The Windows 10 Start menu has a delay when closing if one is injecting
it without injecting `explorer.exe` as well. The reason for this is
that animations are fixed, which in turn fixes this delay, using code
run when ExplorerPatcher is injected in `explorer.exe`. It cannot be
patched from the Start menu's host process itself
(`StartMenuExperienceHost.exe`) because that doesn't load
`twinui.pchsell.dll` where the actual patching happens. This commit
works around this shortcoming by employing the old fix for this delay:
hiding the Start menu when animations haven't been fixed (so when
`explorer.exe` is not injected by ExplorerPatcher).
We needed to detect when animations were successfully patched from
`explorer.exe` in order to disable this workaround, thus this commit
offers an example on how to create a kernel object, in this case a
mutex, that can be 'seen' by a process running inside an app container,
as is the case for Start menu's host process
(`StartMenuExperienceHost.exe`).
Run the installer. It will automatically prompt for elevation, after which it will install the necessary files.
When done, you will be greeted with the familiar Windows 10 taskbar. To customize the options offered by the program, right click the taskbar and choose "Properties".
That's it. It's that simple.
Uninstalling
Right click the taskbar then click "Properties" or search for "ExplorerPatcher", and go to "Uninstall" section or
Use "Programs and Features" in Control Panel, or "Apps and features" in the Settings app or
Run ep_setup.exe /uninstall or
Rename ep_setup.exe to ep_uninstall.exe and run that.
Updating
The program features built-in updates: go to "Properties" - "Updates" to configure, check for and install the latest updates. Learn more here.
If you find this project essential to your daily life, please consider donating to support the development through the Sponsor button at the top of this page, so that we can continue to keep supporting newer Windows builds.
Valentin Radu
45bd735856
