Replace shell in Vista?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave R.
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave R.

In XP, we are able to configure the shell on a per-user basis by setting
a couple of registry entries:

Configure shell as per-user:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot]
"Shell"="SYS:Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon"

Set default shell:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"

Set per-user shell:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="c:\\shelldir\\usershell.exe"

Can the same be done in Vista, and if so, does it use the same method?

Regards,

Dave
 
Dave R. said:
In XP, we are able to configure the shell on a per-user basis by
setting a couple of registry entries:

Configure shell as per-user:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot]
"Shell"="SYS:Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon"

Set default shell:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"

Set per-user shell:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="c:\\shelldir\\usershell.exe"

Can the same be done in Vista, and if so, does it use the same method?
Click to expand...

Anyone have any idea? Feel brave enough to try it? I'd give it a go
but until our supplier can ship pre-loaded systems I can't get my hands
on a test platform here at the office, and I fear my home system isn't
powerful enough for Vista.

Regards,

Dave
 
Dave R. said:
In XP, we are able to configure the shell on a per-user basis by
setting a couple of registry entries:

Configure shell as per-user:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot]
"Shell"="SYS:Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon"

Set default shell:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"

Set per-user shell:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="c:\\shelldir\\usershell.exe"

Can the same be done in Vista, and if so, does it use the same method?
Click to expand...

I finally have my evaluation and testing platform in from the vendor, so
I can answer my own question :)

In case anyone else needs or wants to configure an alternate shell in
Vista, it works the same as in XP except you do not need to set the
shell as per-user (the 1st registry setting). Also, the default shell
(2nd registry setting) is already in place, so unless you want to change
the shell for all users you do not need to do anything there.

FYI

Dave
 
patron;1071983 said:
I need to replace the shell!! I did change the registry
([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="C:\folder\usershell.exe") but I get a blank screen, this used
to work with XP. Any Idea?
Click to expand...

FYI.
I found the solution.
I just deactivate the (UAC) in user accounts. pretty simple.:eek:
Click to expand...

So are you saying to use UAC, Explorer **MUST** be used as the shell ?

(Or, in other words, UAC doesn't accept any shell other than Explorer, and
will **always** use Explorer, regardless of the shell setting in the
registry ?)
 
It should be:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell=
explorer.exe,
 
DanS said:
patron;1071983 said:
I need to replace the shell!! I did change the registry
([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="C:\folder\usershell.exe") but I get a blank screen, this
used
to work with XP. Any Idea?
Click to expand...

FYI.
I found the solution.
I just deactivate the (UAC) in user accounts. pretty simple.:eek:
Click to expand...

So are you saying to use UAC, Explorer **MUST** be used as the shell ?

(Or, in other words, UAC doesn't accept any shell other than Explorer,
and
will **always** use Explorer, regardless of the shell setting in the
registry ?)
Click to expand...

I haven't tried changing the shell globally in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, but I
have changed it for a specific user in HKEY_CURRENT_USER. UAC didn't
get in the way at all, and UAC (at least parts of it, I haven't checked
all of it) still works.

I suspect that the OP is running into registry virtualization when
changing it in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something
big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.
 
patron;1071983 Wrote:
I need to replace the shell!! I did change the registry
([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="C:\folder\usershell.exe") but I get a blank screen, this
used
to work with XP. Any Idea?

FYI.
I found the solution.
I just deactivate the (UAC) in user accounts. pretty simple.:eek:
Click to expand...

So are you saying to use UAC, Explorer **MUST** be used as the shell ?

(Or, in other words, UAC doesn't accept any shell other than Explorer,
and
will **always** use Explorer, regardless of the shell setting in the
registry ?)
Click to expand...

I haven't tried changing the shell globally in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, but I
have changed it for a specific user in HKEY_CURRENT_USER. UAC didn't
get in the way at all, and UAC (at least parts of it, I haven't checked
all of it) still works.

I suspect that the OP is running into registry virtualization when
changing it in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Click to expand...

Yes, virtualization may be the culprit here. If regedit was started
elevated, possibly it would work. ***POSSIBLY**
 
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