Solved Microsoft starts stuffing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

jrolson · Apr 13, 2024

Start11 Dev said their products won't be banned and work differently than the others.

Only apps that use old Win10 code/registry tweaks are being banned.

Wynona · Apr 13, 2024

Wolfzz said:
That's Why they are blocking StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher

Microsoft starts stuffing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

Microsoft has started testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu. Notably, the Start menu shows ads in the form of app recommendations and comes hot off the heels of the latest insider build update.

www.neowin.net

Try buying a Lenovo laptop! I had to go in to installed apps and uninstall several ads that came up every time I started the computer! I'm not sure I'm finished yet . . .

antspants · Apr 13, 2024

badrobot said:
Wait. StartAllBack is blocked? What W11 version does it stop working? So far still working here.

Temporarily insiders 24H2. Up to Microsoft if it’s blocked in a release I suppose or up to SAB to change the way it uses Windows maybe.

glasskuter · Apr 13, 2024

Changes to the start menu do not affect me personally as I won't average opening the start menu more than once a week, if that. My habits really haven't changed much since the windows 7 days with most used shortcuts on the taskbar and occasionally used shortcuts in my poor man's quick launch and/or grouped in folders on the desktop.

But consider that this may be the beginning of Windows as a service.. If MS becomes ad-generated in the start menu, it won't stop there. There's nothing to keep them from popping up an ad every time we open an app, even a third party app that has it's own ads.
Windows could well become no more than facebook on steroids.....unless the user PAYS for an ad-free experience.

No sense worrying about it. They're gonna do what they're gonna do and we'll do what we gotta do.

Winuser · Apr 13, 2024

badrobot said:
Wait. StartAllBack is blocked? What W11 version does it stop working? So far still working here.

I know that in the newer Canary Builds StartAllBack has to be uninstalled before new builds will install/update. For now StartAllBack can be reinstalled but the file needs to be renamed first.

Winuser · Apr 13, 2024

glasskuter said:
No sense worrying about it. They're gonna do what they're gonna do and we'll do what we gotta do.

I know that switching to Linux is not going to be on my what should I do list.

antspants · Apr 13, 2024

Winuser said:
I know that switching to Linux is not going to be on my what should I do list.

Exactly. Adapt or get out.

jimbo45 · Apr 13, 2024

Ghot said:
Microsoft continues push to turn Windows into an advertising space - gHacks Tech News

It looks as if more advertisement and promotions are coming to Windows 11's Start Menu and also the taskbar very soon. Here is what we know.

www.ghacks.net

It's not only Microsoft -- nearly everything is "ad ridden" these days.

I don't believe this is actually a viable long term business space since after a while users get used to these things and just ignore them --and believe it or not some high end magazines are beginning to re-start physical issues -- which is better for a load of users since ads on those aren't so obtrusive. Also sites that are too riddled with ads or play hideous music are now routinely blocked by most users anyway so if one needs to monetize products there needs to be a less obtrusive and annoying way in doing it.

One way I've often thought about is like "Micro one off payments" -- If I want say one issue of the NY Times why can't I just buy a 1 off payment just as I would in a store -- I don't want a monthly sub or 30 days free trial or whatever.

Cheers
jimbo

glasskuter · Apr 13, 2024

Winuser said:
I know that switching to Linux is not going to be on my what should I do list.

Out of boredom, I started playing around with both Mint and Ubuntu at the height of Covid. Age and declining health are quickly changing my needs and demands on the OS so if I'm still here IF/WHEN it happens, I think I could transition quite easily and never shed tears over it.
My PC has it's purpose but I'm using it less and less in favor of my Ipad Pro.
I just know I certainly couldn't/wouldn't pay to use Windows at this stage of my life.
I'd miss all you here on the forum, though.

Winuser · Apr 13, 2024

glasskuter said:
Out of boredom, I started playing around with both Mint and Ubuntu at the height of Covid. Age and declining health are quickly changing my needs and demands on the OS so if I'm still here IF/WHEN it happens, I think I could transition quite easily and never shed tears over it.
My PC has it's purpose but I'm using it less and less in favor of my Ipad Pro.
I just know I certainly couldn't/wouldn't pay to use Windows at this stage of my life.
I'd miss all you here on the forum, though.

The only problem I would have is that a number of my programs don't have Linux versions. I'm not even sure if I could use my Brother Laser printer in Linux. I do have Linux Mint installed in a VM but it's been several months since I loaded it.

Try3 · Apr 13, 2024

Kees said:
I do remember that MS, in some Windows versions I can't recall at the moment, blocked all browsers but it's own Internet Explorer

MS did not block anything.

Kees said:
at least made it very difficult to install them

MS did not make anything difficult to install.

Kees said:
Then the European commission warned them that that was unfair competition and they were forced to show a window at start of the use of the system where you could choose which browser to use

Yes, in 2009 the EC made MS bring up a dialog telling people that it was easy to install other browsers [and the dialog provided download links for several common browsers].

All the best,
Denis

Wynona · Apr 14, 2024

glasskuter said:
Changes to the start menu do not affect me personally as I won't average opening the start menu more than once a week, if that. My habits really haven't changed much since the windows 7 days with most used shortcuts on the taskbar and occasionally used shortcuts in my poor man's quick launch and/or grouped in folders on the desktop.

But consider that this may be the beginning of Windows as a service.. If MS becomes ad-generated in the start menu, it won't stop there. There's nothing to keep them from popping up an ad every time we open an app, even a third party app that has it's own ads.
Windows could well become no more than facebook on steroids.....unless the user PAYS for an ad-free experience.

No sense worrying about it. They're gonna do what they're gonna do and we'll do what we gotta do.

Hmmm, guess we'd best start studying Linux . . .

Winuser · Apr 14, 2024

Wynona said:
Hmmm, guess we'd best start studying Linux . . .

I won't like it but I think I could learn to ignore ads that are shown on the Start Menu or only shown when Windows first starts. What would tick me off is if they decide to use pop-up ads and they don't give us the option to turn them off.

Flashorn · Apr 14, 2024

Kees said:
In that case I would use a pinned shortcut (on the taskbar) to a folder with all program shortcuts I need in it.

You could use this method :
Use any file folder in explorer and type :

You get all your apps and programs and tools in one place:

Pin it to wherever.

man00 · Apr 14, 2024

I think the end user should be paid as well for any income generated from such ads..Example a friend is over at my home and I open up Edge and a Pepsi ad appears...my friend runs down to the store and buys a Pepsi my ad could have made Pepsi and MS some $$$

Winuser · Apr 14, 2024

Flashorn said:
You could use this method :
Use any file folder in explorer and type :

I tried it and while looking at the list I found an MS app called Load Order. It shows the order of drivers and services. I never new it existed.

antspants · Apr 14, 2024

man00 said:
I think the end user should be paid as well for any income generated from such ads..Example a friend is over at my home and I open up Edge and a Pepsi ad appears...my friend runs down to the store and buys a Pepsi my ad could have made Pepsi and MS some $$$

So when you’re driving your car and your mate is in the passenger seat, your mate spots a Pepsi billboard and goes out to buy a Pepsi, you should be paid?

Yeah… OK.

badrobot · Apr 14, 2024

Wynona said:
Try buying a Lenovo laptop! I had to go in to installed apps and uninstall several ads that came up every time I started the computer! I'm not sure I'm finished yet . . .

That's been like that for any off the shelf PC or laptop since more than a decade ago. Not if you build your own PC which is not an option for everybody.

badrobot · Apr 14, 2024

Wynona said:
Hmmm, guess we'd best start studying Linux . . .

Isn't ignoring ads a lot easier? No effort necessary.

antspants · Apr 14, 2024

badrobot said:
That's been like that for any off the shelf PC or laptop since more than a decade ago. Not if you build your own PC which is not an option for everybody.

Laptops & Bloatware. Every time I’ve bought one.