Active Desktop

[Beard36]

I'm really not sure if this is the appropriate forum to post this question, if not and if anyone could suggest which WOULD be a suitable forum then that information would be appreciated.

Using HTML, I'm wanting to create a background (Active Desktop) for Windows 2000/XP which gives me access to a set of programs and scripts that I use rather than having a big clutter of icons. So basically I want a set of links on my desktop.

This is not a problem as far as it goes, but I also wanted to display some network information so I need to use ActiveX and eg. the WScript.Network object. Still this is fine except that when I log on I will get the ActiveX warning message. Is it possible to disable this?

For example, if you save an HTML file with the HTA extension then it can be launched as an application and bypasses IE's security model, but as far as I can see you can not set the Windows background to be an HTA file. If I'm wrong about that then my problem disappears! If I'm not wrong, though, is there any other way to avoid this message - is it possible to bypass security warnings for specified local files, for example?

Again, I think I'm a bit off-topic for this forum, but any guidance - whether helping with my problem or suggesting elsewhere to ask - would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Beard36.

 

[Beard36]

A follow-up comment:

I've gone into Internet Explorer and added the page into "Trusted Sites" in the Security options and now when I open up the HTML page intended for the desktop in IE, the ActiveX warning doesn't appear. HOWEVER, when I set the desktop to be this HTML file, the warning still appears.

I don't understand, wouldn't the desktop use the same settings as IE?

Again, any help much appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[Beard36]

Ok, I've looked high and low for this. I've found several threads on this site that are ASKING for the answer, but I've been unable to any with the answer itself.

HOWEVER, I ran across an article on Nerdusa.com that seems to solve this problem and since other people have clearly wondered in the past I thought it may be beneficial to post a copy -

To enable local content (such as HTML file saved locally used as an Active Desktop) to use ActiveX controls without prompting, do the following.

Open Regedit.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\InternetSettings\Zones\0
- Set "FLAGS" dword value to 47 (Hex, not decimal)
- Close regedit
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Select the "Tools" menu
- Select "Internet Options"
- Select the "Security" tab

You will notice that you have a "My Computer" security zone (if not, reboot and try relaunching Internet Explorer). Now configure your "My Computer" security zone.

- Highlight the "My Computer" zone icon
- Click "Custom Level"
- Under "ActiveX controls and plug-ins", change "Download signed ActiveX controls" to "Enable"
- Change "Download unsigned ActiveX controls" to "Enable"
- Change "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to "Enable"
- Change "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" to "Enable"
- Chnage "Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting" to "Enable"
- Click "OK"
- Click "Apply"
- Click "OK"


Hope someone else find this useful.
Beard36.