Incessant pop-ups

How To Stop

I have been a Stardock customer for many years.  I have yet to receive adequate support for an ongoing issue over the years.

Problem:  Having Stardock software installed for START 11 (or similar), and FENCES (pick your ver.), or even maybe the DAD (as I remember it), Leads to an unbelievable amount of pop-ups every 12-24 hours from their software.

When I don't have a current active subscription to update said apps, I receive a popup every 12 hours or so for one or the other, that there is a new version available that I should download (which I can't in this scenario).

Likewise when I have an active subscription or valid update period, I still get the popups, they succeed when I update, but they keep popping up later, again on the frequency of at least one every 12-24hrs.

Previous support advise was useless.  I have in the past successfully removed the DAD portion of stardock from the startup processes and system in general  killed all processes related to dad, turned off flags within the apps related to 'Check for updates' etc. BUT none the less, every 12-24 hours I get a new pop-up advising there is an update.

How to stop this other than trashing and shelving anything to do with stardock and refusing to buy anything related to their company ever again?

I don't want to even get into the impact it has on a person I care for that has dementia/Alzheimer's and this little white/blue box staring at them in the middle of the screen and sends them into a loop which can mean incessant restarting of a computer, to hiding in a corner because they are afraid, or worse, they wander (decide it's safer outside the house than in) all because of these stupid pop-ups, but this is the impacts their pop-ups have.

 

Like how hard can it be for your developers to provide a CONCRETE method to PREVENT these things from appearing?

 

I'm at my wits end, and thus, unless I receive a meaningful and measurable solution, I will stop using your software, stop purchasing your software, and advise through all the dementia/Alzheimer's related forums and sites I deal with, that your software is NOT conducive nor promote a safe and healthy environment for persons with the afore mentioned disabilities, and that spending money on your software will cause more problems than any benefit one might receive from purchasing and using it.

 

 

 

237 views 5 replies
Reply #1 Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I understand your frustration. I use most of Stardock software product such as Fences, Groupy, Windowblinds, Start11 etc, but I don't see regular popup. The usual popup I see once or twice in a month, which usually on new version release notice. Need few more details to get what actually happen on your system.

  1. Windows full version and OS Build number.
  2. Do you have Object Desktop manager running in the background?
  3. Have you tried disabling update check?
  4. Best to post some screenshots on those popups from different Stardock software product, so we understand it better.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 Top

Got one just now (04-20-2026)  This one is for Fences 4.  Sometime between now and the next couple of days, I'll get the Start 11 one.  Looks exactly the same but name.

DAD is not running on startup, and couldn't tell you when the last time it was used.  I've tried in the past, to completely uninstall dad, leaving only fences, blinds, Start 11, and these things keep appearing.  I see no tick box in fences about updating in any menu, only 'Check for updates' button.

Win/system info:

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎2021-‎05-‎16

OS Build 19045.6466

Screen 01

Reply #3 Top

For Fences if you wish not to see any update, you can turn off update check using this guide: https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1331757077/How+do+I+disable+update+check+in+Fences%3F.

For Start11v2 there is an off switch for update check in the "About" tab.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

Reply #5 Top

It is worth noting 4.22 is not the latest Fences.  4.23 From December 2025 is which might be why you are being prompted.