I hate the auto expanding sidebar in 1909

I've seen this happen on other computers, but doesn't happen on my own.

I use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, could it have something to do with it?

Bree said:

Of my 5 physical machines and a several more VMs that were running 1903 only one of them, an old Acer Aspire One netbook running x86 1903 Home, had the expanding sidebar. As I recall, it started after the October 'Patch Tuesday' CU.

Never could work out how or why it got enabled in 1903, and only on that one particular machine. I even did a new clean install and it still got it. That PC had certainly never been anywhere near any Insider program. It just has a standard install of Home and does service its as my 'takeaway' machine for holidays.

Try as I might, I couldn't reproduce the effect on any other x86 1903 Home machine, VM or otherwise.

So out of all those machines, the instance only appeared on one machine and couldn't be reproduced on others says it wasn't intended for 1903. And why I said I never saw it as it never happen on any of my 4 machines running 1903. In fact my laptop still has 1903 and it definitely doesn't happen there. Odd you got it on one machine though.

Bree said:

You are not mistaken, I have seen it in 1903 too....
Never could work out or why it got enabled in 1903, and only on that one particular machine.

In version 1903, this feature is part of the controlled feature roll-outs, which is why it only appears on some devices, in version 1909, the automatic expansion of the navigation panel is enabled for all users, it's not part of the controlled roll-outs:



PS, for those who still don't know, the controlled roll-outs are based on devices, not accounts, so you can have multiple devices with the same account, but the feature will only appear on one of those devices.

I don't find it intolerable!
In the first instance, hovering over the "START" icon at the top brings back the start menu. If you have delayed, then a click on the same icon does it.

Isn't it reassuring to find out there are others in the leaky boat to help with the bailing. I just made coffee and was counting the empty coffee cans on top of the fridge (good bailing cans) for no apparent reason.
I just slide the cursor from the windows button to the program area and avoid ever touching the power button at all.

LEOPEVA64 said:

In version 1903, this feature is part of the controlled feature roll-outs, which is why it only appears on some devices ... the controlled roll-outs are based on devices, not accounts, so you can have multiple devices with the same account, but the feature will only appear on one of those devices.

I've heard of controlled feature rollouts for Insider builds. So you are saying that MS made a controlled feature rollout to normal unsuspecting consumer installs (never been an Insider)? And that anyone, even those who only have local accounts may have got them? Have MS actually announced this anywhere a normal user might have seen and been forewarned?

Strange algorithm for choosing the 'lucky recipient' too. My 'chosen one' was the lowest spec (by far) of any of my machines, a 2012 model Acer Aspire One AOD270 with an Intel Atom N2600.

Simple fix...

Edwin said:

Simple fix...

What build is that? I don't have it in 18363.476.