[RESOLVED] Changing default shell application

[guyjasper]

Hi, good day everyone.
I tried changing the default shell of my PC. I changed
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" i set Shell=MyApp.exe instead of the default which is Explorer.exe. I made this change because i want my application to run before the windows explorer. Then when my app closes, it will shell windows explorer for normal use. My problem is that when i run Explorer.exe form my app, windows explorer didn't run normally. It only showed an exploer window. No taskbar or desktop items shown. How can i fix this?

[iPrank]

Why you need your app to run before explorer ? What does it do ?
May be there is an alternative.

[guyjasper]

it's for Internet Cafe software. It is used to lock the workstation when nobody is renting it. Currently, i added my app in windows startup so my client app would run when windows loads. But this can easily be bypassed. So to make my workstations more secure, i need my app to run before windows explorer.

[rory]

Installing

'STEP 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE , "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot", "Shell", "USR:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon", REG_SZ

'STEP 2
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon", "Shell", "c:\myFile.exe", REG_SZ

'STEP 3
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "DesktopProcess", 1, REG_DWORD

'STEP 4
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess", "BrowseNewProcess", "yes", REG_SZ

Uninstalling (put back explorer shell)

'STEP 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE , "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot", "Shell", "SYS:Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon", REG_SZ

'STEP 2 - ***** DELETE *****
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon", "Shell"

'STEP 3
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "DesktopProcess", 0, REG_DWORD

'STEP 4
HKEY_CURRENT_USER , "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess", "BrowseNewProcess", "no", REG_SZ

[rory]

Also there is a Kiosk Mode for Internet Explorer ..

I have a complete example with the shell and all, if you want to download it .. PM me ..

Rory

[guyjasper]

thanks Rory, i'll try this out in a while. Sent you a PM

[RobDog888]

If its for an Internet Cafe then you should be running in a network environment where you can apply Group Policies to remove resources from the logon session. This is the proper method to do what your asking for.

[guyjasper]

Hi Robdog, can you tell me how to set up Group Policies?

But I still want my client app to run before windows explorer. For some reason, my client app seems to run after other application in starup. And users of the workstation can already launch other applications before my app runs because windows explorer is already running and they can access the program menu. I don't want that to happen.

[guyjasper]

rory, i tried post #4 and it works great. thanks

[rory]

Ok,i sent you that app to test also ..

Also remember to give them the choice to uninstall it back to Explorerer ..

Also, Running the program as the Shell is not always the best idea but if its a simple program then .. should be okay .. the blackbox lite shell is what I use though and run my programs ontop of that ..

[RobDog888]

Group policies run before windows startups and before services.

[rory]

Group policies run before windows startups and before services.

Thats to do with the login right ..? Cause yeah that comes up before Windows Shell ..

[RobDog888]

Yes. You can do so many things with policies. Even more when your working with a network and server. Over 1000 settings. Hide desktop icons, remove startmenu items, hide mapped drives, configure IE settings and limits, prevent certain programs from running, remove the shutdown button, etc etc etc

[rory]

I remember they had something like that back in the Windows 95 days .. came on the 95 CD and let you only allow certain proggies etc .. locked myself out once ! had to reformat ..

I still like the Shell .. but Ill look for the policies part also .. though Id need to be able to change them through VB .. know if that is possible ..?

[RobDog888]

I think you can change policies through VB but you must be an admin anyways. I havent done it but I remember reading that there was the possibility.

[guyjasper]

what tool can i use to manage group policies? does it come with windows or do i have to download it?

can i also set user-specific policies instead of setting policies to a group?

[RobDog888]

you can do both, Group or User specific. It comes with NT based OS' and you dont need to download anything.

What OS are you running?

[guyjasper]

I'm using Windows XP home/Windows XP Pro.

[RobDog888]

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy.

[guyjasper]

Thanks hmm.. can i set a policy on one PC then apply the same policy to another without manually doing it over & over again? like can i copy a policy setting on one PC to another?