[Primary taskbar on secondary monitor] Cannot disable the mod

[fyrak1s]

@m417z

Hi, I am using this mod and it used to work fine.

I didn't use it for a while and now an update came out and I tried it again. The mod works but I cannot undo it. If I press disable, the primary taskbar will remain on my right monitor. Even after several restarts.

I remember I could disable this mod previously. But now even though it is shows as "disabled", the taskbar does not get back to normal.

Win10.

[m417z]

Hi, the mod doesn't make permanent changes, so when disabled (and after restarting), it can't possibly have any effect on the system. I'd start by checking the following:

• Does disabling all Windhawk mods, or exiting Windhawk completely, help.
• Does your primary taskbar match your primary monitor in the Windows display settings. That's that default Windows behavior.

[fyrak1s]

Hi, the mod doesn't make permanent changes, so when disabled (and after restarting), it can't possibly have any effect on the system.

I get the logic of what you are saying, but what am I supposed to do if it doesn't match what I experience? I believe this should not have been closed until I verified this.

Does disabling all Windhawk mods, or exiting Windhawk completely, help.

No it does not help.

Does your primary taskbar match your primary monitor in the Windows display settings. That's that default Windows behavior.

No my primary taskbar does not match my primary monitor in the Windows settings. It did before I activated the mod, after I pressed activate it switched to the secondary monitor. After disabling the mod it does not switch back. Even after a restart.

[m417z]

I closed it because I believe I said everything I can think of. On your screenshot, Windhawk is still running.

[fyrak1s]

I closed it because I believe I said everything I can think of. On your screenshot, Windhawk is still running.

Yes Windhawk is still running, but the behaviour is the same after I close it. The behaviour is still the same even after I completely uninstall the mod and restart.

I have just found a workaround, and that is to change my primary monitor to be the secondary monitor (after this the primary taskbar is still on the right so no change, but that is correct behaviour). After that I change switch it back and then it works. It seems like some "caching" issue on the windows side (whatever this means).

I remember this worked instantly before, with the old version when toggling ON/OFF (although like I say I had a longer break in using it).

Is it possible for me to try the older version and re-test? If so how would I do that the easiest way?

Thank you for the assistance, I know this is weird, but that's what is happening for me.

[m417z]

You can click on the ... button near "Install" to choose a different version to install. Alternatively, choose "Other versions" at the top.

[fyrak1s]

You can click on the ... button near "Install" to choose a different version to install. Alternatively, choose "Other versions" at the top.

Thank you.

I can confirm this is a regression from version 1.1 to 1.2.
In 1.1 upon deactivating the mod, stuff returns to normal instantly - but with version 1.2 it does not go back to normal (the only option back to "normal" is my above mentioned workaround).

This is on Windows 10.

[m417z]

I can reproduce it - disabling the mod on my Windows 11 computer doesn't restore the primary taskbar to the primary monitor. Still, it's restored after restarting explorer.exe. Perhaps Windows 10 remembers it for some reason, which is quite surprising.

In any case, here's a fix which explicitly return the taskbar to the primary monitor on unload, you can try it:
https://github.com/m417z/my-windhawk-mods/blob/5f2750c066122f605afb22c7fae5483ef6600fb5/mods/taskbar-primary-on-secondary-monitor.wh.cpp

To try it, disable the existing mod, then click the bottom right button in Windhawk to create a new mod, replace the code with the test mod code, click "Compile Mod", then "Exit Editing Mode".

[fyrak1s]

In any case, here's a fix which explicitly return the taskbar to the primary monitor on unload, you can try it:
https://github.com/m417z/my-windhawk-mods/blob/5f2750c066122f605afb22c7fae5483ef6600fb5/mods/taskbar-primary-on-secondary-monitor.wh.cpp

To try it, disable the existing mod, then click the bottom right button in Windhawk to create a new mod, replace the code with the test mod code, click "Compile Mod", then "Exit Editing Mode".

Sorry for taking so long go respond, your new code works beautifully!

I can reproduce it - disabling the mod on my Windows 11 computer doesn't restore the primary taskbar to the primary monitor. Still, it's restored after restarting explorer.exe. Perhaps Windows 10 remembers it for some reason, which is quite surprising.

Just for completeness sake, have you also verified that it is a regression from 1.1 to 1.2? In other words it did not happen in v1.1 so that means it must be something that changed between those versions, that makes it malfunction (at least on win 10). Thus maybe your fix would not be necessary if you find which change caused it. (Or maybe you're aware and this was the only sensible approach to fix it with the newer code-base :D)

[m417z]

Great, thanks for confirming.

have you also verified that it is a regression from 1.1 to 1.2?

Yes, 1.1 was restoring the primary monitor explicitly, while 1.2 is just leaving things as is, when unloading. I assumed the taskbar would naturally return to the primary monitor, but it keeps using the last monitor (for me, until the process is restarted). So with the change you tested, it sets the primary monitor explicitly like 1.1 did.

[fyrak1s]

Awesome, thank you for the explanation! Yes the new code works great and as expected here, thank you.