PMuthsam

reply 20

No vertical task bar (placed at the left side of the screen) ... no upgrade to v2   .

Please, consider thread https://forums.stardock.com/506879

 

It'll get done if it's possible. In the meantime, your Start11 will continue to work, no worries. 

Re a vertical task bar, found this for you:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-set-up-a-vertical-taskbar-in-windows-11

MS is the reason you can't have one w/o editing the registry, not Stardock.

Doc, StartAllBack and Start 11 v2 will never be able to be friends, The 2 programs will never work together. For anyone that wants to use the verticle taskbar, explorerpatcher and start 11 are the best combo. Basically explorerpatcher does the same thing startallback does with the taskbar BUT you dont get stuck with a Windows 7 menu. I think there is a pretty strong consensus that start 11 version 2 start menus are better and more modern here. I really do not think there is a better alternative to the start 11 and explorer patcher combo for verticale taskbar users and there may never be for Windows 11.

I agree. I'm not advocating StartAllBack. If he wants the vertical taskbar so badly...fine. I don't feel the need, myself. MS took it away...the 'why' is beyond me.

The best anyone can do is to constantly B*tch to MSFT to add the capability. It will likely take 2 years like it did with taskbar button labels but using software that depends on the older w10 taskbar will eventually break. Its not a matter of if but when. AFAIK the w11 taskbar doesn't even have code to support vertical bars. I'm sure it still uses an appbar but it would still have to be able to handle painting vertical buttons etc... In fact the only other surefire bet would be if Stardock replaced the taskbar with one of their own. While I personally like that idea I can certainly see the additional headache and work it would be creating a nightmare.

The why is easy. Its MSFT. Take decades old functionality away for 2-4 years then bring it back with a "We listened to our users" or a "Wow we're innovating" tagline.

It is because Microsoft felt the need to completely scrap their working taskbar in Windows 10 and build a new one from the ground up on Windows 11. I do not fully understand the complexity that goes into building a new taskbar but I do know that Micorsoft has basically said that adding in a vertical taskbar would take too much work and for the most part abandoned really finishing it. Hopefully Microsoft gets back to work on this taskbar when Windows 12 drops and we finally have a finished product here.

Right now the only solution to vertical taskbars is to find a way to put in Windows 10's taskbar into Winodws 11. That is achieved both through startallback and explorerpatcher. For people that use stardock software, explorerpatcher is by far the best option.

In other words, "We have a great task bar in W10. So, let's turn it into a nonfunctioning pos and then reinvent the wheel so people can say, "MS listens to us." Lol.

Microsoft thinks they know best. I don't even attempt to ask them for fixes anymore because they are going to do what they are going to do. I believe that is why people here are asking Stardock to fix things now. I know that Stardock does implement changes at users request pretty quickly if they are able to do so which is a very nice change from Microsoft's culture. Unfortunately sometimes there are requests like the vertical taskbar that are more complicated.

I have been using StartAllBack now for a few years and find it a Brilliant Theming tool, the devs have included a function to have the taskbar top, bottom, left and right from the beginning , but each time i move the taskbar, my old brain can not get my head around the new position, so i always move it back again.

It does seem like many users did expect this function to be in V2,  I am just glad i have the ability to use both sides of the customising coin, WBs and Start 11, and StartAllBack with Themes, best of both worlds so i miss out on nothing.

Nice to see a link to StartAllback Doc, gives a user perspective.

Big upgrade and does a lot more than before,got mine set up with tabs that work great but some shortcuts wont pin on start menu yet some others are being doubled.(two shortcuts).Has frozen 3 times needing me to use task manager to close it.But all in well done to you guys,these bugs will be ironed out I'm sure,early days.Got a months trial but may buy it before the end of that.

Update on pinning items,found the easy way to do it,just drag it over to the right from main menu.

Hello Naroon,

When you bring up theme's the discussion changes quite a bit because the world of theming is kind of a different world. Artists tend to really like using Windows 7 parts for their work a whole lot, and some of these artists are in fact really good at what they do. Unfortunately, for what ever reason the idea of using Windows 11 parts has not attracted very many artists and in my opinion Windows 11's policies may have slowed down the progression of what themes could have otherwise been today. But from your perspective and for where Windows 11 theming is currently at StartAllBack is an excellent tool because it is very good at getting Windows 7 parts onto a Windows 11 device. For me however, I have taken a turn towards ultimate usability of Windows 11 and the parts in Start 11 version 2 are masterful here. From a power user perspective or having the ultimate start menu program (minus the themes of course) Start 11 blows away StartAllBack.

Without a doubt, changing file explorer from Windows 11 to Windows 7's has been a big part of getting many themes to work. There have been several times I have wondered if Stradock were to get into the custom homegrown file explorer game if it were to be successful and get them back on top in the theming game. For example after they finish up with Start 11 version 2 they could do a file explorer alternative separate OR if they plan on releasing Start 12 as a paid upgrade they could implement the file explorer alternative right into start 12 to make the upgrade (after a short window) worth it to users. My two cents as you give me plenty to think about.

My two cents say stay away from the confusion which will be caused by naming any Start11 product for Windows11 as Start12, and the expectations it'll work with Windows12, because believe me, customers will say, "If it doesn't work with Windows12 why did you dare to call it that, and Stardock should therefore give it as a free upgrade!"

Windows12 will be coming all too soon for $$ reasons. It will probably need a Start12 of its own, WB12 and SkS12, as well...if it'll be possible to skin it at all. 

So Start11v2 or Start11vN should simply stay parallel in naming to the OS it's being used for.

Hello Doc,

I do share some of your concerns here. I believe that after the holidays end, which is only in two months we could potentially see Windows 12 beta suddenly surface. I do not suspect we will have very much advanced warning when Windows 12 will launch which makes planning hard. But we do have possible leaks from intel, ect. which does state that Windows 12 will most likely be out of beta and ready for the next holiday season by next October.

If Microsoft is smart they wont scrap Windows 11's taskbar and build yet another new one. If this happens start 11 on Windows 12 could be easy. But we cant count on that. If for some reason Start 12 has to be another paid upgrade (which may happen along the lines of 3 months from or so from today) when Windows 12 beta drops, what better way to soften the blow with something like an explorer alternative built in.

Overall I really do like the idea of a in house built file explorer as a side note to this discussion. It seems to fit stardocks ecosystem in my opinion

I haven't heard anything, but then, I wouldn't expect to. SD makes productivity software. All you have to do is figure a way to make a skinnable StartXplorer12...and teach it neat tricks.

The multi-device upgrade is now available, so I went for it.  Activation was clean on both desktop and Surface Pro and no issues so far.  Trying out the Launcher style and enjoying the new tab groups rather than scrolling.

Keep up the good work.

I wish I could find the wallpaper from the first screenshot.

Thanks!

If Win 12 is soon to come out that will mean I will have totally missed an OS [11] and that'll be the first of all of them that I simply didn't bother with since the days of Dos...