Run Virtual Jukebox as shell in Win98SE?

[amsTaTic]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but hey, I'm a newbie  

I have a Win98SE/98LitePro machine that will be dedicated to a jukebox cabinet. I don't want to see the Windows desktop every time I start the machine. I can put a shortcut to VJ in the Startup folder, but the desktop is still visable before VJ loads. I would like it to be a "one button" startup kind of deal, with no hint that a Windows computer is running it....

Before I buy it, can it be done with VJ? Is anyone doing it successfully?

TIA  

[planetjay]

It should. If fact I plan to do that on mine.

Look for the "shell=Explorer" line in either system.ini in the windows dir. Set it to "shell=C:\Program Files\Virtual JukeBox\Virtual Jukebox.exe" or where ever you put it.

If something gets screwed up, use the old F8 trick to go to a command prompt and edit the system.ini from there. You might need 8.3 names instead of long names. I really haven't done the shell trick since Windows 3.0, so I'm not sure.

[yomero2k]

yes it can be done in system.ini there is a line that states shell=explorer.exe changeit to shell=c:\program files\virtual jukebox\virtualjukebox.exe

but be shure to set the working directory to the path your exe is located in, i have done this before and it works fine, just for the record, if you want to do the same in xp run regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\WINLOGON\  
and modify the shell value to c:\program files\virtual jukebox\virtual jukebox.exe

[amsTaTic]

I edited the system.ini to "shell=C:\Program Files\Virtual Jukebox\Virtual Jukebox.exe".

Upon restart I get a message on the screen reading, "Error loading C:\Program Files\Virtual Jukebox\Virtual Jukebox.exe. You must reinstall Windows." I know I just need to re-edit system.ini....

Either I'm doing it wrong, or there is a conflict with running other programs as shell with 98Lite, (although I have done it with WinAmp before), or VJ just won't run as shell, right?

Has anyone out there actually run VJ as shell in Win98SE, (with or without 98Lite)?

Thanx for the help  

[Lave Laar]

You could try to put the path in quotes like this :
shell="C:\Program Files\Virtual Jukebox\Virtual Jukebox.exe"    

If that doesn't work try to use the short filename.  Something like this :
shell=C:\PROGRA~1\VIRTUA~1\VIRTUA~1.EXE

[amsTaTic]

You could try to put the path in quotes like this :
shell="C:\Program Files\Virtual Jukebox\Virtual Jukebox.exe"    

If that doesn't work try to use the short filename.  Something like this :
shell=C:\PROGRA~1\VIRTUA~1\VIRTUA~1.EXE

I tried the quotes, with the same error. I didn't think about trying the short filename. When I get home I'll try it.

Thanx for the suggestion  

[amsTaTic]

The short filename works like a charm  

Thanx Lave Laar!!

[yaydo]

Hi,

How do you get rid of the Windows 98 splash screen and  the username/password dialog box during boot? I also want to run the VMJ as shell when PC boots up but with the splash screen and the username/password dialog box, it looks ugly.

Thanks,
Yaydo

[Mameham]

 To eliminate the logon screens - change your network login to "Windows Login"

 from annoyances.org -

 "To remove the startup logo altogether, edit the file C:\MSDOS.SYS, and add the line LOGO=0 to the Options section. Note: This will only work, for some reason, if you have a custom startup screen in your root directory. For more information, see Contents of the MSDOS.SYS File. This setting can also be changed with TweakUI - http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/tweakui"

  If you just want to make your own custom ones...

 "Make duplicates of the files LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS in a temporary folder. These files are located initially in your Windows folder. LOGOW.SYS is the one that reads "Please wait while...," and LOGOS.SYS is the one that reads "It is now safe to...,"
These files are just standard bitmaps, so rename the extensions of these duplicates to .BMP.
You can use any graphics editor to edit these files, such as MSPaint, Photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro.
The files are 256-color windows bitmaps (RGB-encoded, but not RGB color), 320 x 400.
Since the aspect ratio (width / height) of these files are not standard 4:3, like most computer screens, the bitmaps will appear vertically elongated.
To make your new design conform to this aspect ratio, resize the bitmap to 534 x 400 while you're working on it. Make sure to resize them back to 320 x 400 when you're done.
Save your changes, and rename the extensions of your new files back to .SYS.
Last, copy the new files back into your Windows folder. It might be smart to back up your original files.

While you're at it, you can create a startup screen as well (using the above method).
Just call the file LOGO.SYS, and place it in the root directory of your boot drive (usually C:\). There's no file to replace here; the default logo, imbedded in IO.SYS, is used if no LOGO.SYS file is found. Note: If you're using disk compression, like Doublespace, you'll need to put the file in the original boot drive (sometimes H:\). "