All of a sudden several things are acting weird, hope someone has an idea what is the cause

All of a sudden I have noticed several things are happening or not working as they should, I think I will just list them one at a time below. they are not in order of any way it seems that each thing has happened in the last few days.

The first thing I noticed was I use StarDock Start 11 which allows me to make the start menu look like win 7, win 10 etc. after a restart the other day I noticed that the start menu went back to the Win 11 start menu. I reinstalled Start 11 again and restarted and it was working. after another reboot it went back to the Win 11 menu??

Then I noticed that a few of the programs I have set to start when Windows starts are not starting. I've check to see if they are still set to start with Windows and they are. I checked the task manager and they are all listed as startup Apps I can open each one and they work fine but a few are not opening when Windows starts.

I often open google and you my mic to talk and it types in the search field, I'm not talking about the mic button on the end of the search space. I use my mic to dictate emails, search bar for google and Firefox. I've noticed that chrome and Firefox are no longer using my mic. I've made sure that the permissions are set to allow apps to use my mic.

The last thing is on the last Windows update I noticed that in file explorer the icons for delete, rename etc. now had the names typed over the icons which I knew was coming with a new update a while back. Now the names are not typed over the icons any longer.

Also I would normally use my mic to talk instead of typing here in the forum and that is not working either. I've check browser specific permissions and everything look good, I am confused.

These things all happened in the last few days I noticed one after another. Its very strange for all these things to all of a sudden change. The only thing I can think of is I use Ccleaner and they have the health check and it tells me which drivers are out of date and software updater and performance optimizer. I think I used it for the performance optimizer because my browser windows seem to be opening slower. I never used the options in Ccleaner before other than cleaning cookie and temp files on close of browser. As I was typing the problems above I was thinking what could cause them and it come to mind that Ccleaner is the only different thing I have done other than what I have done for years...

Not sure if that is what caused all the above issues but something did?


I appreciate any and all reply's and I won't be online much longer so if I don't reply until tomorrow don't think I don't care about your help.

Ron

Logical Ron said:

The last thing is on the last Windows update…

Click to expand...

Did you just answer your own question or have SOME of these things been happening since before the update?

I have been avoiding 24H2, like the plague.

Ron, you could try checking Windows Update and installing todays “Cumulative Update Preview”?
26100.3915 (24H2)

you could try in a command prompt as Administrator
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

let that run until it has finished.

then run in the same command prompt window as Admin
sfc /scannow

and let that run until it has finished.
if there are any errors a restart will be required after they have finished.

best of luck, Steve ..

Logical Ron said:

The only thing I can think of is I use Ccleaner and they have the health check and it tells me which drivers are out of date and software updater and performance optimizer.

Click to expand...

Performance optimizer does put "infrequently used" start up items to sleep. If you haven't already done so, I would turn it off. You can specify which items it puts to sleep. (This is based on my recall of using the paid for version of Ccleaner - I have been using only the free version for some time now and can't use the performance optimiser, which I never found particularly useful anyway.)

antspants said:

Did you just answer your own question or have SOME of these things been happening since before the update?

I have been avoiding 24H2, like the plague.

Click to expand...

I can't say for sure if these started before the update or not. I'm thinking that it all has something to do with Ccleaner. Once I figure it out I will let everyone know.

antspants said:

Ron, you could try checking Windows Update and installing todays “Cumulative Update Preview”?
26100.3915 (24H2)

KB5055627 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview build 26100.3915 (24H2) - April 25

Microsoft Support: April 25, 2025 - KB5055627 (OS Build 26100.3915) Preview For information about Windows update terminology, see types of Windows updates and the monthly quality update types. To find an overview of Windows 11, version 24H2, see its update history page. Be sure to follow...

www.elevenforum.com

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Thanks, I'm not sure if the update had anything to do with it. It might be a combo of things, Ccleaner and as far as the names under the icons that were added on a recent update. I still see them on desktop items but not in file explorer.. maybe that is just how they are supposed to be ??

I typically don't like installing updates until they have been out a while... Thanks for all your replies. XxXxX, I don't do much on the command prompt, I feel comfortable doing anything I don't know how and what will happen

Thanks again to those who replied.

Logical Ron said:

Thanks, I'm not sure if the update had anything to do with it

Click to expand...

That update is for 26100.3915 (24H2). According to your Stats, you’re on 26100.3775.
But take into account, yesterday's update is a preview update, which will become official around or on the 2nd Tuesday of May

antspants said:

That update is for 26100.3915 (24H2). According to your Stats, you’re on 26100.3775.
But take into account, yesterday's update is a preview update, which will become official around or on the 2nd Tuesday of May

Click to expand...

Thanks, I will wait a while before installing that update or preview. I think all the issues was Ccleaner putting some programs it thinks I don't use often. Once I figure that out I think my issues will be solved

Logical Ron said:

Thanks, I will wait a while before installing that update or preview. I think all the issues was Ccleaner putting some programs it thinks I don't use often. Once I figure that out I think my issues will be solved

Click to expand...

My money is on Ccleaner causing issues. Much more likely that than anything to do with Windows 11 24H2. Those 3rd party apps running in the background that 'optimize' your system etc. are frequently a dicey proposition.

Marcus Vinicus said:

My money is on Ccleaner causing issues. Much more likely that than anything to do with Windows 11 24H2. Those 3rd party apps running in the background that 'optimize' your system etc. are frequently a dicey proposition.

Click to expand...

I agree with you . The only issue of that list I mentioned on my OP is both browsers Chrome and Firefox still won't use my mic on any Browser or pages opened on that browser??

Marcus Vinicus said:

My money is on Ccleaner causing issues. Much more likely that than anything to do with Windows 11 24H2. Those 3rd party apps running in the background that 'optimize' your system etc. are frequently a dicey proposition.

Click to expand...

I think I have figured out most the issues and Ccleaner performance optimizer was putting things to sleep, this has never happened before as far as apps I use all day everyday. not sure why Ccleaner just started to put them to sleep.


My main issue now that is still unexplained is,

all windows settings say my Yeti Mic is default, I can open text file, email and talk and the mic types what I say. For some reason in my Browers Chrome and Firefox still won't allow me to dictate in any browser windows, search bars etc. I know everything points to browser settings but I checked them all and my mic is default or enabled for both browsers.


I have to figure this out I use my mic to dictate on the browsers all the time until of course this problems started a few days ago.

antspants said:

I have been avoiding 24H2, like the plague.

Click to expand...

Oh, Come on, Sin. We have to stick together. Where's that famous Aussie Daredevil Spirit? You might sink but a surfer boy never drowns.
Seriously, once I finally got it installed, I haven't had a lick of trouble with 24h2.

My solution in this situation would be to recover from my last working Reflect backup and to stop using cleaners like CCleaner.

Steve C said:

My solution in this situation would be to recover from my last working Reflect backup and to stop using cleaners like CCleaner.

Click to expand...

Used Ccleaner for many years and never had any issues. It's the performance optimizer that is a problem and I will never use that again. Waiting for Ccleaner support to get back to me how to disable that feature but as for Ccleaner I've used it a long time as I said and it works fine for what I need.

Logical Ron said:

Used Ccleaner for many years and never had any issues

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Yes, and so did I. But since Piriform sold ccleaner to *that* antimalware distributor, the posts in multiple forums across the 'net have soared astronomically. Your argument that ccleaner is not the issue is arguable

Logical Ron said:

Waiting for Ccleaner support to get back to me how to ....

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And so are so many other users about a multitude of issues ....

idgat said:

Yes, and so did I. But since Piriform sold ccleaner to *that* antimalware distributor, the posts in multiple forums across the 'net have soared astronomically. Your argument that ccleaner is not the issue is arguable

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Fair enough, I need an app to clean everything when I close my browsers. Any suggestions on other apps or programs that do that

glasskuter said:

Oh, Come on, Sin. We have to stick together. Where's that famous Aussie Daredevil Spirit? You might sink but a surfer boy never drowns.
Seriously, once I finally got it installed, I haven't had a lick of trouble with 24h2.

Click to expand...

lol.

It’s on a couple of our more recent laptops, but not my favourite rig. I don’t think it has enough guts to run the devil incarnate which is 24H2.
Also, I read the Build update threads and the pages comments.

antspants said:

I don’t think it has enough guts to run the devil incarnate which is 24H2.

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It's only 5 months until 25h2 or whatever it will be called. I bet that sucker brings enough fireworks to make 24h2 look like a walk in the park.

glasskuter said:

It's only 5 months until 25h2 or whatever it will be called. I bet that sucker brings enough fireworks to make 24h2 look like a walk in the park.

Click to expand...

It’s always fun in here after a major update.
I’ll be at the front door scalping tickets.

idgat said:

Yes, and so did I. But since Piriform sold ccleaner to *that* antimalware distributor, the posts in multiple forums across the 'net have soared astronomically. Your argument that ccleaner is not the issue is arguable

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info about Ccleaner. I did a deep dive into what happened and the sale etc. I am deleting it after this post. The only reason I used it all these years was the smart cleaning , I liked to have all browsing data cleaned when I close the browser. In the dive I took I found that Chrome actually has a setting that allows you to select delete all browsing data when windows are closed and Firefox has a setting for that as well.

So I have no need for Ccleaner any longer. I also checked out Microsoft PC manger and it is a nice utility that puts most things already in Win 11 into a cute little utility. Wasn't sure if it cleaned when browsers were closed but don't need it anyways after seeing that the browsers have the option in settings.

Thanks again for the info

I stick with the free version of Ccleaner primarily because I like the ability to protect some cookies, and delete all the rest. It has also occasionally proved useful in removing left over registry items even after Revo uninstaller has 'removed all the left overs'.
John