Strange things going on

[oywino]

After upgrading to Win11, strange things has begun to happen:

1. When I change desktops (using my mouse dedicated side buttons (mousehooks), which I've always been using), sometimes - but not always - the Windows explorer window is opened immediately when I arrive at the new desktop (approximately 80% of the time).
   But sometimes - rarely, some other random application is launched instead.
2. zVD frequently crashes for no apparent reason, but with no error message or other indications on screen. It just dissappears. typically 3-4 times weekly during regular all day usage.
3. Every now and then, when I wake up the PC from the screensaver, there's a message on screen claming that I do not have a legal zVD lisence.
4. Swapping Desktop background image is now significantly slower than it was on Windows 10, which was almost instant. Now it takes typically 2-3 seconds before the background image changes.
5. I've begun to use the new desktop switching icon in Windows 11 (see below). Can that be related? (It's a convenient method in combination with zVD)
   

[mzomparelli]

This is related to compatibility with the new Win11 updates. I'll try to get this resolved as soon as I can.

[oywino]

Great! Thanks for your excellent support 👍

[oywino]

Just some more information - for what it's worth....
Today, I got again this message:

zVD is still running, but the mousehooks (keys) no longer works. When I open settings, it is impossible to click (activate) the hook boxes:

Clicking in them does nothing.
Perhaps this info can be of any help in your debugging quest.

[mzomparelli]

Please try the new Win11 22H2 build:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!As6Ykrdw1TCG7OAXn3fEnmOgBKc5nA?e=akWEdl

[oywino]

I will, but not until the end of next week as I'm away over the weekend. I'll keep you posted as soon as I'm back home.

[oywino]

Hi, I tried your download link today, but it was empty.
Then I tried selecting "update" from the main menu, and the result was that my .exe file was cleared (0kb) and zVD would never run again.
Then I visited your GitHUB repo, but I cannot find any new or existing EXE files anywhere.
So, now I'm completely lost. Please help.

[mzomparelli]

The link I posted should not be empty. Try this one:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!As6Ykrdw1TCG7OAXn3fEnmOgBKc5nA

[oywino]

That link worked.
But I am uncertain which file to use, so I tried them all. Most of them refused to load. It seems the requirement is W11 22H2 and I only have 21H2. The one I'm running right now is 21H2 version (1.0.98.17).
I notice that sometimes when I change screens, it pops up (executes) programs randomly (apparently).
For some reason, my W11 refuses to upgrade from 21H2 to anything newer.

[mzomparelli]

try the one labeled zVirtualDesktop_Win11_21H2.exe and let me know if you have any issues.

Can you give me more info to what you are seeing here:
I notice that sometimes when I change screens, it pops up (executes) programs randomly (apparently).

Also please get me your current windows 11 build number by running winver (WIN+R then type winver)

[oywino]

I'm currently running W11 21H2 Build 22000.2538
I typically move between desktops by means of the two extra mouse keys (thumb keys) on the left side of my Logitech mouse. Sometimes, with varying frequency, a program (app) is launched on the landing desktop. This still happens after the most recent update of zVD, but not as frequent as before.
For what its worth, the Windows Remote Desktop Connection App seems to be the most often launched app, but also others. The only common factor I have noticed, is that these are all apps with shortcuts on the task bar.

[mnakamuramx]

The random behavior you describe regarding launched apps used to happen until I did this: Task bar settings...task bar behaviors...taskbar alignment. Change from center to left.

[mzomparelli]

The random behavior you describe regarding launched apps used to happen until I did this: Task bar settings...task bar behaviors...taskbar alignment. Change from center to left.

This is interesting. Let me test it.

It sounds like it has something to do with apps being pinned to the taskbar and Windows having a hotkey to launch those.

[oywino]

Michael, after todays Windows 11 23H2 update, I can no longer run zVirtualDesktop. I have tried all versions in your repository. ALl I get it this:

followed by this:

Please help.

[oywino]

Bump!
Michael - please respond ?

[mzomparelli]

Did you try the exe that is for the Insider builds? I will look into this soon.

[oywino]

Any progress @mzomparelli ?

[XLTechie]

I was about to download this, but I guess from this issue it doesn't work on modern Win 11?
I just wanted a way to quickly jump from, say, desktop 5 to desktop 1, then from one to seven, etc, by something like Win+Ctrl+1, Win+Ctrl+7, etc.

I guess I shall keep looking.

Also a little worried by executables being distributed through One Drive, instead of through GitHub releases like most of us do for our releases. GH provides a lot of tools for automating builds and releasing, but I guess that is a different issue.

[oywino]

It seems Michael has "called it a day" ?
So I have stopped using this. I used it mostly to switch between desktops using my mouse-keys, and that works well in Win11 anyway. But I don't know if you can jump directly to another desktop via shortcuts in Win11.