New Version of ExplorerPatcher

Marocco2 · Jan 19, 2023

iorx said:
Shazam!!! I've got a newly installed 11 here which I'm on my way to abuse with the compact thingy to see if the 10 menu go bonkers. I'll get back.

Just finnished the install... Editing post here. The 10 menu is just full och arrows and no way complete just after installing explorepatcher... something is really fishy here.

More edit.
After installing explorerpatcher (also tried pre-release) it looks like this:
View attachment 50216
Pretty borken.

So maybe the days are numbered for a working 10 menu in 11... don't have more time to put into this right now. But we've got some more info anyway.

Just a thought, haven't had the possibility to dig on this. Wonder if this has anything to do with the DefaultLayout.xml or anything how it initializes stuff from that. And then you got the registry... HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount\$de${543ce156-da48-4fde-9dd9-0202dd7ccc2d}$start.tilegrid$windows.data.curatedtilecollection.tilecollection\Current

I did a quick test. Renaming the key "Current" to "Current-borken". Logged out and in again. I get a super-default Startmenu and the UWP icons are back but empty squares. So...
Renaming/deleteing the above key I use to get customer prepped (autopilot-endpoint) machines to pick up the LayoutModification.xml for a customized Start Menu on Windows 10.

try to install 10SM: GitHub - bbmaster123/10SM: Native Windows 10 Start Menu for Windows 11
I wonder if UWP apps are still visible here

iorx · Jan 19, 2023

Gave up and found Open Shell. That was a trip down memory lane! Until Explorerpatcher has catched up, if possible, or any other solution surface then this will do. Can't stomach the 11 menu, really tried for a day... Still got a usable taskbar, explorerpatchers, anyhow!

james73 · Jan 19, 2023

I use both ExplorerPatcher and Open Shell in Win11 and it's working fine.

Doesn't say much, though, for Micro$oft that in order to get their latest OS to function properly you need to install 3rd party hack tools.

iorx · Jan 20, 2023

Oh ho... Icons has started disappearing from the taskbar now...

Stormbrain · Jan 22, 2023

I have no problem using StartIsBack on the dev builds but I really miss Simple Window Switcher. Is there no easy way to get this working without explorerpatcher?

hdmi · Jan 22, 2023

Stormbrain said:
I have no problem using StartIsBack on the dev builds but I really miss Simple Window Switcher. Is there no easy way to get this working without explorerpatcher?

SWS depends on the symbols so, guess not.

Stormbrain · Jan 22, 2023

It wouldn't be so bad if the padding around the windows on the normal alt+tab weren't thicker than my brothers wife

iorx · Jan 23, 2023

iorx said:
Oh ho... Icons has started disappearing from the taskbar now...

Replying to myself here.
I want to circle back to the disappearing icons. Isn't there a way to make a refresh / rebuild of the icons for were taskbar-startmenu 10 picks 'em up? Mocking around with files in %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy obviously makes something but a rebuild after moving / deleting them isn't complete and not working.
Any bright ideas how to do a working rebuild of the cache? I can live with loosing the 10 Start Menu. But missing them in taskbar isn't so nice.

Brgs,

OAT · Jan 23, 2023

iorx said:
Replying to myself here.
I want to circle back to the disappearing icons. Isn't there a way to make a refresh / rebuild of the icons for were taskbar-startmenu 10 picks 'em up? Mocking around with files in %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy obviously makes something but a rebuild after moving / deleting them isn't complete and not working.
Any bright ideas how to do a working rebuild of the cache? I can live with loosing the 10 Start Menu. But missing them in taskbar isn't so nice.

Brgs,

You can run this from batch or directly, it will refresh the icons:
ie4uinit.exe -show
For the taskbar, it might need an explorer restart.

valinet · Jan 23, 2023

hdmi said:
SWS depends on the symbols so, guess not.

False. SWS is hosted in a separate repo. If built separately, it can be injected in explorer as is. To have it work, hook RegisterHotkey and make sure to deny explorer’s request for Alt-Tab and register sws’ request instead or first. The same method can be used to have Windows 7’s Alt-Tab switcher working as well.

Regarding Alt-Tab, symbols are required just to be able to force twinui to use the Windows 10 OG Alt-Tab and/or Snap Assist instead of the Windows 11 one if you choose so. SWS doesn’t need any symbols to work.

Stormbrain · Jan 23, 2023

I just need to work out how to do that myself, im fantastic at building custom PC's (air/watercooled etc) but when it comes to software I have the skills of someone from reddit

hdmi · Jan 23, 2023

valinet said:
False. SWS is hosted in a separate repo. If built separately, it can be injected in explorer as is. To have it work, hook RegisterHotkey and make sure to deny explorer’s request for Alt-Tab and register sws’ request instead or first. The same method can be used to have Windows 7’s Alt-Tab switcher working as well.

Regarding Alt-Tab, symbols are required just to be able to force twinui to use the Windows 10 OG Alt-Tab and/or Snap Assist instead of the Windows 11 one if you choose so. SWS doesn’t need any symbols to work.

For someone with your skills I have no doubt that what you descibe is just an easy task, but personally, I, have no idea how to even begin with any of that stuff. I was just assuming that, had it been easy, then you would've already done it long ago, in the version of EP that fixed the problem of EP no longer working when it couldn't download the symbols from Microsoft after Windows 11 had been updated to a new build number. lol

Stormbrain · Jan 23, 2023

I mean I understand the concept, basically prevent the built-in alt+tab from working and have SWS be the first program it uses instead but I have absoutely no idea how to compile SWS (never compiled anything

) and I don't know how to hook this RegisterHotkey.

My goal ultimately was to find a way to do this so I can have the smaller style alt+tab ( not the classic win98 style ) work on the newer 25*** builds

Stormbrain · Jan 29, 2023

Still haven't worked out how to do it....this is why you should study more in school kids!

Steerpike · Jan 30, 2023

Stuck in a loop - getting a popup, lower-right corner:

"File Explorer ... Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22621.1194 ... Please restart File Explorer to apply the changes and enable additional functionality"

I click the 'restart File Explorer' link in Explorer Patcher properties, but - the popup just comes right back.

I think I've had this for some time and just ignored it but it happened again today when I restarted.

I'm on EP version 22621.608.51.6, and there are no updates available.

Fredrik · Jan 30, 2023

Steerpike said:
Stuck in a loop - getting a popup, lower-right corner:

"File Explorer ... Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22621.1194 ... Please restart File Explorer to apply the changes and enable additional functionality"

I click the 'restart File Explorer' link in Explorer Patcher properties, but - the popup just comes right back.

I think I've had this for some time and just ignored it but it happened again today when I restarted.

I'm on EP version 22621.608.51.6, and there are no updates available.

Yes, there is: Releases · valinet/ExplorerPatcher
Use 22621.819.52.2 for WIN 22H2!

Steerpike · Jan 30, 2023

Fredrik said:
Yes, there is: Releases · valinet/ExplorerPatcher
Use 22621.819.52.2 for WIN 22H2!

Thanks! So - just to confirm my understanding; I see that the release you mention is designated 'pre-release'. Had it been fully released, I would have got it automatically by checking for updates, right? I'm pretty diligent about checking for, and applying, updates.

Gravarty · Jan 31, 2023

I just experienced an issue where all UWP apps disappear from the Windows 10 Start menu after I remove one of those apps.
I already tried restarting the computer, restarting Explorer and clearing all cache/user files but it's still gone.

I guess the only fix is to reinstall Windows 11 and don't remove/install any UWP apps. Luckily i can remove useless apps using uupdump.

22621.1194

Stormbrain · Feb 4, 2023

Would someone be amazing and compile SWS so it can be used on Insider builds because I have tried!

GitHub - valinet/sws: sws (Simple Window Switcher) is an Alt-Tab replacement for Windows

sws (Simple Window Switcher) is an Alt-Tab replacement for Windows - GitHub - valinet/sws: sws (Simple Window Switcher) is an Alt-Tab replacement for Windows

github.com

Rosmano · Feb 9, 2023

Just to report I also have the disappearing icons.

When I first pinned Windows apps on W10 menu, they didn't show the icons. Tried switching to W11 menu and back to W10.
No icons whatsoever of apps I didn't install myself! Cleaning Appdata folder, and ExplorerPatcher registry entries didn't do anything.

When I tried to re-install ExplorerPatcher the icons were all gone anyway. What a pity. I freaking hate the new W11 menu, exlcuding that W11 is kind of okay.
Start11 has no live tiles, so not a great alternative but I guess it'll have to do...