Start menu does not work after uninstalling Start11 & Did not revert back to org Win 11 style

Unable to uninstall and revert back to orginal windows 11 task bar theme

from Stardock Forums

I installed the app "Start11" to be able to ungroup apps on the taskbar on my windows 11 computer. After installing I could not figure out how to get the options to work, so I uninstalled Start11  via the control panel. When I uninstalled the taskbar did not change back to the original windows 11 style AND the windows button no longer works (by clicking on it or by hitting the windows key on the keyboard)

I have run the "purge_StartALL" which seems to have been made for WIndows10 and not 11.  It did not help. I have tried to create a new windows profile, but the taskbar looks the same and the start button still does not work.

When I reinstall Start11 I am able to use the start button again, but I want to remove it from my computer and revert back to the normal windows 11 style.

I have 29 days on the trial until I won't be able to use my computer anymore.

Please help remove Start11 from my computer completely and revert my task bar to normal.

start menu products
5,150 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I know you have try the the purge.bat but did you follow the purge part steps as mentioned here : https://forums.stardock.com/505872/start11-support-faq#reinstalling. Do remember to reboot.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Are you sure you didn't previously try some other method of getting a Windows 10 style taskbar on your computer?

I ask because if Start11 is uninstalled it cannot alter the taskbar or alter the startmenu.  If it doesn't open it points to the native one being broken which isn't something Start11 could do itself.

Are you able to post a screenshot showing what your taskbar looks like without Start11 installed?

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

@basj - Yes followed instructions exactly.  I also tried uninstalling from control pannel 1st, running the .bat file, reinstalling, and just using the .bat file.  (note that the instructions page does not say it works with windows 11).  When the .bat runs, it says something like "unable to find registry key" in the cmd window.

@Neil Banfield - Yup, this is my 1st time.  I typically don't like installing 3rd party apps that do this stuff.  However, it's been getting more painful without the multi-windows.  I thought this seemed like a legit product, so I gave it a go.  I now know, that never again will I do this.

I can't embed an image, so here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/s966mnmbiy820s5/desktop.png?dl=0 

Some other things I have noticed:

1) When I install Start11, two screens pop up that are exactly the same "Startdock Start11 Configuration" - Not sure if there's an issue with an installation that it's installing twice somehow.

2) When I go to "Taskbar" option it says "You already have something else managing your taskbar buttons so this cannot be enabled until that is disabled" - The 1st time I installed Start11, this option was available, but now it's not.

3) Here is the image of the cmd window when using Purge_StartALL : https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsdq4l0ar1uv07d/20220912_102107.jpg?dl=0 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Some other things I have noticed:

1) When I install Start11, two screens pop up that are exactly the same "Startdock Start11 Configuration" - Not sure if there's an issue with an installation that it's installing twice somehow.

2) When I go to "Taskbar" option it says "You already have something else managing your taskbar buttons so this cannot be enabled until that is disabled" - The 1st time I installed Start11, this option was available, but now it's not.

3) Here is the image of the cmd window when using Purge_StartALL : https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsdq4l0ar1uv07d/20220912_102107.jpg?dl=0 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

That screenshot shows you have indeed attempted to use something to revert the taskbar to the Windows 10 one.  This is the problem and why Start11 does not allow you to enable the taskbar options as they only apply to the Windows 11 one.

Unfortunately those hacks to revert the taskbar have consequences and one of them is the missing clock at the far end and the start button not working correctly.  Start11 did not do this as Start11 does not work like this for good reason.

If you reverse the hack (did you use a tweak tool perhaps?) it should all go back to normal and Start11 would allow you to change settings.

Uninstalling Start11 will do nothing to fix this as Start11 isn't the cause.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

@Neil - I have done ZERO modifications to my system manually or 3rd party apps.  I have only used Start11.   Under "Start Menu" in Start11 it has "Windows 7 Style" currently selected, I did click around and selected "Windows 10 style" when trying to get the taskbar to ungroup.  Maybe this is what you see in the taskbar this way?

This is 100% a problem from installing Start11.   If I did something else, I would have told you because it doesn't help me fix my issue otherwise.

Is there anything additional to fix this issue?  I'm willing to pay (I shouldn't need to), but it's critical I am able to use my computer.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting LostWinKey, reply 6

@Neil - I have done ZERO modifications to my system manually or 3rd party apps.  I have only used Start11.   Under "Start Menu" in Start11 it has "Windows 7 Style" currently selected, I did click around and selected "Windows 10 style" when trying to get the taskbar to ungroup.  Maybe this is what you see in the taskbar this way?

This is 100% a problem from installing Start11.   If I did something else, I would have told you because it doesn't help me fix my issue otherwise.

Is there anything additional to fix this issue?  I'm willing to pay (I shouldn't need to), but it's critical I am able to use my computer.
End of LostWinKey's quote

Well that is certainly a screenshot of a Windows 10 style taskbar.

The give away is the wrong start button, the settings cog far right and the full width line under the running task.

I cannot tell you how it looks like that if you did not use a tweaking tool to set it to look like that, all I can say is Start11 did not make it like that as it has no ability to do so.

We had one other report of this and it turned out the user had forgotten they had used a windows tweaking utility to set that mode and then were blaming Start11.  Thankfully they remembered what they had done and could go and undo it.

If you didn't use a tool then my best explanation is something is corrupted on your Windows installation and I would probably recommend using the system files checker tool.  Either that or rolling back to a restore point.

However I must make it clear that you should only do so if you are comfortable with doing so and you should ensure your backups are upto date first as is good practice.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

@Neil - I think you may be missing something.  The style task bar is Windows 10, that's because that is what was selected in Startdock Start11 (see screenshot) : https://www.dropbox.com/s/umg8p9hqvtlbuqt/Untitled-1.png?dl=0 

I have gone through all the steps here, which included file checker which everything was fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6KIOFI6g4 

Sadly I do not have a restore point prior to installing Start11.

It sounds like there's nothing more that can be done and I need to reinstall Windows?

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting LostWinKey, reply 8

@Neil - I think you may be missing something.  The style task bar is Windows 10, that's because that is what was selected in Startdock Start11 (see screenshot) : https://www.dropbox.com/s/umg8p9hqvtlbuqt/Untitled-1.png?dl=0 

I have gone through all the steps here, which included file checker which everything was fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6KIOFI6g4 

Sadly I do not have a restore point prior to installing Start11.

It sounds like there's nothing more that can be done and I need to reinstall Windows?
End of LostWinKey's quote

The options in Start11 on the start menu page alter the start menu not the taskbar.

The taskbar options are on the Taskbar page in Start11 and it does not have an option to look like Windows 10.  It simply has options to extend the Windows 11 style to have ungrouped buttons etc.  The start button, and taskbar buttons styles would remain as they did before.

I think reinstall or a repair installation might be your only option here though I would be tempted to install winaerotweaker (https://winaero.com/winaero-tweaker/) and just check the option for the classic taskbar hasn't been enabled somehow first.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

@Neil - WORKED!  The setting "Enable Classic Taskbar" was selected. Once I unchecked everything is back to normal.  However I had to go into Windows 11 taskbar settings to center the icons.

I have never used this or another tool to modifty anything other than Start11.  I would verify that Start11 doesn't possibly make this change and when uninstalling forgets to change it back. 

Thank you for your efforts to fix this.  I was 10 minutes away from canceling my date tonight and spending all night reinstalling windows :)

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting LostWinKey, reply 10

@Neil - WORKED!  The setting "Enable Classic Taskbar" was selected. Once I unchecked everything is back to normal.  However I had to go into Windows 11 taskbar settings to center the icons.

I have never used this or another tool to modifty anything other than Start11.  I would verify that Start11 doesn't possibly make this change and when uninstalling forgets to change it back. 

Thank you for your efforts to fix this.  I was 10 minutes away from canceling my date tonight and spending all night reinstalling windows :)
End of LostWinKey's quote

Start11 does not alter that setting and never has done no.

Glad you didn't have to cancel your date tonight.