Taskbar Bug in Windows 11 24H2

[luciano_f]

I'm a Delphi programmer, and about six months ago, I noticed a strange error in both Delphi and several other applications, such as Snagit, that would freeze.

To identify the cause, I disabled several applications until I realized that "Startallback windows 11" was the culprit. It also freezes when I access the settings and doesn't respond.

The Delphi code I use to locate the taskbar's position is this one, which returns without a position after the error.
 

function GetTaskBarSize: Integer;
Var Data: TAppBarData;
Begin
 Result := 0;

 Data.cbSize := SizeOf(TAppBarData);

 If SHAppBarMessage(ABM_GETTASKBARPOS, Data) = 1 Then
  Result := Data.rc.Bottom - Data.rc.Top;

end;

function GetTaskBarAlignment: TAlign;
var
 Data: TAppBarData;
 ScrW, ScrH: Integer;
begin
 Result := alNone;

 Data.cbSize := SizeOf(TAppBarData);
 ScrW := Screen.Width;
 ScrH := Screen.Height;

 if SHAppBarMessage(ABM_GETTASKBARPOS, Data) = 1 then Begin
  if (Data.rc.Top > ScrH div 2) and (Data.rc.Right >= ScrW) then
   Result := alBottom
  else
   if (Data.rc.Top < ScrH div 2) and (Data.rc.Bottom <= ScrW div 2) then
    Result := alTop
   else
    if (Data.rc.Left < ScrW div 2) and (Data.rc.Top <= 0) then
     Result := alLeft
    else
     Result := alRight;
 End;

end;

 

[Tihiy]

Well you better tell what needs to be done to trigger hung or find where hung is - capture dump or find in debugger directly attached to problematic process

Edited Sunday at 06:40 PM by Tihiy

[Tihiy]

Most likely hang is in SHAppBarMessage call, so take explorer.exe process dump to analyze

[luciano_f]

22 hours ago, Tihiy said:

Most likely hang is in SHAppBarMessage call, so take explorer.exe process dump to analyze

The crash isn't in the "SHAppBarMessage" call, as I tested the 2024 version of "Startallback" and the error doesn't occur.

 

Another thing I did was uninstall "Startallback" and install "OpenShell" and the problem doesn't happen

How do I capture this error ? Can you post details for me ?

Edited Monday at 06:12 PM by luciano_f

[Tihiy]

You don't say anything about crash . If app hangs it's because SHAppBarMessage waits for taskbar to reply; you need to capture explorer.exe dump in that exact moment: task manager - details - (heaviest) explorer.exe - Create memory dump file

[luciano_f]

Got it I'll do that next time However, it's random, sometimes it takes up to 2 days to happen, and as soon as I do, I'll save the file and post it here.

[luciano_f]

On 8/11/2025 at 4:53 PM, Tihiy said:

You don't say anything about crash . If app hangs it's because SHAppBarMessage waits for taskbar to reply; you need to capture explorer.exe dump in that exact moment: task manager - details - (heaviest) explorer.exe - Create memory dump file

See the dump file in the link below.

https://mega.nz/file/WJdAyAgI#NdECngrn-wkc-w9E_jC1AqmhsrHk8heHho204q6f1Cc

https://mega.nz/file/jEs1GADb#2QEJ2rdQeVqkzAeXW7GNeYIzGGQj8QqqjSOfBymMhdk

Edited 14 hours ago by luciano_f

[Tihiy]

There's no hang in the dumps. Video makes no sense either, sorry. System is screwed up somehow, maybe there's a leak?

[luciano_f]

10 hours ago, Tihiy said:

There's no hang in the dumps. Video makes no sense either, sorry. System is screwed up somehow, maybe there's a leak?

Let's Get to the Facts

1. If I use StartAllBack in 2024, the problem doesn't occur.

2. If I use OpenShell, the problem doesn't occur.

3. I've already formatted my computer, thinking it was a problem, but the error persists.

Based on questions 1 and 2, the problem is something that was changed in StartAllBack in 2025.

See the video: StartAllBack settings are frozen, but all other programs continue to work. Only a few warn about the inability to locate the Windows taskbar. However, none of the settings are bugged like StartAllBack.