Start 11, Windows 11 and Surface Pro 8 (Touch/Pen Issue)

from Stardock Forums

There is a weird issue that has popped up since the upgrade to Start 11 RC2 (v0.91). The taskbar buttons that would normally launch apps/programs have become extremely unresponsive when they are clicked on with a Microsoft Surface Pen 2 (about 80~90% unresponsive to pen clicks). The taskbar buttons are almost completely unresponsive to touch input (finger tapping). The only reliable thing I can do is to right-click or long-tap (equivalent to right clicking) which then brings up the right click menu every time. However, just single-clicking/tapping to start a program, minimizing/restoring a running program, or changing between different windows of a running program (e.g.: changing to a different instance/window in Firefox or going between different Word documents) does not work anymore.

I want to emphasize that using the surface keyboard and its accompanying touch-pad to click on the taskbar buttons works as expected 100% of the time. The issue is only with touch and pen input. Uninstalling Start 11 and restarting Windows 11 using the default taskbar and start menu restores full taskbar functionality with pen and touch. Reinstalling Start 11 brings the issue back.

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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try purge and reinstall steps as mentioned here: [link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account. Reboot after the purged. Reinstall, and Reboot again after the installation. Retest it. Report back here.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Same issue here on Surface Pro 7 using touch on screen. Followed link for batch file to uninstall, downloaded latest version, reinstalled without changing any default settings and the issue persists. This is new behavior so I believe it is related to a MS update. The only "buttons" that work in the start menu are start, desktops, and tray buttons when Start 11 is running. When Start 11 is disabled, touch functionality returns.

 

Running Win 11 build 22000.282 experience pack 1000.22000.282.0 with latest update 2021-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5006746) installed two days ago (which is when I believe the issue started).

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Ran the purge/uninstall batch file and reinstalled after a restart. It's still behaving the same way (meaning it's not working correctly). This behavior started on the same day that both Start 11 and Windows 11 had updates, so it is possible that it could be related to a Windows 11 issue although, again, removing Start 11 fixes it. I have additional diagnostic info:

  • I tried it with both an older Surface pen (the standard, non-slim one) as well as a Wacom Bamboo Ink pen. The behavior is the same.
  • The OS is Windows 11 Home version 21H2, build 22000.258
  • Latest installed update is 2021-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5006674) which was installed back on 10/14.
  • There have been a couple of Surface firmware updates since then but I have not been offered any more regular updates.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ThornyJohn, reply 3

Ran the purge/uninstall batch file and reinstalled after a restart. It's still behaving the same way (meaning it's not working correctly). This behavior started on the same day that both Start 11 and Windows 11 had updates, so it is possible that it could be related to a Windows 11 issue although, again, removing Start 11 fixes it. I have additional diagnostic info:

 

    • I tried it with both an older Surface pen (the standard, non-slim one) as well as a Wacom Bamboo Ink pen. The behavior is the same.

 

    • The OS is Windows 11 Home version 21H2, build 22000.258

 

    • Latest installed update is 2021-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5006674) which was installed back on 10/14.

 

    • There have been a couple of Surface firmware updates since then but I have not been offered any more regular updates.

 


End of ThornyJohn's quote

I am pleased to say this is resolved for an update next week.

It was a side effect of a change to better support multiple monitors on Win11 but the issue has now been resolved.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

The moment I finished posting the info in the previous post, my Windows 11 got an update. Unfortunately, it did not fix the touch/pen taskbar issues. Here's the newest info:

  • Windows 11 Home version 21H2, build 22000.282
  • 2021-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5006746) was installed

Neil, I am glad to hear an update is coming.