Conflicting with other Skin tools and system tray tweakers

[Johncooool]

Hello Guys,

There are three programs involved here and all where already installed and working well before the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 with the same versions. All have also been updated to the latest version and there are still issues with it.

The programs are Explorerpatcher and Windowblinds by stardock and 7+Tweaker. Those are used to restore the looks back to Windows 7 Taskbar look.

Window blinds is a skinning tool that is used to change the look of the UI and it works well on its own but with Explorerpactcher after the 24h2 update and using the Windows 10 explorerpatcher taskbar it does not display the entire skin, It ignores the middle section.
Also Using start11 by stardock but the taskbar edit feature is not enabled and it does not work while explorerpatcher is in use. So I don't think this is the issue.

7+tweaker does not work on Win11 unless used with explorerpachter. It does not work at all after the upgrade to 24h2.

Please release a version that will allow all of those to work well to back the lost parts.

[pyrates999]

read this please: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/ExplorerPatcher's-taskbar-implementation

[Johncooool]

Ok I get it, But it does not mean that it is impossible to make it with heavy modification and installations.

[pyrates999]

The author of 7+ taskbar tweaker is not interested in making it work with the EP implemented windows 10 taskbar. You are to use windhawk instead.

[Johncooool]

I tried Windhawk last year and it sucked. I spent about 2 months searching for a solution that was good enough in the start of 2024 and I am aware that 7+ Tweaker are not planning to make further updates.

That is why I am here talking to makers of Explorerpatchers,

Anyway this is directed at the developers of explorerpatcher. I want to know what they have to say about as this is in regards to several issues.

[pyrates999]

They answered in the wiki article I linked you to. Good luck convincing them :)

Perhaps you can list what options you use in 7+ taskbar tweaker.

[Johncooool]

Ok, Well first it needs to work with Windowblinds.

The most important feature required from 7+ tweaker is Icon padding. It allows the icons in the system tray to be closer to each other. I have over 50 on 2 rows and takes a lot of space.

the other good features from 7+ tweaker are. double click on taskbar to open task manager. scroll mouse over system tray to control volume up / down. leave a gap between system tray and the opened windows.

[pyrates999]

Please look for a mod that windhawk has that already does that. If you can't find it, please leave those suggestions as mods for windhawk then.

For windowblinds, check if there is an update for it that fixes what you found.

[Johncooool]

Why you keep on suggesting other solutions. I am here for explorerpatcher. IF you provide evidence then I will consider it. But otherwise Listen when someone tells you that they have tested for over 2 months and did not find anything better.

[pyrates999]

did you try this windhawk mod? https://windhawk.net/mods/win10-taskbar-on-win11-24h2

[Johncooool]

I opened a ticket with the support. so this is not for discussion, However, I did like what I saw in the link and will test it but from what I remember is that it did not have a lot of things that I needed last time.

Let's see. Next post will be an update of the situation.

At this point I am 90% sure it will disappoint.

[Johncooool]

I can see better features than before but the one that you sent which would be the best did not work at all. The only one that did not work. It works with another mod.

Not only it is not work but after login the explorer does not load at all. I will contact the mod author and see if he can help.

Can you please install on your system and try it out on its own?

[pyrates999]

Try it without EP installed as it maybe interfering with the EP implemented windows 10 taskbar. I can't help further. Good luck!

[Johncooool]

Yes, I opened a ticket and got a reply from the mod Author that it needs internet access for 1st boot. I did as requested and removed EP. Now it starts with the system but only for 3 sec then explorer keeps crashing over and over in a loop.

Let me know if you test it.

I will see with the AUthor about the issue.

[Johncooool]

Things started ok and then became worse. I am still stuck without a perfect solution. I offered cash to developers to fix the issues.

[pyrates999]

If you've uninstalled EP and uninstalled windhawk, and uninstalled any other software that modifies the UI or the OS, and are still experiencing crashes, you may have corrupted windows files:

Please run the following in an elevated command prompt (right click on command prompt icon and select run as administrator) or elevated powershell (right click on powershell icon and select run as administrator):

chkdsk C:

If it tells you there are errors, then run this:

chkdsk C: /F

Reboot to run it on boot. Keep running that command until it reports no errors. Then run this to repair windows:

sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /analyzecomponentstore
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

then run this until it reports no errors:

sfc /scannow

Then reboot your computer.

[Johncooool]

I found the source of the crash. It was the notifications. while using the exact mod "win10-taskbar-on-win11-24h2"

Every time a notification pops up it crashes the explorer. The other issue is that it also has conflict when skinned by WB.

I offered cash to them to solve it. I think Anixx might be able to do it.

[pyrates999]

oh if it's the notifications that caused it, that was already fixed here: #3605

which means you need to check what version of EP you have installed as you may be running an older release.

[Johncooool]

No, Things are getting confused.

The only issues with EP is that it does not skin properly and 7+ tweaker. actually any third party does not. including startallback and windhawk in some mods.

The crash was on the mod that yo suggested. It worked.. but has issues.

Anyway, Chatgpt 5 has launched and I am hoping that it can solve the issues with any of the programs because after 24h2 there are a lot of compromises required. They do work but not same as before and I might have to eventually just accept that but for the time being lets see if I can get it back to the way it was before.

[pyrates999]

good luck

[Johncooool]

Yes I will need it.

Please explain how EP works when the taskbar is loaded. I want to understand why the windhawk mods dont work on it. It will help while working on it.

Please give me as much information as you can.