windows start help...

[msn2]

can annyone gude me on how can i build a start menu like windows...?


please annyone help me..

im new on programming soo hope annyone can help me..

[ComputerJy]

You want to replace the start menu or you need to build one that looks like it?

[msn2]

i want 2 build 1 same as the Windows start menu...

[Kasracer]

The start menu, task bar, desktop and explorer are all part of 1 application: explorer.exe.

So what you want to do is create your own shell. You could create a command button at the bottom of the screen and when clicked, it shows a panel or something. It really depends on what you want to do and how you want it to look. If you want it to look exactly the same that sounds a bit fishy and since you're copying someone else's work, it could open you up to lawsuits (I'm not a lawyer so I could be very wrong; it might depends if Microsoft has any patents on this look and feel).

Like I was mentioning to you in another thread, I would suggest purchasing a .Net book. It'll teach you how to develop applications which will help in this situation.

[sheikh78]

How would you develop a shell? Just like a regular vb.net application and have some modifications? Because I don't understand how to build shells.

[Kasracer]

How would you develop a shell? Just like a regular vb.net application and have some modifications? Because I don't understand how to build shells.

A "shell" is just an application that's always running that provides you access to different parts of the OS (i.e. installed applications, files, etc...). It's just a regular application.

[sheikh78]

How would you build one in vb.net?

[Kasracer]

How would you build one in vb.net?

That's like asking how to build an application in VB.Net. I can't just tell you in one posting how to make an application.

If you start up VB.Net, make a program that says hello world. Then you can either replace explorer.exe with the application you just made (not recommended) or you can change the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell

to the location of your shell (if you don't use an absolute path, it'll look in the Windows folder).

Once you do that and restart, your hello world application will come up.

[sheikh78]

Why is it not recommended? can't you use the windows key + r to run the process? Like to edit the registry....regedit or to run explorer, explorer.exe?

[Kasracer]

Why is it not recommended? can't you use the windows key + r to run the process? Like to edit the registry....regedit or to run explorer, explorer.exe?

I said it wasn't recommended to replace explorer.exe (i.e., you overwrite it with your application) because then you'd have to reinstall windows to bring it back.

Windows Key + R is part of Explorer.exe so you'd have to re-create that as well.

[sheikh78]

well then couldnt u hav it in ur program or app to run explorer.exe when u hav a button pressed?

[Kasracer]

well then couldnt u hav it in ur program or app to run explorer.exe when u hav a button pressed?

Uh... if you overwrite explorer.exe then no button is going to let you run it, obviously. If you didn't overwrite it then of course you could run it. It's as simple as using Process.Start().

[sheikh78]

I know how to start the process, and then i could use the regedit to edit the registry back to normal....right?

[Kasracer]

I know how to start the process, and then i could use the regedit to edit the registry back to normal....right?

uh? So you want to edit the registry just to test this and want to make sure you can get it back to how it originally was?

If so, then just do a ctrl + alt + del and select task manager. Then click on the Applications tab and hit new task. Then you can have it start explorer by typing in explorer or open up regedit.

[sheikh78]

One last question for this thread, I was wondering, if you just ran the program without explorer.exe then would it have windows xp styles? Like the X button to exit/close, the minimize button, the title of the application, etc. Would that appear? Because isn't explorer.exe the shell that contains the start menu and the taskbar?

[Kasracer]

You'd still have theming because that's part of Windows XP. Again, Explorer is just a program. It won't control the theming of other applications.

Explorer is a shell and it contains the start menu and task bar but it doesn't control theming.

[sheikh78]

Well if explorer is a shell then why doesn't it have a theming at the top? Is there like the border of the application set to some type? Like none?

[Kasracer]

Well if explorer is a shell then why doesn't it have a theming at the top? Is there like the border of the application set to some type? Like none?

What do you mean "theming at the top"? If you're talking about the close, minimize buttons and the title bar, that can be disabled.

Again, Explorer is just a regular application.

[sheikh78]

Thank you.

[sheikh78]

So I am confused on one topic, if i told the computer to have the windows logon shell start the application HelloWorld.exe, it would start that. But if i had a button in my helloworld application, that ran a process.start that would run explorer.exe if you clicked the button? could i return my computer back to normal once starting explorer.exe going to regedit and changing the windows logon shell?

[Kasracer]

I already answered those questions. Explorer.exe is just a regular program. You use it when you access the task bar, start menu, desktop or exploring your file. The login window is NOT part of the Explorer application.

So I am confused on one topic, if i told the computer to have the windows logon shell start the application HelloWorld.exe, it would start that.

I have no idea what this means. What's the windows logon shell?

If you have HelloWorld.exe set as the default shell on your PC, it'll use that instead of explorer (so when you login, this will start up). You're not changing the login window or anything else.

But if i had a button in my helloworld application, that ran a process.start that would run explorer.exe if you clicked the button?

I don't understand how this is a question. What are you asking? Process.Start() will start an application. Explorer.exe is an application so therefore you can start it via Process.Start().

could i return my computer back to normal once starting explorer.exe going to regedit and changing the windows logon shell?

Again, I don't know what the windows logon shell is. If you're refering to changing the default shell, I already explained how you set it back. You can have the registry point to the default shell and use ctrl + alt + del, select task manager, choose the applications tab, select new task and run regedit to change it. You can even run explorer from there.

[sheikh78]

Thank you. I understand now. The windows logon shell....I meant the default shell. Sorry!

[Kasracer]

No problem.

I wonder if the original poster's issue has been resolved? lol

[sheikh78]

Well at least he got a bundle of information that could help him with whatever he is doing....lol