[RESOLVED] Enable/Disable Alt+Tab, Ctrl+Alt+Del

[bulletrick]

Guys, how can I enable and disable Program Switching like the Alt+Tab effect?

And how can I enable and disable the user from opening the task manager?

Thanks guys!

[Hack]

Do you want to do this just when your program is running, but restore everything when your program ends?

Why do you have this particular need?

[Joacim Andersson]

You can't prevent the user from pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete however you can prevent them from seeing any other applications simply by running your app on a separate desktop. BTW, Ctrl+Shift+Esc brings up the task manager.

[bulletrick]

Do you want to do this just when your program is running, but restore everything when your program ends?

Yep

Why do you have this particular need?

I wanted to create a program that runs at startup and can't be closed unless the PC is shutdown.

Thanks guys!

[bulletrick]

You can't prevent the user from pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Hehe. Of course I can't prevent the user from pressing ctrl+alt+del or ctrl+shift+esc. I just want to prevent the effect (i.e. Opening the task manager)

however you can prevent them from seeing any other applications simply by running your app on a separate desktop.

If I create a new desktop, the user can't switch to the other desktop? But would an app in the other desktop has an effect on the active desktop (e.g. locking up the desktop)?

Thanks guys!

[Joacim Andersson]

What I meant was not that you can't prevent your users from pressing a certain key combination, what I meant was that there is no way you can trap the Ctrl+Alt+Del combination using VB...

If you create another desktop and run your app on that, it will not be able to interact with any application running on the other desktop (if in fact that was what you asked, I'm not sure ). The user can not return to the previous desktop (the active desktop would in this case be the desktop you have created), without first closing down your application, which you have full control of (so you can prevent them from closing your app if you want). If your app is the only app, or rather, if your app is the desktop application, the user can only return to the previous desktop by closing the active desktop (which is your app).

Windows XP has already created a couple of different desktops when you log on. It has your desktop, the one you're using, and the desktop that appears when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, which is the same you saw when you first logged in.

[bulletrick]

But can I disable the Task Manager from appearing using VB even if the user logged on is the Admin? Thanks.

[Joacim Andersson]

As I said, if you run a second desktop the only thing that can be seen is your program regardless of who the user is. Why do you want to disable the Task Manager for an admin anyway? It sounds suspicious to me.

[bulletrick]

Why do you want to disable the Task Manager for an admin anyway? It sounds suspicious to me.

I am working on a project that is similar to an internet cafe application that prevents users of a workstation to open up the Task Manager.

I just want to disable the Task Mgr for an Admin account because I need other privileges of the Admin Acct for the users except for opening the Task Mgr.

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

You know with Windows Server 2003 (dont know about 2000) You can setup a active directory where you can control everylittle thing each user has. ie you can make it so User X can not use: the command prompt, ping, tracert, task manager..ect I don't know if you can do a mass lock on all executables, you may have to specify them name by name, you might be able to use a wildcard.
Or even you could use a 'child' control program, like fortres (http://www.fortres.com/) it's pretty good, its what my school uses. Got around it once XD. Every since they updated it, it seems to be fullproof.

[bulletrick]

Found my answer here: vbnet.mvps.org/code/hooks/lowlevelkeyboardproc.htm

Thanks a lot guys!

[Joacim Andersson]

But a low-level keyboard hook will still not stop the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination.