Solved Power Start Menu = (Activity from Author)

Wynona · Apr 15, 2024

Sqrly said:
It's still for sale on the Microsoft store but there's been no activity from the author since Aug 14, 2023.

Eight months is hardly long enough to declare an app abandonware just because the dev hasn't released a new version. I'm pretty sure the dev still has total rights to it.

antspants · Apr 15, 2024

Elisyan said:
This app changes the background of the windows start menu ( tweaks the start menu, not creating a new one )
Start11 uses a new start menu for itself ( I'm currently using )

i just recommended that so OP can remove that annoying section

This is Start11 menu:
View attachment 93542

I do find the transparency settings in Start11 a little hit and miss. I do like transparency. I might give TranslucentSM a look, thanks.

Stardock Fences transparency settings are great. My Fences are almost invisible until I mouse over them and they’re the colour I want.

Elisyan · Apr 15, 2024

antspants said:
I do find the transparency settings in Start11 a little hit and miss. I do like transparency. I might give TranslucentSM a look, thanks.

Stardock Fences transparency settings are great. My Fences are almost invisible until I mouse over them and they’re the colour I want.

Check AutoHideDesktopIcons ( link )
You can use it and start11 (auto-hide taskbar) to get a good looking desktop

It can auto-hide icons with a timer and auto-show them on clicks

antspants · Apr 15, 2024

Elisyan said:
Check AutoHideDesktopIcons ( link )
You can use it and start11 (auto-hide taskbar) to get a good looking desktop

It can auto-hide icons with a timer and auto-show them on clicks
View attachment 93544

Fences does all that (I think). I am so used to Fences now I don’t think I could go without it.
I will check it out though, I like to see what is available, thanks Elisyan

hdmi · Apr 16, 2024

antspants said:
And yes, I don’t see anything I don’t want to see in Start11 either. It’s a great app.

Speaking of "great", I see a great deal of nothing-ness in Start11 when compared to Open-Shell Menu. I am a Belgian, I don't agree with this whole "less is more" type of philosophy (that I call nihilism) being touted as "great", as I want to be able to see a remarkably long list of optional choices that allows me and everyone else to decide for theirself what else they want to see or don't want to see. But then, that's only me!

antspants · Apr 16, 2024

hdmi said:
Speaking of "great", I see a great deal of nothing-ness in Start11 when compared to Open-Shell Menu. I am a Belgian, I don't agree with this whole "less is more" type of philosopy (that I call nihilism) being touted as "great", as I want to be able to see a remarkably long list of optional choices that allows me and everyone else to decide for theirself what else they want to see or don't want to see. But then, that's only me!

We all have our opinions. My opinion/choice is all that I need to do does exist in Start11, you obviously need something else. I wish you good luck and hope you’re able to rise above the nothingness of Start11 (with whatever it is Microsoft doesn’t kill)

hdmi · Apr 16, 2024

Elisyan said:
i just recommended that so OP can remove that annoying section

ExplorerPatcher ➜ go to Properties ➜ Start menu ➜ Disable the "Recommended" section

hdmi · Apr 16, 2024

antspants said:
We all have our opinions. My opinion/choice is all that I need to do does exist in Start11, you obviously need something else. I wish you good luck and hope you’re able to rise above the nothingness of Start11 (with whatever it is Microsoft doesn’t kill)

What do you mean? I have been using Open-Shell (and ClassicShell before it was reborn as Open-Shell) on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11. There is simply no need to "rise above" anything. I haven't the slightest clue what makes you assume that Open-Shell will be killed by Microsoft after 15 years. In addition, even if Microsoft does decide to remove the code that makes it possible to use ExplorerPatcher to bring back the Windows 10 taskbar on Windows 11, I still see no reason why that decision would kill ExplorerPatcher as a whole. Because, due to how ExplorerPatcher works, removal of this code should break only that specific feature so, features that aren't related to the Windows 10 taskbar should still continue to work normally. And yes, @Try3 is correct. We don't actually even know for sure yet that Microsoft will remove this code. Just like we also don't know for sure that Microsoft won't introduce a new bug that causes your computer to blow up. The important thing that matters is that, until we know what happens next, people can find solutions to problems that exist today. That is, instead of keep pretending that problems do not exist when you don't suffer from them, but someone else might suffer. Nihilism 101.

antspants · Apr 16, 2024

hdmi said:
What do you mean?

I was just responding to your ranking of Start11
I just forgot to add the smiley face, and these other emojis

Sqrly · Apr 17, 2024

Wisewiz said:
But MS breaks EP with every update, and that's exactly what @Sqrly is trying to avoid with a mod of the Start menu. So far, in two years of using Power Start Menu, without Explorer Patcher, Start11, or StartAllBack, I've not had a hitch with PSM. I don't actually think he's abandoned it at all. He's just waiting for bug reports before he changes anything, and checking on Github tells me he's not receiving any lately. Not fixing what ain't broke is a good policy.

You comprehend.

That was me you replied to on github. I just checked and there are 2 new bug reports after my post there. One of which I too was seeing on random occasions during the trial, the start menu box overlapping and blocking part of the start bar.

At this point, I'm waiting for 24H2 to drop and if it's still working, I'll make the purchase. It would ease my mind to see some activity from the author. That github page is the listed "support" location on the M.$ store page of the app.

Karkre · Apr 17, 2024

antspants said:
No, what makes you think it might? Make sure they are “Shortcuts” though and not the executables.

You could also consider looking at Stardock Fences:

Automatically organize your desktop apps, files, and folders on Windows 10 and 11 with Fences!

Automatically organize your desktop apps, files, and folders on Windows 10 and 11 with Fences!

www.stardock.com

My idea was to have a start menu similar to that of Windows 1O. I was already quite advanced, I just needed to get the titles in.
I've tried Stardock Fences and it's exactly what I wanted.
But since you have to pay an annual fee, I have given up because I trust that I will be able to do it
So, I have uninstalled it.

antspants · Apr 17, 2024

Karkre said:
My idea was to have a start menu similar to that of Windows 1O. I was already quite advanced, I just needed to get the titles in.
I've tried Stardock Fences and it's exactly what I wanted.
But since you have to pay an annual fee, I have given up because I trust that I will be able to do it
So, I have uninstalled it.

You can buy a license that isn’t yearly, but you’re right, for many people it is expensive. It’s AU$54.00 (Australian) you’ll have to look or convert. Click at the bottom.

Also, I looked at Fences4 for you, Karkre, it actually isn’t any cheaper. I find that poor form on Stardocks behalf.

Start11 can give you the Windows 10 menu. It has multiple configurable states.

Karkre · Apr 17, 2024

It doesn't convince me either.
I put here an image of my old Start Menu in Windows 10. That is what would interest me

antspants · Apr 17, 2024

Karkre said:
It doesn't convince me either.
I put here an image of my old Start Menu in Windows 10. That is what would interest me

I can’t mess with my menu at the moment but this is the Start11 menu for Windows 10. You would group icons and configure as you have with your image above. Smaller icons, grouped icons etc
I am fairly confident it is exactly the same as what you have shown me. If anything, Start11 would give you more options than Windows 10 did with its menu.

(Random image from Stardock)

Karkre · Apr 18, 2024

Well, I'll try it... although on the Stardock page I only see photos with only 6 columns, like in the win11 start menu.
I want to put the 116 shortcuts that I have prepared on a single screen.

antspants · Apr 18, 2024

Karkre said:
Well, I'll try it... although on the Stardock page I only see photos with only 6 columns, like in the win11 start menu.
I want to put the 116 shortcuts that I have prepared on a single screen.

Sure, like I said, I can’t mess with my menu at the moment but I am pretty sure if you were able to stretch the fly-out in windows 10 to accommodate that many icons, then you could probably do it in Start11?
I don’t think looking at images with tell you as well as trying the program out properly will. There is a trial, yes?

Other than that, what’s an alternative menu out there at the moment which can give you what you see above, that doesn’t have an uncertainty about its future? I haven’t tried others in a long time.

antspants · Apr 18, 2024

You would only have to do it to the top row to discover if it will stretch the full screen like in your image. If it can, then the others will obviously fit under the top row.

Karkre · Apr 18, 2024

OK, I'll try it tomorrow.

antspants said:
Other than that, what’s an alternative menu out there at the moment which can give you what you see above, that doesn’t have an uncertainty about its future? I haven’t tried others in a long time.

If there is none, I will try to make it and patent it...