Shell Replacement

[Jop]

First of all I want to know what's called a Shell Replacement. Is it a new GUI for windows or does it also handles file processing and memory things.
I've really NO idea on where to start with a shell replacement. Do I have to overwrite explorer, or is it just an app that runs next to explorer only 'skinning' the taskbar and stuff.

I know I won't finish it, but I'll come across things that may inspire me on new progs.

And is something to like this
http://www.planet-source-code.com/up...2118115322.gif
Hard? Will it take lots and lots of time or is it just the making of the images wich takes up time

And the last q. Will my Shell Replacement make Windows unstable? and does it use lots of memory (since it's VB)

I am not really sure what it is, but I think it is just like a big Skin.....

[Jop]

It seems that a Shell replacement is just something else besides Explorer, so I can't develop it because I've only one computer to test it on (the developing machine)

Or is there another way?

Here are a few examples of Shell Replacements from www.planet-source-code.com, not sure if you need it, but its there incase you need a little help on making your own .

[Jop]

Matthew, do you know if it's memory consuming and do I have to overwrite explorer?

[HeSaidJoe]

From the little I've read it uses less resources than explorer and is difficult to learn in the beginning. It is a replacement for Window's Explorer.

Lots about it here:

http://64.65.12.73/litestep/faq.html

of course you dont have to overwrite explorer,
just pop open system.ini
and replace this

[boot]
;some stuff here
shell=Explorer.exe

with this

[boot]
;some stuff here
shell=MyProg.exe

and I think you have to place your program in Windows directory.

Matthew:
I downloaded the first prog from the link you provided to planet-source-code, and testd it.
When I returned to the explorer shell, it gave me a blue screen with some message about MinSPs in some .ini file, and warned me about stack faults that might happen.

Do you know what it means?

[Jop]

hmm.. Dennis I know I don't have to overwrite it. I said so but that's not exactely what I meant
I mean can't I make a prog that just replaces the Start menu and tray only, not the whole explorer (I don't want to deal with memory handling and all that hard stuff )