Running single game on computer setup

[Nimbus]

I am considering building a cabinet for a single game to run on a computer. I am not talking about MAME. I am talking about purchasing one game and using the computer just for that game. The game would be running on Windows.

In particular, I am wondering if you can set up the computer to go STRAIGHT to the game, and not to windows. That way it would look and act like an arcade game, minus the quarters. Is this possible? I have read about people hiding Windows entirely. I figure it would be similar.

I did some searching to no avail. I kept finding tons of other threads not pertaining to this subject.

Please help point me in the right direction. I am sorry if this info has been posted regularly and I couldn't find it.

Thanks!

[Donkbaca]

If you used instant sheller you could do it and have your startup folder boot the game.

[MacGyver]

With XP you make a batch file, and change the windows shell from "explorer.exe" to the batch file. ie.   "C:\launchgame.bat"

1) Open regedit (start menu > run, and type in regedit)
2) Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3) Change "explorer.exe" to "C:\launchgame.bat"

In the "launchgame.bat" batch file put something like.

Code: [Select]

@echo off
"c:\progra~1\yourgamedir\yourprogram.exe"
"c:\progra~1\yourgamedir\yourprogram.exe"
"c:\progra~1\yourgamedir\yourprogram.exe"
"c:\progra~1\yourgamedir\yourprogram.exe"
c:\windows\explorer.exe    or    shutdown /s /t 0
That way when your computer boots, it runs your batch file instead of the normal shell, and if you accidentally exit out of the game, it will launch it again 3 more times.  The last part will either launch the normal shell "explorer.exe" or shutdown after you exit the game 4 times. (I would use explorer.exe, as it will let you use your computer normally after the game has exited so you can fix things, using shutdown will shut it down, but you will have to use a "Live" version of Windows with Regedit.exe and load the hive registry of the windows install just undo it or fix things.

Use some of the key words or registry paths listed above in Google to get a better understanding of what it all means.
ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP, AND BE PREPARED TO LOSE EVERYTHING ON THE COMPUTER WHEN MESSING WITH THE SHELL!!!

[fallacy]

Regardless you have to wait for windows to load before you can run anything in windows.

Also Windows 7 loads alot faster then XP that's for damn sure.

[LeedsFan]

Also Windows 7 loads alot faster then XP that's for damn sure.

But Windows 7 cannot be shelled or hidden completely like XP can.

[grasspuddle]

Quickest way is to just copy a shortcut of the program into the 'startup' folder of your programs list. Windows runs all these programs during the startup.

[fallacy]

This fool is not talking about hiding windows. He wants a computer to act like a JAMMA board and just launch a game on power up.

[Donkbaca]

really?  Since the OP said:

The game would be running on Windows.

I assumed that what he wants is to shell windows and boot straight to the game.

[Mikezilla]

This fool is not talking about hiding windows. He wants a computer to act like a JAMMA board and just launch a game on power up.

Why is he a fool?

[Cynicaster]

A really simple (but maybe a bit cheesy) way of doing it would be to use a MaLa front end with command-line MAME.  I just started using MaLa and still have a lot to learn but there is a setting on there to automatically launch MaLa on every startup, and I believe there is one to load a specific game on startup. 

[fallacy]

In particular, I am wondering if you can set up the computer to go STRAIGHT to the game, and not to windows.

[Mikezilla]

ok must have missed that. 

[Nimbus]

Thanks for all of the help. Lots of great options and info presented here.

In particular, I am wondering if you can set up the computer to go STRAIGHT to the game, and not to windows.

Oops!! I definitely described that poorly. I know it has to run on Windows. I meant that I wanted it to go straight to the game, and not the Windows loading screen.

It looks like I have plenty of options to try out now thanks to you guys. This should be a fun project either way.

Thanks again!!

[fallacy]

Oops!! I definitely described that poorly. I know it has to run on Windows. I meant that I wanted it to go straight to the game, and not the Windows loading screen.

It looks like I have plenty of options to try out now thanks to you guys. This should be a fun project either way.

Thanks again!! Smiley

You can definitely replace the windows loading screen graphic with a black picture so it does not show.

This thread should help with hiding windows.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53467.0

[Nimbus]

Thanks fallacy! I really appreciate the info.

[CapriRS302]

Just my two cents...

Change the windows loading screen with a bootscreen loader.  You can design a new one based on te game you are loading, maybe a title screen snapshot.  The only drawback is that it has to be in 256 colors.
 You cannot hide the bootscreen as far as I know, but you could simply just make it all "black" including the little status bars that move from side to side, then no one would know it was there.


Then you have to go into the windows registry and replace explorer.exe with the executable file for your game.  Windows should load your game instead of the explorer shell.

If you need windows after that, you will need to boot into safe mode.

[Necro]

If you need windows after that, you will need to boot into safe mode.

You can still bring up Task Manager via CTRL-ALT-DEL and then just run explorer.exe and it should load the shell up.