Windows 10 toolbar takes up to 10 seconds to open on first launch

[nexusV2]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

When using ExplorerPatcher to display the Windows 10 style taskbar, the toolbar experiences a severe delay of up to 10 seconds before opening.

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 11, 25H2, 26200.9168

Third-party tweak software installed

No

Describe the bug

When using ExplorerPatcher to display the Windows 10 style taskbar, the toolbar experiences a severe delay of up to 10 seconds before opening.

Expected outcome

When using ExplorerPatcher to display the Windows 10 style taskbar, initially opening the the toolbar shows no delay.

Actual outcome

When using ExplorerPatcher to display the Windows 10 style taskbar, the toolbar experiences a severe delay of up to 10 seconds before opening.

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

When this happens, open up task manager and check what is using up the cpu.

[pyrates999]

And since you just updated windows, check if you have a notification of symbols being downloaded.

[nexusV2]

This behaviour has existed for years now, independently from updates, but yes: symbols have always been successfully downloaded.
Max. using cpu is Defender with 8%.

[pyrates999]

Then you need to wait until Windows Defender finishes.

[nexusV2]

Exactly this is the issue I want to be fixed ^^

[marty60]

Using Windows 11 24H2: sometimes it doesn't open for me at all at bootup, there's just a blank taskbar at the bottom. I have to sign out then sign back in for EP to load. Uninstalling then reinstalling the program works for a while then it starts doing it again.

Using open shell and windhawk may be causing conflicts but it's definitely EP since everything works right when it's uninstalled.

Hopefully the bug can be fixed.

[pyrates999]

Using Windows 11 24H2: sometimes it doesn't open for me at all at bootup, there's just a blank taskbar at the bottom. I have to sign out then sign back in for EP to load. Uninstalling then reinstalling the program works for a while then it starts doing it again.

Using open shell and windhawk may be causing conflicts but it's definitely EP since everything works right when it's uninstalled.

Hopefully the bug can be fixed.

This sounds like there's missing files caused by your antivirus. Check the releases page on what directories/files to exclude from being scanned: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

You also need to reinstall EP after a feature upgrade of windows 11 is installed.

[marty60]

This sounds like there's missing files caused by your antivirus. Check the releases page on what directories/files to exclude from being scanned: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

You also need to reinstall EP after a feature upgrade of windows 11 is installed.

Thanks for the reply but I don't have a separate anti-virus, just Windows Defender. EP has been uninstalled and reinstalled several times, it works for a while, maybe a week then starts acting up again.

Currently using EP version 26100.8457.70.4 with Win 11 ver 26100.8875 (didn't install the August update yet). It's IoT Enterprise so it doesn't get feature updates.

It was doing the same thing with EP version 26100.4946.69.6 after the July Win 11 update except it was also breaking Windhawk and Open Shell. At least the latest EP version fixed those problems.

[pyrates999]

EP version 26100.4946.69.6 does not work with the windows updates starting in June, so you had to update to EP version 70.4.

[marty60]

EP version 26100.4946.69.6 does not work with the windows updates starting in June, so you had to update to EP version 70.4.

Yes I did, currently on EP version 26100.8457.70.4 and have been since updating Windows in July (didn't install June's update). This has been an ongoing problem for me.

[pyrates999]

Do you have third party software installed like Wallpaper engine?

[marty60]

Do you have third party software installed like Wallpaper engine?

Just Open Shell and Windhawk. Figure there's probably some conflict there with one or both of them since all three are starting at the same time at bootup.

[pyrates999]

I use open shell, but on windows 10 22h2. Do you use taskbar textures in open shell? It isn't working with EP 70.4 right now due to the dll files being renamed in EP. It has been fixed: Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu#2474

But it is only available as a pre-release: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases

Did you try disabling all windhawk mods and rebooting?

And just so you know, this part: Third-party tweak software installed, is where you would put open shell and windhawk. They modify the UI. So you're expected to fill them in here.

[nexusV2]

The issue here is only about the toolbars opening delayed up to 10 s on initial launch.
Unfortunately, there was a mistake in the headline that was misleading, which I have corrected.