FAQ: Boot directly into your front end - Page 3

alti · 10-04-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tj!2k4

fp may not accept system variables like that.. you may have to specify the full path.

that is what i meant, i was only using the variable to signifiy that i dont know where his windows installation is. Hope i did not confuse you, muldrick.

muldrick · 10-04-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tj!2k4

fp may not accept system variables like that.. you may have to specify the full path.

Right. I did not change the directory when installing windows, so they should be:
c:\windows\explorer.exe
and
c:\windows\system32\calc.exe

Correct?

alti · 10-04-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by muldrick

Right. I did not change the directory when installing windows, so they should be:
c:\windows\explorer.exe
and
c:\windows\system32\calc.exe

Correct?

that is correct

muldrick · 10-04-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by alti

that is correct

Ok, I had done that, just never tried it. After I had entered it into apps. it kept (keeps) saying "FALSE-FALSE" after the command line. But it works fine, added a bunch of other stuff too. I like this

Thanks for your help.

vairu · 10-28-2005, 12:34 PM

great post!

Jackboot · 11-24-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by justintime

A quick note: For me, when bringing up the Task Manager, and using the New Task (Run...) feature, if I type explorer.exe or explorer, all I get is a browse window. It does not load the full explorer desktop etc.

Any ideas?

Did you ever get this problem solved? I have the same problem - if I type 'explorer.exe' or 'explorer' I just get a browse window. I want the explorer GUI to load...why does it seem that nobody else is having this problem?

justintime · 11-27-2005, 04:06 PM

Nope, could not get it fixed. No idea!

IntellaWorks · 11-28-2005, 08:20 AM

Once you've told windows to launch another shell (c:\frodoplayer.exe) you cannot launch explorer in shell mode. You can only launch explorer as a window. With this said, this FAQ doesn't show users the BEST way to launch an app as the windows shell.

Instead of fooling with the registry just leave it the way it is. Boot your carpc's OS up in another computer and re-name explorer.exe to explorer.bak.exe then place your front ends exe and files into the same folder. Rename your front end's exe to explorer.exe.

The reason why fooling with the registry is undesirable is simply because what if you want to change back to explorer to make a settings change? I suppose you could write two .BAT files that automate this but in my case, my system is EWF'd and its a pain in the *** to disable this stuff in the car. Its much easier to bring the drive into the house and rename explorer.exe

or I created a smart front end chooser, see instructions here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ighlight=Shell

arebelspy · 11-28-2005, 10:59 AM

I have 2 registry (.reg) files to switch back and forth between my frontend and explorer.. and of course a batch file to apply changes if I'm running it in a EWF (for HORM) state at the time, both easily accessable through the explorer app embedded in the frontend .. pretty simple and easy for anyone that wants to take a minute to set it up so they can switch back and forth quickly.

-arebelspy

Jackboot · 11-28-2005, 02:39 PM

@ arebelspy: Holy cats this is exactly what I'm struggling with trying to do right now. I'm sending you a PM to ask for a copy of the reg/batch files

3 of my reg/batch files work fine, but the one to change the explorer to Frodoplayer won't work for some reason. I'm not really good with writing reg files so I'm sure I'm just making a stupid mistake...

arebelspy · 11-28-2005, 03:05 PM

well the batch file i ws referring to was to apply changes to an EWF system, as I stated.

As far as registry files, just export the explorer one that's default, then create the one as described in the first page of this thread and export that.. now you have 2 registry files you can click back and forth between and reboot to change the shell.

-arebelspy

Jackboot · 11-28-2005, 04:25 PM

Here is what my reg file to change the shell to Frodoplayer looks like:

--------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"Shell"="C:\Program Files\Frodoplayer\Frodoplayer.exe"
---------------------------------------

But it doesn't work. The shell stays as explorer.exe. Do you know why?

My other reg file changes the shell from Frodoplayer back to explorer.exe no problem...but I have to manually modify the registry to change the shell to Frodoplayer...

Tekmazter · 12-06-2005, 08:01 AM

%systemroot% is the 'default' for all NT boxes (NT4/2K/XP/2K3) while %windir% is a nice little add-on in most installations for application calls etc...

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by tj!2k4
^ think you meant to say %windir%

opps

Muldrick, if your file system is setup like above and you are running XP they *should* be there.

d_sellers1 · 12-26-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jackboot

Here is what my reg file to change the shell to Frodoplayer looks like:

--------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"Shell"="C:\Program Files\Frodoplayer\Frodoplayer.exe"
---------------------------------------

But it doesn't work. The shell stays as explorer.exe. Do you know why?

My other reg file changes the shell from Frodoplayer back to explorer.exe no problem...but I have to manually modify the registry to change the shell to Frodoplayer...

I went and tried to make a .reg file so the shell could be easily changed. For some reason, the registry seems to not allow the shell to be changed via a .reg file. Even when I'd manually change it (which it would take) and then export the key, the registry would not make the change. Perhaps its some kinda of safety within Windows to prevent this from happening.

Derek

Sonicxtacy02 · 12-26-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by d_sellers1

I went and tried to make a .reg file so the shell could be easily changed. For some reason, the registry seems to not allow the shell to be changed via a .reg file. Even when I'd manually change it (which it would take) and then export the key, the registry would not make the change. Perhaps its some kinda of safety within Windows to prevent this from happening.

Derek

Create the .reg in safe mode.