Does Start11 cause Windows Explorer to crash irregularly?

from Stardock Forums

I missed the double task bar from earlier versions, so I bought Start11 to run on my devices.

This has been a problem for a while, but more frequent lately. Windows Explorer crashes and restarts, the taskbar disappears, and then it restarts my browser windows are reorganised in order. Annoying.

Asus Vivobook S14, bought  November 25

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS w/ Radeon 780M Graphics (3.80 GHz)
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.3 GB usable)
Graphics card AMD Radeon 780M Graphics (369 MB)

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 25H2
Installed on ‎11/‎11/‎2025
OS build 26200.8875
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.334.0

Copilot is uninstalled.

My laptop stays on, sleeps in the night, and is used through most days every day. I run Betterbird, Vivaldi, Xterm, Okular, Discord and MS Office apps constantly.

It is really hard to reproduce, but it feels like it occurs when I am multitasking more and switching rapidly between apps. All diagnostic scans are fine, system and apps are up to date, and I do not find anything else that should cause this. I have nothing else to go on than my gut feeling saying Start 11 has something to do with this.

Any suggestions for tests or something I can check to verify or disprove this?

Stardock Software Start Menu Products Type: Question
502 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Just to make sure Start11 get properly install. Please try, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important), 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.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks. I have uninstalled, but will try without reinstalling for a few days to see if the problem happens again. If so, Start11 is not the problem at all.

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting kfheen, reply 3996532

Thanks. I have uninstalled, but will try without reinstalling for a few days to see if the problem happens again. If so, Start11 is not the problem at all.

End of kfheen's quote

Doing that won't determine that conclusion, kfheen. Please do what basj asked. He's solved problems for so many folks.

1. Uninstall and reboot immediately.

2. Go to the downloads in your account and download from your available software and reinstall and reboot immediately.

Only then will you know if there's a problem.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting DrJBHL, reply 3996534
Quoting kfheen, reply 3996532

Thanks. I have uninstalled, but will try without reinstalling for a few days to see if the problem happens again. If so, Start11 is not the problem at all.

End of kfheen's quote

Doing that won't determine that conclusion, kfheen. Please do what basj asked. He's solved problems for so many folks.

1. Uninstall and reboot immediately.

2. Go to the downloads in your account and download from your available software and reinstall and reboot immediately.

Only then will you know if there's a problem.

End of DrJBHL's quote

If it happens without Start11 installed, why would Start11 be the problem? 
I am not even sure that it is Start11 that is the problem, but trying to find out. A reinstall is certainly a good way to clean up things, but exlusion can also be useful, unless there is something new in software builds that I am not aware of.