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Application launch with window start up 1
- Thread starter takyan
- Start date
Mike Lewis
Programmer
Yan,
Do you want to set this up manually (on your own computer) or doo you want to do it programmatically (so that you set up the auto-start when you install your app on the user's computer)?
If manually, follow Jean's advice about the Startup folder.
If you want to set it up programmatically, the easiest way is to write an entry in following Registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Alternatively, you could add a RUN= entry to the WIN.INI file.
If you want any more details of these solutions, let me know.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
Do you want to set this up manually (on your own computer) or doo you want to do it programmatically (so that you set up the auto-start when you install your app on the user's computer)?
If manually, follow Jean's advice about the Startup folder.
If you want to set it up programmatically, the easiest way is to write an entry in following Registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Alternatively, you could add a RUN= entry to the WIN.INI file.
If you want any more details of these solutions, let me know.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
craigsboyd
IS-IT--Management
Yan,
This link has some information for you if you are thinking of going the registry route as Mike Lewis suggested. It will give you some idea of all the places in the registry things can get run from and the order in which they fire off...
...if you decide to go the registry route then you will probably need to use the registry.vcx that ships with VFP. The other solution is to create an install to add the keys/values/data for your application such as Installshield Professional.
Slighthaze = NULL
This link has some information for you if you are thinking of going the registry route as Mike Lewis suggested. It will give you some idea of all the places in the registry things can get run from and the order in which they fire off...
...if you decide to go the registry route then you will probably need to use the registry.vcx that ships with VFP. The other solution is to create an install to add the keys/values/data for your application such as Installshield Professional.
Slighthaze = NULL
Mike Lewis
Programmer
Shyfox,
You said you want to start an app "before Windows starts its Explorer".
If Windows is launching Windows Explorer at start-up, it is because someone has told it to. Either there is a shortcut to it in the Startup folder, or a RUN= entry in Win.Ini, or an entry in the Registry's Run key.
The solution is to make sure that your own shortcut, Win.Ini entry or Registry entry appears before that of Explorer.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
You said you want to start an app "before Windows starts its Explorer".
If Windows is launching Windows Explorer at start-up, it is because someone has told it to. Either there is a shortcut to it in the Startup folder, or a RUN= entry in Win.Ini, or an entry in the Registry's Run key.
The solution is to make sure that your own shortcut, Win.Ini entry or Registry entry appears before that of Explorer.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
Mike
Sorry Mike. I made a confusion. I ment the desktop with the StartBar.
When Windows starts loads the desktop with all it's items, the StartBar, the netware script for network and after that my login screen. How can I start my application before those?
I would be very happy if could give me at least a point to start from.
Regards
Sorry Mike. I made a confusion. I ment the desktop with the StartBar.
When Windows starts loads the desktop with all it's items, the StartBar, the netware script for network and after that my login screen. How can I start my application before those?
I would be very happy if could give me at least a point to start from.
Regards
Mike Lewis
Programmer
ShyFox,
The only way I know of making your application appear before the desktop, start menu, etc. is to make it the Windows shell. I guess that would be possible, but not at all easy.
I can't give you any more information about that. If you don't get a good answer here, perhaps you should ask in one of the forums dedicated to Windows system programming.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
The only way I know of making your application appear before the desktop, start menu, etc. is to make it the Windows shell. I guess that would be possible, but not at all easy.
I can't give you any more information about that. If you don't get a good answer here, perhaps you should ask in one of the forums dedicated to Windows system programming.
Mike
Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland
craigsboyd
IS-IT--Management
I was reviewing this and it is a good question...how does one get a program to startup prior to anything else windows usually does at startup...I've seen partitioning programs and diagnostic programs do it...perhpas they're using Assembly to code this? Is it even possible to do such a thing with VFP? It seems the best you can do using the registry is get your program to run asynchronously with the Windows Logon (actually a little ahead of it, but not much). If anyone knows how this is accomplished and whether it is possible with VFP please let me know. Thanks.
Slighthaze = NULL
Slighthaze = NULL
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1
- #11
Hi Slighthaze,
I never create a shell replacement or winlogon myself. So this is just the theory (not enough time to dig it deep enough). So anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.
First of all, no, it doesn't have to be assembly program. Any Low Level Languange is sufficient to make such programs.
As Mike Lewis already said, for W9X just replace RUN shell in Win.INI with our (shell) program then you can run SHELL.EXE from our program.
For Windows NT or later we need to deal with logon security. We can replace it with our program if we understand how to make one (this is VERY DIFFICULT). Here is the link where you can start to read about it.
With GINA we can make a program to logon into Windows with our "Finger Prints". We can also intercept CTRL-ALT-DEL, and so on...
Be warn to PREPARE yourself with a tester computer or one computer that won't be used anymore. Because you are going deeply into windows security. And to anyone who never deal with Low Level Language, please Don't Mess Up With GINA!!
You'll find several thread on Tek-Tips if you search for GINA.
About what you've seen like partitioning program, I've seen it too. I think what they did is just create a temporary batch program (BAT file) and call their partition program. It haven't load windows kernel yet. They run with their own environment. And I think they also have a small Boot Loader just enough to run their program. After it finish it restore the whole environment back to original and reboot.
One program I know that use a Boot Loader is Partition Magic, they even have Boot Magic. To create a Boot Loader you need (mostly) assembly language.
Is it possible to do this with VFP ? Go figure
Regards
-- AirCon --
I never create a shell replacement or winlogon myself. So this is just the theory (not enough time to dig it deep enough). So anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.
First of all, no, it doesn't have to be assembly program. Any Low Level Languange is sufficient to make such programs.
As Mike Lewis already said, for W9X just replace RUN shell in Win.INI with our (shell) program then you can run SHELL.EXE from our program.
For Windows NT or later we need to deal with logon security. We can replace it with our program if we understand how to make one (this is VERY DIFFICULT). Here is the link where you can start to read about it.
With GINA we can make a program to logon into Windows with our "Finger Prints". We can also intercept CTRL-ALT-DEL, and so on...
Be warn to PREPARE yourself with a tester computer or one computer that won't be used anymore. Because you are going deeply into windows security. And to anyone who never deal with Low Level Language, please Don't Mess Up With GINA!!
You'll find several thread on Tek-Tips if you search for GINA.
About what you've seen like partitioning program, I've seen it too. I think what they did is just create a temporary batch program (BAT file) and call their partition program. It haven't load windows kernel yet. They run with their own environment. And I think they also have a small Boot Loader just enough to run their program. After it finish it restore the whole environment back to original and reboot.
One program I know that use a Boot Loader is Partition Magic, they even have Boot Magic. To create a Boot Loader you need (mostly) assembly language.
Is it possible to do this with VFP ? Go figure
Regards
-- AirCon --
craigsboyd
IS-IT--Management
Aircon,
Thanks that gives me some insight and a few leads. Star for you.
Slighthaze = NULL
Thanks that gives me some insight and a few leads. Star for you.
Slighthaze = NULL
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