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FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

This is a question that has been hanging on to me ever since I started the project I am working on:

How can I start a program before someone logs on to windows, for example, how can I have a program running at the logon screen? If possible it would be good to do this without creating my own windows shell and everything...

Thanks for any help... Smile

Skit3000 · Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:17 pm Post subject:

You can do that by editting win.ini or system.ini (I don't know which) and change this:

shell=explorer.exe

to the name of your program...
Don't forget to, if you're program is shutted down and windows may be started, to change it back (otherwise explorer.exe will be run as the windows explorer) and run explorer.exe ...

Tommy · Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:28 pm Post subject:

This should be possible by adding your program to the following key, although it will not work on NT/2000/XP OSes:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

Tommy

FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

Thanks for your replies...but I have a question: Is it possible to add a service in Win 2000/NT, I think it is because my virus scanner has a service...

LinkSisco · Valued Newbie Joined: 17 May 2002 Posts: 30 Location: UK

there is a program in windows that allows you to add and remove services, i cant quite remember where or what its called, but im sure if you ask around someone will...

sorry.

Hortalonus · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 7:58 pm Post subject:

If you are using a WinNT based OS then you can use the program srvany.exe included in the WinNT and Win2K Resource Kits to run an app as an NT service.

Check out these articles for more info:
http://www.winntmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=7959
http://www.winntmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=8148

FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

Yes, I have heard of a program called "servany.exe" from a Resource Kit from Microsoft, but I don't know where to download it... Sad

If anyone knows of any other programs that can add/remove a service let me know. Smile

Hortalonus · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 8:23 pm Post subject:

You can download srvany.exe here: http://www.pyeung.com/userdefinedservice.html

Mac · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 10:21 pm Post subject:

In the WIN.INI file, you can use these keys
(I think "load=" may have higher priority):

load=???

or

run=???

under the [windows] section, where ??? is
the path\filename to your program (enclose
"path\filename" in quotes if you have long
file/dir names). The "shell=" key that skit
mentioned is in SYSTEM.INI under [boot].

Cheers, Mac Smile

Skit3000 · Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 2:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mac, I was forgotten that...

FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

Many thanks for your replies... Smile

Mac -
Will this run the program even when a user is not logged on, for example on the Windows 2000 logon screen when the screen is prompting someone to enter their username and password?

Mac · Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 4:35 pm Post subject:

I have no idea. I'm still in Windows95 land. Confused

I'd give 'em both a try though, providing Win2k
has a WIN.INI file...

Cheers, Mac Smile

FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

Thanks...

By the way, my Windows XP Home computer has a win.ini, so I am assuming win2k will have a win.ini

Maybe I should try the servany.exe file someone else mentioned if that doesn't work...

Thanks again,