New Version of ExplorerPatcher

hdmi · Mar 2, 2023

The-Hive said:
I use OpenShell/ClassicShell to change the Taskbar colour and Atomic alarm clock to get a decent clock (with or without seconds) and many different styles on the taskbar
View attachment 54017

Yeah, I had been using Atomic Alarm Clock for years until finally it became possible to show seconds and hide the date WITHOUT using 3rd party software. So then I only had to change the text color, which is easy enough with Open-Shell.

Boooooo · Mar 2, 2023

Johnboy200 said:
I've beeen using ep_patcher since it first got released and this is the first time there has been a major issue/conflict with Windows where I've actually uninstalled ep_patcher and resigned myself to having to using the crap W11 taskbar.

Indeed me uninstalled the windows update and continued to use EP

hdmi · Mar 2, 2023

A_Warthog said:
That value changes an internal ID within the registry that seems to be pointing to the latest version of the start menu. The start menu was updated in the latest build, hence why the ID changed. I suspect that this value will need to be changed each time Microsoft makes updates to the start menu. Here's to hoping that Microsoft finally sees the light and the next update will include an option to remove the recommended section. Knowing them, I'm not holding my breath...

Here's the process that I followed to deduce that it was the ID within that script that needed to be updated, and how to figure out what value to use in the future. Note that it's dependent on a new version of ExplorerPatcher being released. Later, I'll see if I can search the registry to find other possible sources of that ID:

Remove all start menu/taskbar customizations from your machine (make sure not to check the box to delete your license when uninstalling StartAllBack!)

Install build 22621.1344

Check the contents of %SystemRoot%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ and confirm that dxgi.dll is not present

Install the latest version of ExplorerPatcher

Enable the "Hide Recommended" feature, restart explorer, and confirm that it is working with the latest version of ExplorerPatcher

Check the contents of %SystemRoot%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ and confirm that dxgi.dll is present

Open the registry editor

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher and verify that there's a REG_DWORD named StartDocked_DisableRecommendedSection with a value of 1

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher\StartDocked and verify that there's a REG_DWORD named StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged

Make a note of the 7-digit number in parentheses in the Data column linked with StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged, that's the ID to use in the script

Update line 28 of the script from Reddit (11SM-recommended.bat) to align with the new value for StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged

Uninstall ExplorerPatcher

Run 11SM-recommended.bat, and press 1 followed by enter to install

Install StartAllBack

Here's a batchfile to automate Step 7+8+9+10:

Batch:

@echo off
for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher /v StartDocked_DisableRecommendedSection') do (set a=%%v)
set a=%a:*REG_DWORD    =%
set /a a=%a%
if not %a% equ 1 (echo StartDocked_DisableRecommendedSection is %a% &pause &exit)
for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher\StartDocked /v StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged') do (set a=%%v)
set a=%a:*REG_DWORD    =%
set /a a=%a%
echo %a% |clip
echo Copied %a% to clipboard
pause

Hollywood · Mar 2, 2023

I am having some Tray issues with the latest cumulative (beta) update yesterday. I installed the ExplorerPatcher from yesterday's EP update, but I think this might be a Windows issue.

I set in ExplorerPatcher Properties for a Small taskbar, Combine icons, Hide control center, and click on the option to turn off system icons and turn OFF the action center. That is all the same as with Windows prior to the update and the previous ExplorerPatcher.

After that is setup, you go to Windows settings>Personalization>Taskbar>System Tray Icons.
There used to be a radio switch to Hide the sound icon. I not only do not see where you can hide the sound icon anymore, but changing any of the other radio switches in the System Tray Icons section do not seem to make any changes (hide or not).

Anyone else have this behavior or do I have something set that is causing this?

Thanks!

hdmi · Mar 2, 2023

OAT said:
Yes it does restart and will do so for ever resulting in tons of errors in the log.

If Explorerpatcher is preventing you from using your computer, these are the steps to take.
After your login, and between the flashes, press CTRL Alt DEL (at the same time)
Choose Task Manager
Select in the top left menu, Run new task as Admin.
1- Type in cmd (press enter)
2- Type in cd c:\ (press enter)
3- Type in cd %ProgramFiles%\ExplorerPatcher (press enter)
4- Type in cp ep_setup.exe ep_uninstall.exe (press enter)
5- Type in ep_uninstall.exe (press enter)

This will give you back control of your system.

Too much hassle IMO. Just type in %programfiles%\ExplorerPatcher\ep_setup /uninstall (press enter).

valinet · Mar 2, 2023

A_Warthog said:
That value changes an internal ID within the registry that seems to be pointing to the latest version of the start menu. The start menu was updated in the latest build, hence why the ID changed. I suspect that this value will need to be changed each time Microsoft makes updates to the start menu. Here's to hoping that Microsoft finally sees the light and the next update will include an option to remove the recommended section. Knowing them, I'm not holding my breath...

Here's the process that I followed to deduce that it was the ID within that script that needed to be updated, and how to figure out what value to use in the future. Note that it's dependent on a new version of ExplorerPatcher being released. Later, I'll see if I can search the registry to find other possible sources of that ID:

Remove all start menu/taskbar customizations from your machine (make sure not to check the box to delete your license when uninstalling StartAllBack!)

Install build 22621.1344

Check the contents of %SystemRoot%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ and confirm that dxgi.dll is not present

Install the latest version of ExplorerPatcher

Enable the "Hide Recommended" feature, restart explorer, and confirm that it is working with the latest version of ExplorerPatcher

Check the contents of %SystemRoot%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ and confirm that dxgi.dll is present

Open the registry editor

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher and verify that there's a REG_DWORD named StartDocked_DisableRecommendedSection with a value of 1

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerPatcher\StartDocked and verify that there's a REG_DWORD named StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged

Make a note of the 7-digit number in parentheses in the Data column linked with StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged, that's the ID to use in the script

Update line 28 of the script from Reddit (11SM-recommended.bat) to align with the new value for StartDocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged

Uninstall ExplorerPatcher

Run 11SM-recommended.bat, and press 1 followed by enter to install

Install StartAllBack

Yeah, it’s not any magic internal ID…

Programs consist of subroutines, pieces of instructions grouped together that do “something”. In our case, we are interested in “startdocked::LauncherFrame::OnVisibilityChanged”, which is the subroutine that is executed when the Windows 11 Start menu is displayed (side note: Windows 11 Start menu is called “StartDocked”, while the Windows 10 Start menu is called “StartUI” by Microsoft). For the code in ExplorerPatcher to be able to alter the layout and hide the recommended section, it needs to hook that subroutine, i.e. a piece of code that executes some of my own custom code that helps me do that and then lets the thing do the original code, aka a “hook”. ExplorerPatcher has code that allows it to install hooks (how to do that, there are a couple of methods, I think I explained with another occasion, not the point of this talk). All it requires is to know the address in memory (RAM) where that function is located, in order to know where to hook. That number represents the address it needs, the address of “…::OnVisibilityChanged” (I oversimplified the explanation, it’s not the address per se, but consider it is for the sake of having a coherent and understandable explanation).

Now, how do you get that number? Unfortunately, the DLL file (StartDocked.dll) does not contain that data, as it would make it much larger. Instead, information like this is stored in what is called a “symbol” file (Symbols). ExplorerPatcher downloads the symbol file for StartDocked.dll, parses it, extracts the number from there and caches it in the registry.

If you want to create a proper script, my advice is to have it download, parse and extract the info directly, reproducing what ExplorerPatcher does. For this, I’d reference this: Useful development tools/scripts/helpers · valinet/ExplorerPatcher · Discussion #183. With pdbdump, you can extract the address from the pdb (symbol file). PDBDownloader is a GUI tool which takes in a DLL and downloads its symbol file from Microsoft (the download URL is in the DLL file). I don’t know if it works from the command line, alternatively you can find some other utility that does via the command line or roll out your own. ExplorerPatcher contains code to parse a DLL file and extract the URL from there, so you can reference that: libvalinet/pdb.h at master · valinet/libvalinet. Idk, investigate a bit. With those 2, you then just write the number you obtained to the registry and ExplorerPatcher will pick it up and do its thing when you load it in the Start menu (dxgi.dll present in the Start menu folder). Beware that it works for this, but other hooks (like enabling the Windows 10 Start menu) have to run earlier than the time something from dxgi is used, so ExplorerPatcher installs an earlier hook by impersonating wincorlib.dll as well. Yeah, complicated…

As usual, all of the above is documented via the source code, which performs exactly what I described. The knowledge is there, no need for guessing.

hdmi · Mar 2, 2023

The-Hive said:
Does anyone know if customisations made with things like Ultimate Windows Tweaker or Winaero Tweaker to change the context menus has the same effect as StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher ??

Do you mean the registry tweak that disables the Windows 11 "more options" context menu so the classic context menu is restored? Yeah, AFAIK that one should be the same for all of them, it's this:

Batch:

reg add HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 /f /ve

Steerpike · Mar 2, 2023

valinet said:
... I don't get where your entitlement for this comes from. ...

I wonder if the problem here is that people have become accustomed to 'free' software / services, like Google search, Farcebook pages, Google Maps, etc? They don't 'join the dots' and realize that those services are 'free' because they suck your private data from you - you are indeed paying, just not paying in dollars and cents.

What YOU are doing is providing a valuable product totally free of charge, and without any strings whatsoever - you don't require registration, data, usage information, telemetry ... nothing. And still, you provide 'best effort' support regardless. Thank You!

Stormbrain · Mar 2, 2023

Just want you to know that your work is highly appreciated Valinet, I didn't think my compliment would trigger anyone but hey its the internet so I guess I was being naive thinking it wouldn't

Silbian · Mar 3, 2023

First of all, I would like to say thank you to Valinet for his prompt solution to this mess.
Everything works fine, except a small issue concerning the Task View, it doesn't work, clicking and just no action.
I'm using last version of Explorer Patcher and Open-shell 4.4.189 with this new 1344 update, before these upgrades Task View was working.
I already tried switching on-off task view, closing Open-shell, DISM without any result.
Did anybody got/solved the same problem ? Thanks.

nikosyan · Mar 3, 2023

Silbian said:
First of all, I would like to say thank you to Valinet for his prompt solution to this mess.
Everything works fine, except a small issue concerning the Task View, it doesn't work, clicking and just no action.
I'm using last version of Explorer Patcher and Open-shell 4.4.189 with this new 1344 update, before these upgrades Task View was working.
I already tried switching on-off task view, closing Open-shell, DISM without any result.
Did anybody got/solved the same problem ? Thanks.

As I wrote above I had the problem with Task View and uninstalled the Windows update because I also found everything slowing down the system. I am back in the previous Windows install with the latest EP and Task View works. But I tried everything on a VM and it also works, so the task view problem must be system specific.

hdmi · Mar 3, 2023

Silbian said:
First of all, I would like to say thank you to Valinet for his prompt solution to this mess.
Everything works fine, except a small issue concerning the Task View, it doesn't work, clicking and just no action.
I'm using last version of Explorer Patcher and Open-shell 4.4.189 with this new 1344 update, before these upgrades Task View was working.
I already tried switching on-off task view, closing Open-shell, DISM without any result.
Did anybody got/solved the same problem ? Thanks.

The keyboard shortcuts (besides Win + Tab) to Virtual Desktops still work, though.
Ctrl + Win + Left/Right (switch to another Virtual Desktop)
Ctrl + Win + D (create a new Virtual Desktop)
Ctrl + Win + F4 (close the current Virtual Desktop)

By default, the Virtual Desktops in Windows are rather useless anyway IMO, but you can still make them useful. Or just let them be useless.

VirtuaWin - Multiple virtual desktops

Download VirtuaWin - Multiple virtual desktops for free. Multiple desktops on a Windows box. VirtuaWin is an application for the Windows user community that misses the wonderful multiple desktop functionality often used on Unix systems. It is simple, reliable and highly configurable, supporting...

sourceforge.net

hdmi · Mar 3, 2023

OAT said:
HDMI said:

This procedure is for people who are caught in a loop with explorer.
You have no option to type anywhere as you suggested.
It is therefore a must to launch task manager and new task.
Your suggestion is only valid if you have access to the run option thru the interface.

After you open Task Manager and choose Run new task, that's when you need to type the command I told you about. No additional steps are required this way.

hdmi · Mar 3, 2023

OAT said:
Where was that mentioned?
One extra line, too much hassle... You make me laugh.

Where else would you type it?

nikosyan · Mar 3, 2023

nikosyan said:
As I wrote above I had the problem with Task View and uninstalled the Windows update because I also found everything slowing down the system. I am back in the previous Windows install with the latest EP and Task View works. But I tried everything on a VM and it also works, so the task view problem must be system specific.

I gave it one more try on my main system, tried to modify everything to resemble the simplicity of the VM, still the task view button does not work. From multiple monitors to one monitor, taskbar on only one monitor, hide and show the taskview button, on the Windows 10 taskbar it simply does not work anymore.

jakomo · Mar 3, 2023

I have the same problem with the Task View and Alt + Tab both not working with Explorer Patcher 22621.1344.53.1 since the latest Windows 11 Update KB5022913.
Before the Windows Update everything was working as expected. If I uninstall EP then it works with the new Windows update.
Unfortunately I could not get the Task View working with the combination of Explorer Patcher 22621.1344.53.1 and update KB5022913.
Hopefully this can get fixed in EP very soon.

Silbian · Mar 3, 2023

hdmi said:
The keyboard shortcuts (besides Win + Tab) to Virtual Desktops still work, though.
Ctrl + Win + Left/Right (switch to another Virtual Desktop)
Ctrl + Win + D (create a new Virtual Desktop)
Ctrl + Win + F4 (close the current Virtual Desktop)

By default, the Virtual Desktops in Windows are rather useless anyway IMO, but you can still make them useful. Or just let them be useless.

VirtuaWin - Multiple virtual desktops

Download VirtuaWin - Multiple virtual desktops for free. Multiple desktops on a Windows box. VirtuaWin is an application for the Windows user community that misses the wonderful multiple desktop functionality often used on Unix systems. It is simple, reliable and highly configurable, supporting...

sourceforge.net

Thanks, I agree about what you replied, BTW mine was just a remark for a potential EP bug, even I don't use Task View that much. At the moment I'll keep it disabled. Sure, the kb shortcuts are working exepting ALT+Tab but I don't like that much to use the keyboard to perform any action can be easily made via mouse click. Not a big issue indeed, when everything runs smooth at the moment.

The-Hive · Mar 3, 2023

hdmi said:
Yeah, I had been using Atomic Alarm Clock for years until finally it became possible to show seconds and hide the date WITHOUT using 3rd party software. So then I only had to change the text color, which is easy enough with Open-Shell.

View attachment 54063

I like the different styles of the clock, much bigger and bolder one I use with Atomic Alarm Clock

hdmi · Mar 3, 2023

Silbian said:
Thanks, I agree about what you replied, BTW mine was just a remark for a potential EP bug, even I don't use Task View that much. At the moment I'll keep it disabled. Sure, the kb shortcuts are working exepting ALT+Tab but I don't like that much to use the keyboard to perform any action can be easily made via mouse click. Not a big issue indeed, when everything runs smooth at the moment.

If you don't like to use the keyboard shortcuts, then you could always decide to make normal dektop shortcuts that point to .vbs files so you can put them on a Taskbar Toolbar. A .vbs file can run invisibly, it's easy to edit the code with notepad, and it loads quicker than PowerShell. I use .vbs files to automate simple tasks/actions all the time, you can use them to run (and to capture the output of) various commands and command line utilities─such as this one:

GitHub - MScholtes/VirtualDesktop: C# command line tool to manage virtual desktops in Windows 10

C# command line tool to manage virtual desktops in Windows 10 - GitHub - MScholtes/VirtualDesktop: C# command line tool to manage virtual desktops in Windows 10

github.com