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Start11 2.55 Release Feedback

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sdRohan
basj
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Reply #51 October 9, 2025 7:10:37 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Ulysses Ulysses,
reply 50

I reverted back to 2.5.3 because 2.5.5 keeps crashing and restarting Explorer.exe

I had this issue with an older version and cannot for the life of me remember what Stardock advised, which fixed it.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Perhaps Start11v2 was not downloaded or installed properly. Usually we'll suggest to try, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important), re-download latest version available in your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products. Install it, reboot immediately again. Retest it and report back.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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sdRohan
Ulysses Ulysses
Join Date 03/2014
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Reply #52 October 9, 2025 7:26:08 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting basj,
reply 51


Quoting Ulysses Ulysses,
reply 50

I reverted back to 2.5.3 because 2.5.5 keeps crashing and restarting Explorer.exe

I had this issue with an older version and cannot for the life of me remember what Stardock advised, which fixed it.



Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Perhaps Start11v2 was not downloaded or installed properly. Usually we'll suggest to try, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important), re-download latest version available in your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products. Install it, reboot immediately again. Retest it and report back.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Thanks, Basj, I'll try it later

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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Reply #53 October 9, 2025 8:11:22 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Ulysses Ulysses,
reply 50

I reverted back to 2.5.3 because 2.5.5 keeps crashing and restarting Explorer.exe

I had this issue with an older version and cannot for the life of me remember what Stardock advised, which fixed it.

Like the posts just above yours, are you using a custom Start button?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Reply #54 October 9, 2025 9:12:50 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Start11 2.56 beta has been released. For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/539013/start11-256-beta-feedback

Ulysses Ulysses and Retrial8647, if you could install this and let us know if that resolves your Windows Explorer issue, we would greatly appreciate it. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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sdRohan
Ulysses Ulysses
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Reply #55 October 9, 2025 9:43:02 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Yes. I missed the post above mine, sorry. I shat change to default and report back.
I will also try the beta, thanks.

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sdRohan
Obero
Join Date 03/2010
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Reply #56 October 9, 2025 3:41:01 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Hello,

I have issues with this version of Start 11: with the taskbar aligned to the right, previews have a strange ratio and are cropped on the bottom. I encounter this issue nearly all softs (native ones like File Explorer or installed ones).

Same issue with the taskbar on the left, but not when aligned to the bottom.

I didn't have this issue with the previous Start 11 version.

My OS version: 24H2 (build 26100.6584)

I tried to uninstall, reboot immediately and reinstall, I still have the issue.

Enhanced Start 11 taskbar is enabled.

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sdRohan
Ulysses Ulysses
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Reply #57 October 9, 2025 7:32:36 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting sdRohan,
reply 54

Start11 2.56 beta has been released. For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/539013/start11-256-beta-feedback

Ulysses Ulysses and Retrial8647, if you could install this and let us know if that resolves your Windows Explorer issue, we would greatly appreciate it. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

 

So far, what I have noticed using Start11 build 2.5.5, is that on a clean install of Windows 11 25H2, installing Start11 v2.5.5 causes explorer.exe to crash and restart, mostly when using the settings configuration for Start11

I reloaded a system image pre installing Start11 2.5.5 and loaded 2.5.3 instead - No issues.
I then installed 2.5.5 via the update offered in Start11 2.5.3 and there have been no issues so far with explorer.exe.
So it  would seem that 2.5.3 stable release somehow sets a path for 2.5.5.

I should add that I changed the Start button icon back to default and disabled "Use a custom Start button image" then tried a custom image after upgrading from 2.5.3 to 2.5.5 and again, no explorer.exe restarts so far.

But every custom Start button overlaps the first icon on the taskbar, so I resorted to the default.

 

I would like to assist with the BETA as I normally would, but as I am in the middle of quite a large project, I just haven't any time. I apologize.

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Inelastic
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Reply #58 October 9, 2025 7:58:47 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Windows Version: 25H2 (26200.6584)

Hardware: 9800X3D and RTX 5080

I have two screens, the primary is plugged into my discreet graphics card in the hmdi slot and my secondary screen is plugged into the hdmi slot on my motherboard (it's running off the igpu). On a fresh install of Windows with Windows updated and all drivers updated I installed Start 11 2.55. I have autohide turned off in the Windows taskbar settings. In Start 11, I enable taskbar enhancements and turn on "Enable Start11 autohide mode." When I download things to the desktop or install a program that creates a shortcut on the desktop, it puts the shortcuts and files onto the secondary monitor. If I disable "Enable Start11 autohide mode" the files/shortcuts will now go to the primary screen.

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Retrial8647
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Reply #59 October 9, 2025 8:15:27 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting basj,
reply 49

Copied and paste from PM to me from Retrial8647


I can't continue replying on this post because my account is new. As I originally said, the issue arises when Button width is set to anything lower than 28 px. You have it set to 28 px in the video you posted.


Hello again,

Sorry, my bad, I overlooked that part. I redo the test with Button width 22px. But, I still can not reproduce your issue.



However, I do notice that the taskbar button width in my system does not look like its 22px. Do you see these on your system too?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

I also tried reproducing the issue in a VM but couldn't, so Start11 must be conflicting with something on my system. Here's a video of it happening: https://i.imgur.com/r8UneGB.gif

The issue still persists even after uninstalling, rebooting, and reinstalling.

 

However, I do notice that the taskbar button width in my system does not look like its 22px. Do you see these on your system too?

Yes, they look the same for me. I think the button width is supposed to affect the padding around the icons only. Since the issue appears to be specific to my system, I'll just stick to 28 px for now which makes no notable difference anyway.

Thanks for your help, Basj!

 

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sdRohan
Retrial8647
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Reply #60 October 9, 2025 8:54:46 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

After reading Inelastic's comment, I realized the issue is related to me having two displays and the setting Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars. I ran a few tests and here's what I found:

  1. One display disabled/unplugged: Couldn't reproduce the issue.
  2. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars: Taskbar crashes almost anytime I open something from Start Menu.
  3. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to Taskbar where window is open: Couldn't reproduce the issue with no window open on the second display. With one window open on the second display (and multiple on the first), I could get explorer to crash but less frequently.
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Ulysses Ulysses
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Reply #61 October 9, 2025 9:02:13 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

I have 6 monitors and haven't had that same experience.

  • Default Stat button
  • Installing version 2.5.3 before upgrading to 2.5.5 seems to have fixed my explorer crashes.
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sdRohan
basj
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Reply #62 October 9, 2025 9:04:38 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Inelastic,
reply 58

Windows Version: 25H2 (26200.6584)

Hardware: 9800X3D and RTX 5080

I have two screens, the primary is plugged into my discreet graphics card in the hmdi slot and my secondary screen is plugged into the hdmi slot on my motherboard (it's running off the igpu). On a fresh install of Windows with Windows updated and all drivers updated I installed Start 11 2.55. I have autohide turned off in the Windows taskbar settings. In Start 11, I enable taskbar enhancements and turn on "Enable Start11 autohide mode." When I download things to the desktop or install a program that creates a shortcut on the desktop, it puts the shortcuts and files onto the secondary monitor. If I disable "Enable Start11 autohide mode" the files/shortcuts will now go to the primary screen.

Quoting Retrial8647,
reply 60

After reading Inelastic's comment, I realized the issue is related to me having two displays and the setting Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars. I ran a few tests and here's what I found:

  1. One display disabled/unplugged: Couldn't reproduce the issue.
  2. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars: Taskbar crashes almost anytime I open something from Start Menu.
  3. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to Taskbar where window is open: Couldn't reproduce the issue with no window open on the second display. With one window open on the second display (and multiple on the first), I could get explorer to crash but less frequently.

Quoting Ulysses Ulysses,
reply 61

I have 6 monitors and haven't had that same experience.

  • Default Stat button
  • Installing version 2.5.3 before upgrading to 2.5.5 seems to have fixed my explorer crashes.

Please install the latest v2.56 beta, reboot your system as soon as the installation is done. Report back if you still see the same issue.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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sdRohan
Retrial8647
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Reply #63 October 9, 2025 10:16:39 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting basj,
reply 62

Please install the latest v2.56 beta, reboot your system as soon as the installation is done. Report back if you still see the same issue.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

Installed 2.56 beta. The issue still persists.

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sdRohan
basj
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Reply #64 October 9, 2025 11:07:29 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Retrial8647,
reply 63

Installed 2.56 beta. The issue still persists.

Please re-post your issue in v2.56 beta thread, I will than forward it to support. https://forums.stardock.com/539013/ 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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sdRohan
BillH99999
Join Date 04/2025
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Reply #65 October 9, 2025 11:09:17 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting basj,
reply 21


Quoting BillH99999,
reply 20

Enhanced taskbar it turned on. If I turn it off in 2.5.5.4, the problem goes away.



Thank you for your report. I have forwarded 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. Thank you.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I saw that there was a new beta 2.5.6.  In the changelog it said "Should address the issue with not being able to open the network window quickly in explorer with 2.55".  This isn't the problem I was having, but since it was talking about a slowdown, I thought I would install 2.5.6 and see if it helped with my problem.

It does.  With 2.5.6 installed and "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" turned on, there is no delay in opening an Excel spreadsheet.  Spreadsheets open right way.

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sdRohan
basj
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Reply #66 October 9, 2025 11:10:58 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting BillH99999,
reply 65

I saw that there was a new beta 2.5.6. In the changelog it said "Should address the issue with not being able to open the network window quickly in explorer with 2.55". This isn't the problem I was having, but since it was talking about a slowdown, I thought I would instal 2.5.6 and see if it helped with my problem.

It does. With 2.5.6 installed and "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" turned on, there is no delay in opening an Excel spreadsheet. Spreadsheets open right way.

Awesome, really glad to hear that.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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