and open file location links for some pinned items

• Fixes issue with start button positioning when you have no pinned items or running tasks

• Hide start button on vertical taskbars is not supported

• Fix for OS search being in search field mode with a top taskbar not working.  It is normal for the search box to disappear when in search in this mode

• NOTE: Hide start button on vertical taskbars is not supported 

• Hopefully the issue with Explorer windows popping up on Win11 with ExplorerPatcher and potentially could happen on Win10 too.

• Resolved some issues with work areas with WinStep when using enhanced taskbar and Winstep reserving screen space.

• Resolved issue with running as admin for some pinned shortcuts in Win10/11/etc menus

• Resolved issue with non-functional taskbar buttons on the secondary screen when the focus is set to the taskbar or desktop sometimes

• Fix for workspace calculation when the taskbar is at the top of the screen in some situations

• Removed excess line in Win10 all apps list at the top.

• Tweak for apps which setup workspace areas that start at bootup

***Reserved***

This thread has been closed.  If you have any remaining issues with Start11 2.51, please try the current 2.52 beta and report in this thread

https://forums.stardock.com/534085/start11-252-beta-feedback-thread

Were you using the same settings with 2.5 before?

Do you have any software which might be adding extra bars to the side of the screen, or replacing the taskbar or allocating 'reserved space' that maximized windows do not use?

Also is this a touchscreen device?

Also do you have any external monitors attached?

Downloaded, installed and rebooted to the 2.51 release.  Same issue:

3 monitors, pyramid style.  Primary on top.
(Top monitor connected to an AMD video card, bottom 2 monitors to the built-in Intel chip/ports)

Enhanced taskbar displayed only on primary, and configured to display at the top.
(same behavior when enhanced taskbar is disabled)

Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.2894 (up to date)
Dell OP-7000 (up to date)
AMD RX550 (up to date)

Issue - when I right click a running app in the taskbar, no menu appears.  If I just hover, I get the proper preview thumbnail - but right click, nothing.

Enabled taskbars for all monitors, still displayed at the top for all of them.  When I right click the app icons in the taskbars on either of the two bottom monitors the menu's drop down like they are supposed to but flicker for roughly 5 seconds before becoming stable.  So top monitor, no right click fly out menu at all for app icons, bottom monitors it appears but flickers then becomes stable.

When I set the taskbar to display at the bottom, everything is stable and behaves as expected - either just the top monitor or all three.

I own a 5 pack, have it installed on other systems, all with just a single monitor running either AMD or NVIDIA graphics cards, one case just the built-in Intel video.  All four other systems display taskbar at the top and it performs as expected.

So it's just my primary work PC causing the issue.  As mentioned before...this was working just fine until update 2.5.x.  And it has happened before, don't remember what V2 release but it eventually disappeared after one of your updates.  (Not after a PC or graphics updates but one for Start11)

Completely broke Launchbar Commander when docking the launch bar on a secondary monitor. It causes it to only appear on the main monitor and unable to be resized or docked anywhere but top or bottom of the screen. I had it docked to the right on the left monitor in a 3 monitor setup.

This appears to break when having taskbars on all 3 monitors docked at the top. Was working fine until I updated today, now it's completely broken Launchbar Commander.

Thankfully I found an old version in my onedrive recycle bin. 

UPDATE on No Thumbnail previews on Vertical Taskbar:

After trying on 3 different systems and managing to reproduce the issue, I found the problem and I consider it sort of a bug of Start 11:

When the taskbar is horizontal, the thumbnails show every time I hover over the icons. But on vertical taskbar, when the windows taskbar behavior is not set to "always" combine the taskbar buttons, then there is no thumbnail preview. Probably Stardock had made the system fool proof for this setting for horizontal taskbar but forgot for the vertical.

In the link you can see a video that shows clearly the issue (and reproduced in 3 other systems). The video also shows a 2nd bug that I have also mentioned, but it also was ignored. When the taskbar is center aligned and switch from horizontal to vertical, the taskbar remains blank and have to switch to left aligned and back to have the icons appear.

Hope it helps any other user that had problem with the Thumbnails.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fzkg1y21lr30vsxxqg2op/Start11VerticalNothumbnailsBugFound.mp4?rlkey=zgcuvr06493ye4f3bpr5mrqi9&st=0obhwk1l&dl=0

This time I can reproduce the issue. It appears you found the variable. I get the same behavior if the windhawk mod titled "Taskbar Labels for windows 11" is active while the taskbar set to vertical.

I have noticed general slowness or delayed loading of the taskbar when switching positions with multiple different settings

The slowness on the video is because it is one of the 6 monitors every time I switch position of the taskbar, 5 more monitors have to reset.

Checked one of my laptops I didn't update and yes, it's working fine in 2.5.

All,

Start11 2.52 Beta has been released.  For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/534085/start11-252-beta-feedback-threead

As always, thank you for your time, feedback, and support.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Uninstall, reboot (very important) and reinstall Start11.

So in three threads, multiple days - multiple posts no one from Stardock has responded reference my issue.  Beta 2.52 still doesn't fix the issue, and a version prior to 2.5 that worked isn't available for download.  I will uninstall Start11 this weekend and test out Windhawk.  I am fed up with Stardock's failure to respond and failure to provide the tools we need to use the software properly (IE older downloads) and so if Windhawk works I will vote with my wallet and cease to buy your products any longer.  Nor will I renew my Multiplicity license when the time comes as there are alternatives for it as well I can use.

I want the taskbar at the top, and I need the right click flyout menu's for taskbar apps to work.  And being ignored is just making me irate.  I own a multipack for both Start11 and Multiplicity - for now.  Bad support and customer service will push me to use alternatives.

3 monitors, pyramid style.  Primary on top.

(Top monitor connected to an AMD video card, bottom 2 monitors to the built-in Intel chip/ports)

Enhanced taskbar displayed only on primary, and configured to display at the top.

(same behavior when enhanced taskbar is disabled)

Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.3037 (up to date)

Dell OP-7000 (up to date)

AMD RX550 (up to date)

Issue - when I right click a running app in the taskbar, no menu appears.  If I just hover, I get the proper preview thumbnail - but right click, nothing.  The Task Bar right click menu appears properly, but not the app/icon right clicks.

Enabled taskbars for all monitors, still displayed at the top for all of them.  When I right click the app icons in the taskbars on either of the two bottom monitors the menu's drop down like they are supposed to but flicker for roughly 5 seconds before becoming stable.  So top monitor, no right click fly out menu at all for app icons, bottom monitors it appears but flickers then becomes stable.

When I set the taskbar to display at the bottom, everything is stable and behaves as expected - either just the top monitor or all three.

I own a 5 pack, have it installed on other systems, all with just a single monitor running either AMD or NVIDIA graphics cards, one case just the built-in Intel video.  All four other systems display taskbar at the top and it performs as expected.

So it's just my primary work PC causing the issue.  As mentioned before...this was working just fine until update 2.5.x.  And it has happened before, don't remember what V2 release but it eventually disappeared after one of your updates.  (Not after a PC or graphics updates but one for Start11)