Silent Updating for Start11

from Stardock Forums

Hey all,

I was wondering if there was a way to silently update Start11 in the background (sort of how web browsers update these days). I'm likely upgrading an older family member's computer in the next month to Windows 11, and they are the least likely to click an update button. So having a pop up notice appear for every update means that Start11 would likely never get any updates installed on their computer. Hence the need for a silent updater of some kind (either official or some way to script it like through WinGet).

Thanks in advance!

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3,917 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

There are 'silent installs' that can be done and how can be reviewed here

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1352531974/Silent+Installation+&+Activation

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 2

There are 'silent installs' that can be done and how can be reviewed here

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1352531974/Silent+Installation+&+Activation

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager


That definitely points me in the right direction, but that only works once the new EXE has been downloaded. Is there a way to silently both download and install a Start11 v2 update for a regular customer (not an enterprise customer), without using Steam or subscribing to Object Desktop?

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sb_41, reply 3

That definitely points me in the right direction, but that only works once the new EXE has been downloaded. Is there a way to silently both download and install a Start11 v2 update for a regular customer (not an enterprise customer), without using Steam or subscribing to Object Desktop?

No, and that would look to Anti-virus software very suspicious ;)

Also, neither of those (Steam or OD) would do it 'automatically and silently'.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 4

No, and that would look to Anti-virus software very suspicious 

Also, neither of those (Steam or OD) would do it 'automatically and silently'.


Uhhhhh I disagree on all of that. If silent updates tripped an AV, then most of the consumer software made in the last 15 years would be affected. If chat apps, web browsers, and games can update silently with full admin rights and not trip an AV, then I don't see how Start11 v2 can't either be configured in-app or scripted to do the same.

Again, old people don't click on "yucky screens" like updates. They don't think like us. Us CS/IT people see updates as important. Old people see updates as "this is annoying", "this will slow down my computer", "this will change everything", etc etc etc. Then Windows will update down the road and break Start11, and I will get asked "why did this break it" when they constantly put off the Start11 update. It's a big reason why most program and OS updates are silent/automatic now - as a dev myself I could see myself getting absolutely sick and tired of this cat and mouse game.

Start11 already has an update checker built-in. If it doesn't exist already, please add in the functionality to both download and install the update silently into that update check code, loading the update on the next reboot.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sb_41, reply 5

Uhhhhh I disagree on all of that. If silent updates tripped an AV, then most of the consumer software made in the last 15 years would be affected. If chat apps, web browsers, and games can update silently with full admin rights and not trip an AV, then I don't see how Start11 v2 can't either be configured in-app or scripted to do the same.

You can script the DL and do a silent install of it at any point.  There is just no method to do that in-app. 

The one issue you wont be able to get around is the app needing a reboot after each one.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 6

You can script the DL and do a silent install of it at any point.  There is just no method to do that in-app. 

The one issue you wont be able to get around is the app needing a reboot after each one.


You can script a DL? I didn't see that in the Stardock docs anywhere. The only time an automatic downloader is mentioned is if someone pays for the whole Object Desktop package and gets its updater.

The reboot is already taken care of. I installed a scheduled task to reboot it once a week years ago. The computer gets left on all the time because the power button blends in too much with the rest of the computer chassis, so they usually can't see it.