Classic Shell: Forum

Windows 7, Classic Shell 4.02. What frequently, but not always, happens is that when I click on the Start button I get my customized Classic menu, so far so good. But then if I hover over or click on a submenu item, the submenu appears to the right, as normal, but the main classic menu disappears -- leaving the submenu floating by itself without the originating start menu attached to it on the left. This seems to happen most often when I have a browser (Firefox) screen or a Windows Explorer screen displayed, and then click on the Start button. This has happened now for several releases of Classic Shell. I tried adjusting the General Behavior - Menu Delay value from 0 to 1000 but this does not make any difference.

The menus still work, it's just that after the start menu disappears, I can't slide back over to it in case I chose the wrong submenu -- because the start menu is not there any more. I have to click again on the Start button to get a new start menu. (Also it looks weird with a disembodied submenu floating there not being attached to anything.)

If anyone has any ideas on what setting(s) I could modify to change this behavior I'd appreciate it. I really like Classic Shell and will continue to use it, and this isn't a deal-breaker. Just annoying and maybe there's an easy fix. Thanks!

This issue has not been reported before. I've been using Classic Shell for more than 4 years on Windows 7 and never seen anything like that.
Is it possible that the main menu doesn't close, but is behind some other program? This may happen if some software is manipulating what window goes on top.

If you can find a sure way to reproduce the bug (if some specific third party app causes it), please let us know. Any third party software that manipulates windows might be doing it.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

I believe you are correct that is it becoming "not-on-top", and not actually disappearing. I moved one of the existing windows slightly to the right (in this case Windows Explorer) to expose a bit of desktop, and when I try it again, I can see that the Classic Start menu is still there but hiding behind the Explorer window. Usually the Start menu stays visible and on top until an item has eventually been selected from it or one of its submenus.

Otherwise the Explorer windows behaves normally, and is not "always-on-top".

Is there a setting to keep the Start Menu "on-top" until something has finally been selected from it or one of its submenus?

The start menu is supposed to be always on top. That's why I suspect another program might be messing with it. Do you have any software that can be doing this?

I can't figure out what makes it consistently fail or work. I've just now tried running a continuous AutoHotkey loop like this:

If WinExist("ahk_class ClassicShell.CMenuContainer")
{
WinSet, top, , ahk_class ClassicShell.CMenuContainer
}

to force it (hopefully) to stay on top. So far it seems to be working but I have not been able to determine what the original cause could be. If the AutoHotkey fix keeps working then I will just stick with that otherwise I'll have to see if there's any other tricks I can play.

It seemed to be fixed yesterday, but today the self-hiding Start Menu is back. So the AutoHotkey fix didn't work after all.

Upgraded to 4.0.4 -- but same issue still occurs. Have tried many AutoHotkey tricks to try to keep the menu on top of other windows but still intermittently hides itself, especially under Windows Explorer and Firefox screens.