If I wanted to have a Windows PC that only ran VB6 programs...

If I wanted to have a Windows PC that I wanted to demonstrate only VB6 programs then I'd probably have a limited set of tools and utilities, is this true?

Would I be able to create a functioning and useful system that had all the tools needed for a modern PC user? I admit a VB6 based browser might be a difficult proposition and asking too much. However, for some of the other tools? It might be possible to switch to something made solely in VB6.

So that's my question, could you?

"Would you" is another question altogether which we don't need to have answered, because of course you wouldn't - so at the moment I'm only asking "could you?".

For example: There is XYplorer, the VB6 alternative to the Windows File Explorer.

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/2.jpg

Winstep Nexus is a Windows dock alternative, written in VB5 which I reckon counts just as well

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/3.jpg

So, are there other useful VB6 alternatives to the sort of tools you would typically find on a PC?

Let's start with something simple, an editor. Is there an editor written in VB6?

There is plenty of free VB 6.0 projects you could look at:

https://www.sourcecodester.com/visual-basic

https://www.freeprojectz.com/visual-basic-projects

Well I would say that if you wanted the pc setup to where a novice user could only run specific programs written in VB6 then that would probably be possible though a lot of work. If the user knows a few things about PCs then no not possible as there are many ways they could get around whatever you were to do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TysonLPrice

There is plenty of free VB 6.0 projects you could look at:

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Yes, I know and thankyou, I am just looking for specific suggestions at the moment. It is more of a speculative question, I have an on old spec NOS laptop for running XP and I thought I'd try to use it to showcase a few VB6 apps. Recommendations for useful apps taken.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DataMiser

Well I would say that if you wanted the pc setup to where a novice user could only run specific programs

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No, not looking for that, just looking for good recommendations of VB6 equivalents to everyday programs, like the ones listed above in the OP. Thankyou anyway.

There is also PhotoDemon

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/4.jpg

A free, portable, open-source photo editor for Microsoft Windows.

That would make a possible replacement for Photoshop.

We have Dragokas "HiJackThis Fork" which is a development continuation of the "Trend Micro HiJackThis" tool to replace my usual A/V tool.

https://www.vbforums.com/attachment....6&d=1613307799

Dragokas comes up with some interesting stuff so I'd like to assume it is a good av tool...

I'll make a list at the end of the tools available and I'll try to build that XP system with only VB6 utilities that I have been recommended to use. I need to find my XP Pro discs (wife has tidied them).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TysonLPrice

https://www.sourcecodester.com/visual-basic[/url]

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Tyson, that link was a good suggestion!

Yereverluvinuncleber O Atube Catcher to download videos, including from youtube, it was developed in VB6 and I use it and recommend it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Episcopal

Yereverluvinuncleber O Atube Catcher to download videos, including from youtube, it was developed in VB6 and I use it and recommend it.

---

Bloody ~Hell! Episcopal, that is a good suggestion. I have been looking for a decent Youtube downloader for a while now having tried several and this one is written in VB6! Impressed!

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/5.jpg

...and your own editor? Is that one that could replace, say, notepad?

i am sure at some time (several years ago) i worked with a vb6 program for a internet cafe that locked the entire computer to a limited set of programs and timed out when the tariff expired

Quote:

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Originally Posted by westconn1

a vb6 program ... that locked the entire computer to a limited set of programs

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Sounds a great program but... in this case the limitation is artificial and policed by me alone, in that I am only going to load VB6 programs on the machine.

The idea is to find a variety of VB6 programs that can do all the tasks that are needed, not to prevent anyone from using anything other than VB6... :bigyello: That would be stranger still.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yereverluvinuncleber

...and your own editor? Is that one that could replace, say, notepad?

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No, no. I just mentioned Atube because it was developed in VB6. It's not my authorship.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yereverluvinuncleber

There is also PhotoDemon

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/4.jpg

A free, portable, open-source photo editor for Microsoft Windows.

That would make a possible replacement for Photoshop.

---

Incredible ...

This is my Correspondence Editor. This screen is from 2009 on Windows XP. It's in Portuguese. I'm currently refactoring the code, because in Runtime mode it's a bit slow when the text reaches 600 pages. I'm changing some algorithm to increase performance, because at the time I had less experience.


What gave me the most work was working with editing tables...

Menu table: Insert table, row or column, before or after.

Delete Menu: Delete Table, Row or Column.

Select: Select table, row or column.

Menu Convert text to table, and table to text.

Transform Menu: Row to Column, Column to Row.

Classification menu: Ascending or descending.

Rotate Menu: Rotate the table clockwise or counterclockwise, Converting Row to Column...

Alignment Menu: Centers or not the table.

Adjust Menu: Adjust the table, row or column, according to the size of its content.

Episscopal, It looks to be grown-up, mature and competent software by just rating the UI. Where can I find a copy? I will need one for this XP laptop that I am going to build.

IF you had to compare Correspondence Editor in functionality to another Windows tool which would it be? I have heard you previously state that is has the functionality of notepad but slightly less functionality than Wordpad? Would that be true?

I'd love to try it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yereverluvinuncleber

Episscopal, It looks to be grown-up, mature and competent software by just rating the UI. Where can I find a copy? I will need one for this XP laptop that I am going to build.

IF you had to compare Correspondence Editor in functionality to another Windows tool which would it be? I have heard you previously state that is has the functionality of notepad but slightly less functionality than Wordpad? Would that be true?

I'd love to try it.

---

No, no....it goes beyond wordpad.....this application I developed is lost....I don't even know where the source code is....I just saved the component source for text editor. ...

remember this image?
https://www.vbforums.com/showthread....=1#post5512032

I have the text editor usercontrol source, but the text editing application will have to make another one.... I'm already finalizing a widget for an Ecclesiastical Management software, where I'm going to embed this correspondence editor. When I finish it I will test it on Win11.

Actually I work in programming only in my spare time ..... sometimes it takes me to finish my applications.

This is a part of a 42 usercontrol I developed, for the Ecclesiastical Manager. This one by the way has a bluish theme....but I want to make the theme dark too...

Press left-Alt/left-Shift/PrintScreen to quickly go to High Contrast. Watch your program's UI fall apart.

Press left-Alt/left-Shift/PrintScreen again to quickly go back.

Don't screw around with fruity colors. If your program isn't usable in High Contrast mode it is broken.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Episcopal

this application I developed is lost...I don't even know where the source code is.

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Damn! so we cannot try it and it is no use for my laptop build. What happened to the program, how did you lose it? Find it man!

Well, what I really care about is the usercontrol that contains the WordProcessor source, the Text Editor that will manipulate it, I'll make another one, and with much more resources...

The truth is that I still have the source recorded on a cd, but as I formatted my machine several times in these 13 years, I had to record it on the cd. The problem is locating the cd among several ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dilettante

Press left-Alt/left-Shift/PrintScreen to quickly go to High Contrast. Watch your program's UI fall apart.

Press left-Alt/left-Shift/PrintScreen again to quickly go back.

Don't screw around with fruity colors. If your program isn't usable in High Contrast mode it is broken.

---

Dilettante, are you talking about my printscreen?

We could use NeumoPlayer as the VB6 Media player replacement.

It is rather 'modern' looking too which suits current tastes.

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/8.png


https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/9.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Episcopal

The problem is locating the cd among several ...

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Find that CD! It is worth doing. It is your code, GITHUB exists as a place for this sort of storage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Episcopal

Yereverluvinuncleber O Atube Catcher to download videos, including from youtube, it was developed in VB6 and I use it and recommend it.

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I second a vote of 'good work' for whoever created this program (Atube Catcher). I downloaded it today and am impressed as well as to its capabilities, all in one easy-to-use app.

Thanks for posting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SamOscarBrown

I second a vote of 'good work' for whoever created this program (Atube Catcher).

---

I am using it too! One of the easiest to use so far.

Come on the Old Guard! Some of you must have come across VB6 programs that are actually usable in your years here...

As we have to have games, here is a shoot 'em up of the old school type, by the name of "Be Quits!". This was posted here a couple of years ago and is a tour de force in VB6 and DirectX programming that shows what the old dog can do.

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/07/13.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6g7-hnGiBs

I have already installed and tried this one and I have to say, it is more difficult than Quake I but the gameplay is similar. It will need a cpu at least as good as a 3.0ghz system and I imagine a decentish GPU might help. The game runs on my old Dell laptop but not quite as quick as I'd like. My old Dell is quick in the CPU department but the GPU is the lowest of the low, it is, after all a business machine.

I just checked and this game runs very well on a laptop/desktop with a decent GPU, luckily the target system I have planned to use has a decent GPU and so DirectX9 acceleration is available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB0FaDtHeRE

Computer creates a music.

I love your music composer Trick but I am unsure as to whether it has a place on a 'normal' desktop. I have never come across a music generator on anyone's computer before! Nevertheless, I think it is incredibly clever and has a great UI. It is more of a niche product but an amazing one. Do you have any other completed programs that a desktop user would use in his every day normal life? Non-programming utilities I mean, of course as you have dozens of advanced programming utilities and add-ons.

No, we'll have it, regardless as to whether anyone would have it or not, it is fantastic.

Here a lot of programs
http://vb6awards.blogspot.com/2021/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeoFar

Here a lot of programs
http://vb6awards.blogspot.com/2021/

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I had already forgotten about this blog. Thanks for posting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeoFar

Here a lot of programs
http://vb6awards.blogspot.com/2021/

---

Yes, Leo, I have been trawling that blog already.

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but just wanted to "second" or "third" the recommendation for PhotoDemon. It's a great program written by a great guy. If you want to support open source VB6 development I recommend heading over to Tanner's Patreon page to pitch in. I've been kicking in a few bucks a month for over a year, and it's a small price to pay for some very useful software.

OP - I would start with a secure desktop that has been initiated from a Window Station. That way it can even be set as an alternate boot shell on Windows 10 Enterprise and Education, otherwise run side-by-side with Windows. The newly created desktop is clear of any Windows 10 clutter according to an inspection with SPY++. A custom taskbar, background wallpaper, and start menu fill the empty desktop. All have been made with VB6, but the source code is not included on my Github, exe's only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsFpHukxPuU

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TTn

OP - I would start with a secure desktop that has been initiated from a Window Station. That way it can even be set as an alternate boot shell on Windows 10 Enterprise and Education, otherwise run side-by-side with Windows. The newly created desktop is clear of any Windows 10 clutter according to an inspection with SPY++. A custom taskbar, background wallpaper, and start menu fill the empty desktop. All have been made with VB6, but the source code is not included on my Github, exe's only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsFpHukxPuU

---

That impressive. I never knew you could do that with Window Stations. I have some VB.Net code lying around that works with Window Stations but I've only ever used it for capturing the screen of whatever desktop session is the was console session, which basically means I can capture whatever the user sees, even WinLogon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Niya

That impressive. I never knew you could do that with Window Stations. I have some VB.Net code lying around that works with Window Stations but I've only ever used it for capturing the screen of whatever desktop session is the was console session, which basically means I can capture whatever the user sees, even WinLogon.

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I don't think you can see another desktop without a Windows Service or by registering your application as an accessibility app in the registry/ease of access. If you can find your code, try it out and let me know. I doubt it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TTn

I don't think you can see another desktop without a Windows Service or by registering your application as an accessibility app in the registry/ease of access. If you can find your code, try it out and let me know. I doubt it.

---

It is actually a Windows Service that runs under the LocalSystem account which I believe is the most powerful account on a Windows system, even more powerful than Administrator accounts. It's used as part of a system I created to implement my own home grown version of Team Viewer. One of the problems I ran into early in it's design was not being able to screen capture and transmit input to and from the WinLogon desktop. I had to dive into the world of Window Stations and Desktops to implement that functionality. Once I got it, I never really explored what other possiblities there were with these series of APIs. Here is a small piece of code I used to capture the screen of the console session:-

Code:

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Public Class ScreenCapture

    Private Shared gshr_objSync As New Object

    Public Shared Function GetScreenshot() As Bitmap

        'Makes this method threadsafe. Multiple threads can call it at the same time and it would be ordered.
        SyncLock gshr_objSync

            Dim windowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
            Dim originalWindowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
            Dim originalDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

            Dim inputdesktopHdc As IntPtr
            Dim inputDesktopHwnd As IntPtr

            Dim ptrInputDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero
            Dim bmp As Bitmap

            windowStation = Win32.OpenWindowStation("WinSta0", False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

            Try
                If windowStation.IsInvalid Then
                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to open window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenWinSta)

                Else
                    originalWindowStation = Win32.GetProcessWindowStation()
                    If originalWindowStation.IsInvalid Then
                        Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to get process window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetProcWinSta)
                    Else

                        If Not Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(windowStation) Then
                            Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to change current process's window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeWinSta)
                        Else

                            ptrInputDesktop = Win32.OpenInputDesktop(0, False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

                            If ptrInputDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to open input desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenInputDskTop)
                            Else
                                originalDesktop = Win32.GetThreadDesktop(Win32.GetCurrentThreadId())

                                If originalDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to get original desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetOriginalDesktop)
                                Else
                                    If Not Win32.SetThreadDesktop(ptrInputDesktop) Then
                                        Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to change the current threads desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeCurrentThreadDskTop)
                                    Else
                                        inputDesktopHwnd = Win32.GetDesktopWindow()

                                        If inputDesktopHwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
                                            inputdesktopHdc = Win32.GetDC(inputDesktopHwnd)

                                            If inputdesktopHdc = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                                Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to get desktop DC", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToAcquireDskTopDC)
                                            Else

                                                Try
                                                    bmp = CopyDC(inputdesktopHdc, 0, 0, Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds.Width, Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds.Height)
                                                    Return bmp
                                                Catch ex As Exception

                                                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to copy device context", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.CopyDCFailed, ex)
                                                End Try


                                            End If

                                        End If

                                    End If

                                End If

                            End If

                        End If

                    End If

                End If

            Finally

                Win32.ReleaseDC(inputDesktopHwnd, inputdesktopHdc)
                Win32.CloseDesktop(ptrInputDesktop)
                Win32.SetThreadDesktop(originalDesktop)
                Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(originalWindowStation)


                windowStation.Close()

            End Try

            Return Nothing
        End SyncLock
    End Function

    Private Shared Function CopyDC(ByVal hdc As IntPtr, ByVal x As Integer, ByVal y As Integer, ByVal width As Integer, ByVal height As Integer) As Bitmap

        Dim memDC As IntPtr = Win32.CreateCompatibleDC(hdc)
        Dim memhBitmap As IntPtr = Win32.CreateCompatibleBitmap(hdc, width, height)
        Dim stockBitmap As IntPtr = Win32.SelectObject(memDC, memhBitmap)

        Try

            If Not Win32.StretchBlt(memDC, x, y, width, height, hdc, x, y, width, height, Win32.TernaryRasterOperations.SRCCOPY) Then
                Throw New Exception("Failed to copy device context")
            Else
                memhBitmap = Win32.SelectObject(memDC, stockBitmap)

                Dim returnBitmap As Bitmap = Bitmap.FromHbitmap(memhBitmap)

                Return returnBitmap
            End If

        Finally
            Win32.DeleteObject(memhBitmap)
            Win32.DeleteDC(memDC)
        End Try



    End Function


End Class

---

Here's another important piece of code that allows me to execute any function as if it were being executed in the console session itself.

Code:

---

Private Shared Sub ExecuteOnInputDesktop(ByVal proc As Action)
        Dim windowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
        Dim originalWindowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
        Dim originalDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

        'Dim inputdesktopHdc As IntPtr
        'Dim inputDesktopHwnd As IntPtr

        Dim ptrInputDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

        'Open the interactive Window Station of the current session. This is the only Window Station that can
        'contain Desktops to be displayed.
        windowStation = Win32.OpenWindowStation("WinSta0", False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

        Try
            If windowStation.IsInvalid Then
                Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to open window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenWinSta)

            Else
                originalWindowStation = Win32.GetProcessWindowStation()
                If originalWindowStation.IsInvalid Then
                    Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to get process window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetProcWinSta)
                Else

                    If Not Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(windowStation) Then
                        Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to change current process's window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeWinSta)
                    Else

                        'Open the Input Desktop. The Input Desktop is the one currently being
                        'displayed and used by the user. There can only be one at a time for obvious reasons.
                        ptrInputDesktop = Win32.OpenInputDesktop(0, False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

                        If ptrInputDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                            Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to open input desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenInputDskTop)
                        Else
                            originalDesktop = Win32.GetThreadDesktop(Win32.GetCurrentThreadId())

                            If originalDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Unable to get original desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetOriginalDesktop)
                            Else
                                If Not Win32.SetThreadDesktop(ptrInputDesktop) Then
                                    Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Unable to change the current threads desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeCurrentThreadDskTop)
                                Else
                                    proc.Invoke()
                                End If

                            End If

                        End If

                    End If

                End If

            End If

        Finally

            'Win32.ReleaseDC(inputDesktopHwnd, inputdesktopHdc)
            Win32.CloseDesktop(ptrInputDesktop)
            Win32.SetThreadDesktop(originalDesktop)
            Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(originalWindowStation)


            windowStation.Close()

        End Try

    End Sub

---

A lot of API functions like SendInput are sensitive to what Desktop/WindowStation/Session they are called from. The above function can in a sense project the function call from one session like where a Windows Service is executed to the session/Window Station/Desktop of the currently logged in user or even in WinLogon(no user logged in).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Niya

It is actually a Windows Service that runs under the LocalSystem account which I believe is the most powerful account on a Windows system, even more powerful than Administrator accounts. It's used as part of a system I created to implement my own home grown version of Team Viewer. One of the problems I ran into early in it's design was not being able to screen capture and transmit input to and from the WinLogon desktop. I had to dive into the world of Window Stations and Desktops to implement that functionality. Once I got it, I never really explored what other possiblities there were with these series of APIs. Here is a small piece of code I used to capture the screen of the console session:-

A lot of API functions like SendInput are sensitive to what Desktop/WindowStation/Session they are called from. The above function can in a sense project the function call from one session like where a Windows Service is executed to the session/Window Station/Desktop of the currently logged in user or even in WinLogon(no user logged in).

---

A Window Service can do it of course. It would need admin rights to setup.

I noticed that XInput was processed on multiple desktops, so I needed to add desktop awareness to the instances. Essentially turning them idle if the current desktop was not the same as the desktop that it started on. Only one instance per desktop can be run at once, so the code needs to allow multiple instances but still detect that condition. Finally got it working recently.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TTn

A Window Service can do it of course. It would need admin rights to setup.

---

Yea, it's a high-trust piece of software which is one of the reasons I decided against releasing the source of an early version of it. A nefarious person could really do some damage with it if they managed to get onto someone's PC with an admin account. For instance, it has all the pieces in there to easily put together a keylogger and I don't mean those fly-by-night user mode keyloggers, one that's capable of capturing all kinds of input from any session, even when no user is logged in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TTn

I noticed that XInput was processed on multiple desktops, so I needed to add desktop awareness to the instances. Essentially turning them idle if the current desktop was not the same as the desktop that it started on. Only one instance per desktop can be run at once, so the code needs to allow multiple instances but still detect that condition. Finally got it working recently.

---

One of the things that people might find surprising is that most of what Windows does is actually sandboxed inside desktops. It's really rare to find situations where your applications have to be aware of them. It can be kind of jarring when you find out you've been living in a Window Station all your life :D Most people never get to find out :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Niya

Yea, it's a high-trust piece of software which is one of the reasons I decided against releasing the source of an early version of it. A nefarious person could really do some damage with it if they managed to get onto someone's PC with an admin account. For instance, it has all the pieces in there to easily put together a keylogger and I don't mean those fly-by-night user mode keyloggers, one that's capable of capturing all kinds of input from any session, even when no user is logged in.



One of the things that people might find surprising is that most of what Windows does is actually sandboxed inside desktops. It's really rare to find situations where your applications have to be aware of them. It can be kind of jarring when you find out you've been living in a Window Station all your life :D Most people never get to find out :)

---

Exactly. Application Morpheus, is this the matrix? {we're all just programs hacking programs}

Security and accessibility overlap. Running applications on the UAC/Winlogon screen would seem dangerous at first, but not if they provide screen reader support or XInput mouse support. Then it makes sense to authorize it. Another possibility is to run on UAC(user account control) screen in order to whitelist applications that the user selects. In fact, the UAC dialog itself has an option for whitelisting but Microsoft never implemented the option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Niya

It is actually a Windows Service that runs under the LocalSystem account which I believe is the most powerful account on a Windows system, even more powerful than Administrator accounts. It's used as part of a system I created to implement my own home grown version of Team Viewer. One of the problems I ran into early in it's design was not being able to screen capture and transmit input to and from the WinLogon desktop. I had to dive into the world of Window Stations and Desktops to implement that functionality. Once I got it, I never really explored what other possiblities there were with these series of APIs. Here is a small piece of code I used to capture the screen of the console session:-

Code:

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Public Class ScreenCapture

    Private Shared gshr_objSync As New Object

    Public Shared Function GetScreenshot() As Bitmap

        'Makes this method threadsafe. Multiple threads can call it at the same time and it would be ordered.
        SyncLock gshr_objSync

            Dim windowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
            Dim originalWindowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
            Dim originalDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

            Dim inputdesktopHdc As IntPtr
            Dim inputDesktopHwnd As IntPtr

            Dim ptrInputDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero
            Dim bmp As Bitmap

            windowStation = Win32.OpenWindowStation("WinSta0", False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

            Try
                If windowStation.IsInvalid Then
                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to open window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenWinSta)

                Else
                    originalWindowStation = Win32.GetProcessWindowStation()
                    If originalWindowStation.IsInvalid Then
                        Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to get process window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetProcWinSta)
                    Else

                        If Not Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(windowStation) Then
                            Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to change current process's window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeWinSta)
                        Else

                            ptrInputDesktop = Win32.OpenInputDesktop(0, False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

                            If ptrInputDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to open input desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenInputDskTop)
                            Else
                                originalDesktop = Win32.GetThreadDesktop(Win32.GetCurrentThreadId())

                                If originalDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to get original desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetOriginalDesktop)
                                Else
                                    If Not Win32.SetThreadDesktop(ptrInputDesktop) Then
                                        Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to change the current threads desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeCurrentThreadDskTop)
                                    Else
                                        inputDesktopHwnd = Win32.GetDesktopWindow()

                                        If inputDesktopHwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
                                            inputdesktopHdc = Win32.GetDC(inputDesktopHwnd)

                                            If inputdesktopHdc = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                                Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Unable to get desktop DC", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToAcquireDskTopDC)
                                            Else

                                                Try
                                                    bmp = CopyDC(inputdesktopHdc, 0, 0, Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds.Width, Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds.Height)
                                                    Return bmp
                                                Catch ex As Exception

                                                    Throw New ScreenCaptureException("Failed to copy device context", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.CopyDCFailed, ex)
                                                End Try


                                            End If

                                        End If

                                    End If

                                End If

                            End If

                        End If

                    End If

                End If

            Finally

                Win32.ReleaseDC(inputDesktopHwnd, inputdesktopHdc)
                Win32.CloseDesktop(ptrInputDesktop)
                Win32.SetThreadDesktop(originalDesktop)
                Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(originalWindowStation)


                windowStation.Close()

            End Try

            Return Nothing
        End SyncLock
    End Function

    Private Shared Function CopyDC(ByVal hdc As IntPtr, ByVal x As Integer, ByVal y As Integer, ByVal width As Integer, ByVal height As Integer) As Bitmap

        Dim memDC As IntPtr = Win32.CreateCompatibleDC(hdc)
        Dim memhBitmap As IntPtr = Win32.CreateCompatibleBitmap(hdc, width, height)
        Dim stockBitmap As IntPtr = Win32.SelectObject(memDC, memhBitmap)

        Try

            If Not Win32.StretchBlt(memDC, x, y, width, height, hdc, x, y, width, height, Win32.TernaryRasterOperations.SRCCOPY) Then
                Throw New Exception("Failed to copy device context")
            Else
                memhBitmap = Win32.SelectObject(memDC, stockBitmap)

                Dim returnBitmap As Bitmap = Bitmap.FromHbitmap(memhBitmap)

                Return returnBitmap
            End If

        Finally
            Win32.DeleteObject(memhBitmap)
            Win32.DeleteDC(memDC)
        End Try



    End Function


End Class

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Here's another important piece of code that allows me to execute any function as if it were being executed in the console session itself.

Code:

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Private Shared Sub ExecuteOnInputDesktop(ByVal proc As Action)
        Dim windowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
        Dim originalWindowStation As Win32.SafeWindowStationHandle = Nothing
        Dim originalDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

        'Dim inputdesktopHdc As IntPtr
        'Dim inputDesktopHwnd As IntPtr

        Dim ptrInputDesktop As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero

        'Open the interactive Window Station of the current session. This is the only Window Station that can
        'contain Desktops to be displayed.
        windowStation = Win32.OpenWindowStation("WinSta0", False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

        Try
            If windowStation.IsInvalid Then
                Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to open window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenWinSta)

            Else
                originalWindowStation = Win32.GetProcessWindowStation()
                If originalWindowStation.IsInvalid Then
                    Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to get process window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetProcWinSta)
                Else

                    If Not Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(windowStation) Then
                        Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to change current process's window station", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeWinSta)
                    Else

                        'Open the Input Desktop. The Input Desktop is the one currently being
                        'displayed and used by the user. There can only be one at a time for obvious reasons.
                        ptrInputDesktop = Win32.OpenInputDesktop(0, False, Win32.ACCESS_MASK.GENERIC_ALL)

                        If ptrInputDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                            Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Failed to open input desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToOpenInputDskTop)
                        Else
                            originalDesktop = Win32.GetThreadDesktop(Win32.GetCurrentThreadId())

                            If originalDesktop = IntPtr.Zero Then
                                Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Unable to get original desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToGetOriginalDesktop)
                            Else
                                If Not Win32.SetThreadDesktop(ptrInputDesktop) Then
                                    Throw New WindowsMessagePlayerException("Unable to change the current threads desktop", ScreenCaptureErrorCodes.FailedToChangeCurrentThreadDskTop)
                                Else
                                    proc.Invoke()
                                End If

                            End If

                        End If

                    End If

                End If

            End If

        Finally

            'Win32.ReleaseDC(inputDesktopHwnd, inputdesktopHdc)
            Win32.CloseDesktop(ptrInputDesktop)
            Win32.SetThreadDesktop(originalDesktop)
            Win32.SetProcessWindowStation(originalWindowStation)


            windowStation.Close()

        End Try

    End Sub

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A lot of API functions like SendInput are sensitive to what Desktop/WindowStation/Session they are called from. The above function can in a sense project the function call from one session like where a Windows Service is executed to the session/Window Station/Desktop of the currently logged in user or even in WinLogon(no user logged in).

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it's vb.net,not vb6?

Is the purpose to take a screenshot of the screen or a window with a specified handle when the screen is locked?

Let's take this temporary deviation to its own thread please and keep on the subject. Thankyou!

Back on track with ChessBrain, a chess engine written in VB6. ChessBrain II was promised and was mooted to be in a different language but it never arrived so it is still in VB6. ChessBrain is a chess engine and needs to be used with a Chess GUI such as Arena, the two in combination shown here:

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/08/3.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xiaoyao

it's vb.net,not vb6?

Is the purpose to take a screenshot of the screen or a window with a specified handle when the screen is locked?

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It's purpose is to reach across session boundaries to take a screen shot of the console session, which is basically the entire screen. The console session is the session that contain whatever a person would see when he actually sits down at the computer. The second piece of code is part of a larger whole that allows you to send input keyboard and mouse messages to the console session. These two things combined allow you to implement TeamViewer-like functionality.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yereverluvinuncleber

Back on track with ChessBrain, a chess engine written in VB6. ChessBrain II was promised and was mooted to be in a different language but it never arrived so it is still in VB6. ChessBrain is a chess engine and needs to be used with a Chess GUI such as Arena, the two in combination shown here:

https://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2021/08/3.jpg

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Reminds me of the 90s. Writing a chess engine was a right of passage for a lot of people back in the 90s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Niya

Reminds me of the 90s. Writing a chess engine was a right of passage for a lot of people back in the 90s.

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Feel free to share your own VB6 version. I think this particular one is step up from those and is used by advanced Chess experts. I had a chess program that I hacked a bit on my 16K Sinclair ZX80 but the only game I wrote back in the 80s was "noughts and crosses" in 1K, 991 bytes of program and 9 bytes of display - oops, sorry 1015 bytes of program!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yereverluvinuncleber

Feel free to share your own VB6 version. I think this particular one is step up from those and is used by advanced Chess experts. I had a chess program that I hacked a bit on my 16K Sinclair ZX80 but the only game I wrote back in the 80s was "noughts and crosses" in 1K, 991 bytes of program and 9 bytes of display.

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In the time period I'm talking about, VB6 wasn't even born yet. Also, it's quite interesting that I maybe one of the few people who never attempted to write a version of chess. There were sooo many in the 90s. One of my biggest weaknesses in programing would be in the domain of artificial intelligence. I've always stayed clear of writing "thinking" code. I'm very bad at it. I can write code to make random decisions and disguise it as intelligence, my 2D engines being examples, but anything approaching true intelligence, I have no clue how to begin quantifying intelligence.