Windows 10 Style

from Stardock Forums

I've recently had a problem with the Win10 start menu, where I get blank tiles (normally only some, but sometimes all). Or the menu doesn't open. It can take maybe 10 minutes before the tiles show. I've tried pretty much everything I could find online except a full reset or re-install. It's a work machine, with everything setup just so, so I really don't want to do that. I mean it's a start menu.... c'mon.... This happens normally after a reboot, but can happen at any time. I'm guessing it will happen once every 2 days or so. Then I restart explorer.exe, and it normally works fine again.

Anyway, I remembered I have a (lapsed) copy of Object Desktop, and noticed Start10. A replacement start menu would be great, especially something similar to the Win10 start menu itself, as it's configured exactly as I like it. I'll renew Object Desktop, no problem, if this solves my problems.

So the one question I have is, is the Windows 10 Style for Start10 actually Start10 with a Windows 10 start menu skin, or actually the Windows 10 start menu itself? I mean as a programmer I'll normally take the easiest path to solve a problem, and it seems to me that to give a Windows 10 style would make sense to actually use the Windows 10 start menu. Using the free trial, I literally cannot see any differences between the two, including some annoyances (eg. scroll bar shows when it's not necessary) which makes me think that Start10 is really using the actual Win10 start menu for it's Windows 10 Style.

Can somebody tell me how it works? If it's actually Start10, and not Win10 start menu, then I'm definitely buying it again.

 

4,140 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

From what I understand, might be wrong, but , Start10 in "Windows 10 Style" is actually only Windows 10 Start menu. So I do believe if you have problem with your Windows 10 Start menu. It will also appear on Start10 with Windows 10 Style.

Have you tried these solution? It might help:

Please try the following:

-For Win8/10 Users: Open the Start Screen, and type 'cmd'. Right-click on the search result and select 'Run as administrator' from below.

-Type: sfc /scannow

-Wait for the scan to complete (this can take several minutes)

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

If the SFC finds errors, but cannot fix them, please also run the following command in the same command prompt window:

dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

The above command should assist with replacing any damaged or problematic system files. Please note, however, since it may require restoring certain files, this process can take some time and you will need to be patient until it has completed.

Please let me know whether this resolves your problem or if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I thought that might be the case, which is a shame, as I really like the Win10 style. It would be nice if Stardock did their own version, which would be more similar to the Windows 10 start menu. Maybe with a lot more configuration options, ability to skin etc. One app I do like to use is Tileconify, which is great for linking to pretty much anything and adjusting icons (eg. making them bigger than default). If Stardock did their own Win10 style menu and allowed that built in it would be great. 

Yeah I've tried all that. Problem is it doesn't happen all the time. So I run one of the fixes, it seems fine, then 2 days later goes wrong again. One thing I did find was an MS start menu tool (I forget the name) that told me my tiles were corrupt. None of the suggested fixes sorted it out, and as I said I don't want to totally reset or reinstall Windows if I can avoid it. One remedy involved copying the tile files from another PC, but considering that would probably wipe out my carefully setup ones, then I don't love that idea either.

Seriously though; it's a start menu. Honestly how could MS write so much decent software, but not get a simple menu system to work all the time...

Thanks,

Crivens

 

 

 

 

 

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Crivens, reply 2

Seriously though; it's a start menu. Honestly how could MS write so much decent software, but not get a simple menu system to work all the time...
End of Crivens's quote

You aren't the first person to wonder that...;)

People who have messed with shell enhancements and shell replacements for decades have been wondering how MS gets 'getting it wrong'...so right...;)

Re your problem....maybe that other addon..."Tileconify"?

Could be added conflict...;)

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Yeah I thought Tileconify might be the problem. Either that or some of the links are to network files that don't exist until my work VPN is fired up. Only thing is a lot of the time it appears to have no effect, and it works great. Mainly when I first fire up the PC in the morning, although not the only time. And restarting explorer.exe fixes it straight away almost every time.... And I mean really it's not the most unlikely thing to have network links that aren't always there. Plus why completely stop everything else too? sometimes I get all blank tiles, sometimes only certain apps (not normally the network or Tileconify ones, just anything really at random), and sometimes the menu won't appear at all (can right click and do task manager though...)

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Even though it's almost definitely the Win10 start menu, ever since I installed Start10, it's been fine. And I would definitely get a problem every second day or so, and it's been going on for months. 

The other option is that I had a Windows update a couple of days ago.

I'll see if any problems re-occur. If all good at the end of the Start10 trial, then I'll uninstall it, and see if my problems come back.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Still no problems with the start menu opening or showing blank tiles. However I do have a new problem.

I'm not sure if this is a Start10 issue, or Win10 (updated itself a few days ago), but now when I use explorer from the start menu then most of the time it will not open until I open the start menu again. ie. open start menu. Click explorer. Start menu closes. Nothing happens. Open start menu again, and explorer appears without clicking anything. I pinned it to the taskbar, and it works from there straight away every time. Anyone seen this issue, and if so how do you fix it?

Also, is there a way to keep the start menu open when selecting something? I mean every work day I have 3 apps I need to start, so currently I open the start menu, click the 1st app, the start menu closes, I open the start menu again, click the 2nd app etc. Would be nice to be able to start an app without the start menu closing. I know I can pin these apps to the taskbar or desktop, but I like a minimised look, and as they are only important on work days I would rather they didn't show upfront.