Hello,
Let me answer some of your questions. Some has been answered by pelaird.

• Once a version was released it will replace the older version. You can not get to the older version. What you can do is to keep save all the version you downloaded. If there is beta version release you will usually get two download links. The latest official release link and the beta release link.
• Once you updated, you can always revert back to older version, by using your saved installer file. You will need to uninstall the current version before using the older version. Do know most of the time, the new version and the older version have the same name. Might need to save those downloaded installer file under different directory to differentiate between version.
• The app never force user to update.
• Start11 Version history log can be view here: https://www.stardock.com/products/start11/history

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Its not new. If you replace Start11 with Start8 in that address, you should be able to get to Start8 history log.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I don't think it publish there. I usually give the link if people ask for it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

basj and pelaird, thank you so much for your help! Where can I purchase/download Start11 v1?

The one and only place start 11 v1 is currently available to download and install is through an Object Desktop subscription. As a stand alone product it has been discontinued.

Quoting basj,

reply 2

• Once you updated, you can always revert back to older version, by using your saved installer file.

Thanks, that's at least helpful in confirming that there are no downloadable installer files for previous versions. I guess you all know better than to use the built-in updater?

IIRC, I usually used the Start11 built-in updater, so I don't really have any installer files that I downloaded. Does anybody know whether this built-in updater saves previous installers? If so, where?

Since the latest v1.55 is not really working well on my system, whereas the previous v1.50 did work well, I very much would like to be able to go back. Is there any way?

I have a really old installer file (something like 1.36 from 2023), but AIUI, I can't use this either to go back to v1.50. If I install it and use the built-in updater, I'm back at v1.55 -- which doesn't work well for me.

I mean... it's a weird concept to assume that your users never need to go back to a previous version. And if you provide a built-in updater that can't go back, you shouldn't force your users to create their own local storage of previous versions. At least the built-in updater should come with a warning like "please don't use this if you ever want to go back". Easier would be to just provide the installers for the previous versions.

Yes, thanks, I've read this elsewhere, too. In a sense, everybody saying this is an indication that the built-in updater (together with the lack of a way to download older versions) is badly broken. It would help if Stardock told us this before it's too late -- some sort of alert when using the built-in updater: "Don't use this feature. Download the installer from the site, use it to update, and keep it around. This is the only way to go back to a previous version." It's not normal that a company refuses to provide earlier versions.

And it doesn't help me to get back to v1.50...

Interesting. It's not the same problem, but quite possibly related. Thanks!