The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: rablack97 on October 28, 2015, 09:03:30 pm

Title: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on October 28, 2015, 09:03:30 pm
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK

I am in no way responsible for any harm you may do to your PC by following these steps.  Please have knowledge of restoring, backing up, troubleshooting WIN 7.  The tutorial is for moderate/advanced PC users only, if you do not have this knowledge stop here and go no further.  –YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED-

HIDING WINDOWS 7

Overview
This tutorial will show you how to hide and or remove any visual representation that you are using Windows7 as an OS for your arcade machine.  We will be using instantsheller which will do most of the work, coupled with a few additional tweaks to the OS to make boot-up visibly pleasing to yourself or whomever your trying to impress.

I understand that some these steps may overlap what instantsheller may already do, but they will catch any process instantsheller fails to execute to ensure your presentation is clean.

To save you some time, I have provided a Dropbox link which will have all of the basic tools/files to follow the tutorial.

Tutorial Tools (https://www.dropbox.com/s/h1sbj3ntab9d9ec/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0)  <----- Files Here

Let's get started..... :cheers:

Windows Preparation

Backup your PC

First and foremost backup your system prior to making any of these changes, as any of these steps done incorrectly could prevent your windows from loading properly.

Enable GODMODE
This will create an icon that looks like this:

(http://www.bleepstatic.com/tutorials/windows-7/godmode/godmode-icon.jpg)

And will give you access to all configurable screens in Win 7.

(http://www.bleepstatic.com/tutorials/windows-7/godmode/godmode.jpg)

While in GODMODE follow these steps (we are gonna go down the list in order, use the search function in the top right hand corner if needed).

1.  Change User Account Control Settings

Set to "Never Notify" and reboot.  Since we will be making a lot of changes to the PC, this will remove that annoying pop-up asking if you want a program to make changes to your PC.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/c83cd969-dec4-4228-a600-cbea52eb57d5/11.03.2015-21.14.png)

2. Choose How to Check For Solutions

Set to "Never", this will keep the windows solutions and problems pop-up from displaying.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a609c88a-dcd8-4c39-95f4-ea7865a61d57/11.03.2015-21.29.png)

3.  Change When Computer Sleeps

Set Turn off Display and Put Computer to Sleep to "Never", this keeps PC from hibernating (Note: this may look different PC, this is the screen for a laptop.)

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/bc6a51c1-fdf1-4f4f-9985-c8e27ee985cd/11.03.2015-21.44.png)

4.  Require a Password When the Computer Wakes

If you decide to keep a password on your PC, tick "Don't require a Password" and save changes.  This keeps the lock screen from showing up should your PC go into hibernation or sleep mode.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/81038756-b6a7-48d5-802c-d6a2106626be/11.03.2015-22.11.png)

5. Turn Windows Features On or Off

This is optional, if there are any features that you will never use on the cab, then turn them off.  This is a similar to what NLITE does for stripped down XP installs.

This is what my setup looked like, but yours may differ based on your selections.  Reboot if you make any changes.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a7c2f88d-53d6-4813-96b4-6d0e7ee67355/11.03.2015-21.50.png)

6.  Adjust Appearance and Performance of Windows

Set to "Adjust for Performance", this will free up resources and speedup your PC.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/e15637c1-494e-46c9-8c71-a9796ad11ae2/11.03.2015-21.54.png)

7.  Create or Remove Your Account Password

You will need to do this if you want to have a static image show up after your custom boot animation.  The alternative is to use the auto-login feature in instantsheller if you absolutely want a PW on your rig, however, you will lose the additional boot-up image as instantsheller will hide it.  Ensure that the highlighted verbiage is visible to confirm that you have removed your password.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a0ae1e0d-5ba2-43e3-bebf-843b1025550d/10.31.2015-21.28.png)

8.  Turn Automatic Updating on or Off

It is recommended that you update your windows to current and then turn off windows update prior to making any of these changes.  Any updates made after the changes could modify the hacked files and cause your system to fail at boot or worse a BSOD.  I experienced this while testing and rolled the system back prior to the updates with a system restore to correct the problem.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/0894b46f-7067-442f-a215-23365e84c0fe/10.31.2015-21.33.png)

You can now shut down GodMode, erase it or keep it on your desktop

Turn off update alerts for 3rd party any installed programs

This is optional, but this step keeps installed programs from alerting you that an update is available and ready to be installed.  These annoying reminders take focus from your front end.

Remove Taskbar Balloon Pop-ups

Place the "Disable_Notifications.reg" file and place on your desktop and execute.

This will suppress any notifications at the bottom right of your task-bar.

Disable Sticky Keys

Tip Provided by :burn_654

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-disable-the-sticky-and-filter-keys-in-windows/ (http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-disable-the-sticky-and-filter-keys-in-windows/)

Disable Windows Startup Repair

Tip Provided by abispac

1. Open CMD Prompt

2. Run these 2 commands

bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No

bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures

Take Ownership of Files

Place the "Add_Take_Ownership_to_context.reg" file and place on your desktop and execute.

When you right click on the OS files we are going to modify and click "Take Ownership", this will give you the permissions needed move and modify.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a54f0f3c-7d1d-4195-a90c-de00e11c8e44/11.03.2015-22.28.png)

Pause and take a break, clear your brain, this is where you can really screw things up.

We are now going to modify the OS system files, pay attention to detail or you will be starting over with a new install of Windows.

1. Extract the Elevated_Command_Prompt.zip and place the command prompt short cut on your desktop.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a8da1712-89e7-47e6-a692-20ce67818ba7/11.03.2015-22.54.png)

2. Install ResourceHacker (reshacker_setup.exe)

3. Create a folder on your desktop and call it "File Backups".

Removing the Windows Branding

1.  Navigate to C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd

2.  Right click on the basebrd.dll file

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/b72891b5-682b-4dd2-ab27-8a9dbc102a09/11.03.2015-23.04.png)

3. Click "Take ownership"

4. Drag file to your desktop 

5. Click on it, and associate the file type to Resource Hacker.  (This keeps you from having to open resource hacker up separately for the rest of the files)

6. Right Click on each highlighted resource and hit "Delete Resource"

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/8c34103c-5c67-4cc2-8c57-ef9abaeab667/11.03.2015-23.16.png)

7. Save the file and resourcehacker will create a backup file basebrd_original.dll, place that file into your backup folder.

8. Drag the modified file back into C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd

9. Click on the 'Elevated Command Prompt' shortcut

10. Change directory to C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd

11. Type mcbuilder and hit enter

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/45d2825f-f846-4d83-8bb8-e6cda4eb0651/11.03.2015-23.27.png)

12. Wait for the command prompt and then close it out.

Removing the Toilet Bowl of Death

1.  Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\

2.  Right click on the imageres.dll file

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/5ff989e6-a259-4860-a8fb-a453faaf0f7d/11.04.2015-20.14.png)

3. Click "Take Ownership"

4. Drag file to your desktop

Tip provided by Romshark : Should you have a problem moving or modifying the file in the system32 folder and your running a 64-bit OS. Edit the "imageres.dll" file in the SysWOW64 directory instead.

5. Click on it

6. Right Click on each highlighted resource and hit "Delete Resource"

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/c3adb363-4c07-4403-87b9-a0d2210e8ea0/11.04.2015-20.18.png)

7. Save the file and resource hacker will create a backup file imageres_original.dll, place that file into your backup folder.

8. Drag the modified file back into C:\Windows\System32\

9. Click on the 'Elevated Command Prompt' shortcut

10. Type mcbuilder and hit enter

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/4fd3f60b-a9fd-4286-8247-8118dae3acd8/11.04.2015-20.20.png)

11. Wait for the command prompt and then close it out.

Removing the Boot Screen and Shut Down Verbiage

1.  Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\en-US

2.  Take ownership and drag these three files to desktop

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/3119c748-8462-4c28-adb0-4990993c1102/11.13.2015-19.22.png)

3. Click on the authui.dll file

4. Remove the 'Please Wait' from the quotes, leave the quotes (Do not use delete resource)

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/0fb206c4-cd4a-42b0-9503-cf6a302bd9f5/11.04.2015-20.30.png)

5.  A green arrow will now be available, click it to compile.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/03520b9b-99b4-4848-895f-515e85644587/11.04.2015-20.33.png)

6. Save the file and resource hacker will create a backup file authui_original.dll, place that file into your backup folder.

7. Drag the modified file back into C:\Windows\System32\en-US

8. Click on the wininit.exe file

9. Remove the highlighted text  from the quotes, leave the quotes (Do not use delete resource).

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/e78c0434-ffde-430c-bb10-03838e0e57e1/11.04.2015-20.37.png)

10.  A green arrow will now be available, click it to compile

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/03520b9b-99b4-4848-895f-515e85644587/11.04.2015-20.33.png)

11. Save the file and resource hacker will create a backup file wininit_original.exe, place that file into your backup folder.

12. Drag the modified file back into C:\Windows\System32\en-US

13. Click on the winlogon.exe file

14. Remove the highlighted text  from the quotes, leave the quotes (Do not use delete resource).

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/820e2fea-9436-4ba7-a231-bc6ebcbe4540/11.04.2015-21.17.png)

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/b0c63143-d5b1-4789-a709-47930b68d22e/11.04.2015-21.18.png)

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/00ea3a5a-74e1-460b-b6a7-00c34f3da095/11.04.2015-21.19.png)

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/24a4e0a6-2776-4792-af3f-b764abbb8106/11.04.2015-21.19.png)

15.  A green arrow will now be available, click it to compile.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/03520b9b-99b4-4848-895f-515e85644587/11.04.2015-20.33.png)

16. Save the file and resource hacker will create a backup file winlogon_original.exe, place that file into your backup folder.

17. Drag the modified file back into C:\Windows\System32\en-US

18. Click on the 'Elevated Command Prompt' shortcut

19. Change directory to C:\Windows\Branding\en-US

20. Type mcbuilder and hit enter

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/b1c27e1d-ebe2-4171-b82a-4c79124842f2/11.04.2015-21.26.png)

21. Wait for the command prompt and then close it out.

Reboot and make sure all of the changes were made, if you did it correctly you should boot back into the desktop.

Reboot again, and look for any branding or verbiage that we removed above, if it is still there, repeat the steps for that object only. 

Now its time to add the bling to Windows

(Note:  The next 2 steps are not worth bothering with if you have an SSD Drive or a quick bootup motherboard.  The boot-up is so fast that the animation doesnt have time to finish and the logon screen just flashes.)

Change boot animation

Click HERE (http://www.coderforlife.com/projects/win7boot/) to get more info on how to create your custom animation.

1. Open 'Windows 7 Boot Updater'

2. Change the settings to match below, the animation will vary based on what you want to show.

Default - Microsoft animation
Static Image - you own custom static image will show at boot
Animation - your own custom animation

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/c0b6c717-6314-4857-a152-297ec37692f3/11.04.2015-21.44.png)

3.  If you chose animation, hit play to make sure your animation works. 

4.  Hit Apply

5.  Reboot

6.  If you want to reverse the changes, re-open the boot updater, click options, and then restore back-ups

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/68079022-fe76-4007-803d-936b40527f20/11.04.2015-21.54.png)

Troubleshooting Bootupdater

This is one of the steps that can send mess up your PC, the steps below will help you to recover your PC.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/fd744d30-a323-4f12-b41f-45fae560b490/11.05.2015-09.37.png)

Change Logon Boot and Shutdown Images

1. Extract and install 'Windows 7 Logon Background changer'

2. Open 'Windows 7 Logon Background changer'

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/9a0d0ad6-3cf5-474a-b47a-ee6dc0e0092c/11.04.2015-22.18.png)

3. Select your background

4. Change the text to be 'no shadow' in the settings.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/3e601ac4-34f6-4d6d-8230-e367b83cfb4c/11.05.2015-08.05.png)

5. Hit Apply

4. Reboot and make sure the changes have been applied

Suppress Taskbar

(Note: I tried this program on 2 PC's same OS, one worked and the other I could not get the setting GUI to show up and could not figure out why).  If this happens, then just autohide the taskbar, once you shell your front end, it may hide the taskbar well enough for your application.)

1. Install and open "Shybar"

2. Enable auto-hide taskbar (you have to enable auto-hide to enable shybar), now set shybar shown below.

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/0b944748-cd66-4514-847d-67dd978fd386/11.05.2015-07.49.png)

3. Click Hide

The toolbar will disappear, to make it reappear for use go to bottom of the screen, you will notice now it takes 2 secs before it appears.  You can adjust Shybar to your own personal preferences.

Configure Instantsheller

1. Extract and open "instantsheller"

(http://content.screencast.com/users/tnb52001/folders/Snagit/media/a189527d-d551-4711-b9fe-3046d13e82e4/11.05.2015-08.17.png)

2.  Optional: This is a secondary safeguard for making the windows boot-up animations disappear.  This is only if you did not create a custom boot animation.
No GUI Boot
3.  Click 'I'm ready to do it.'

4. Reboot

To undo instantsheller requires a good eye, as the cursor will now be a small black dot.

If you need to reverse instant sheller to get back to normal windows functions, hit Ctrl-Alt-Del in your front end or desktop and choose 'New Task'.  Then type 'explorer' into the box and hit enter.  Navigate back to instantsheller and execute and hit undo.  Reboot PC

Enjoy and good luck  :applaud:
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: yotsuya on October 28, 2015, 09:11:24 pm
You gotta ask?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: rablack97 on October 28, 2015, 09:22:18 pm
Yessir?

Cause if nobody cares, and the other one suffices, I dont wanna create a thread with repetitive rubbish bro... :cheers:
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: opt2not on October 28, 2015, 09:25:26 pm
I'm interested.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: wp34 on October 28, 2015, 09:25:37 pm
Count me in.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: JDFan on October 28, 2015, 09:28:12 pm
If you write it they will come !  :cheers:
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: keilmillerjr on October 28, 2015, 09:59:56 pm
Sure.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: Phreakwars on October 28, 2015, 10:17:03 pm
I'm in. I remember how to do most of it. Always nice to have a bookmarked reference in case I forget anything.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: drewjbx on October 28, 2015, 11:13:42 pm
Interested here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - Revised Tutorial - Anyone Interested?
Post by: rablack97 on October 29, 2015, 09:22:05 pm
Ok Cool Fellas, I'll be updating the first post with the tutorial.  The idea is to take the solutions found throughout the older thread and consolidate the process in this one.

I was able to do the following so far, some of it is old news from the prior thread

Update the bootscreen animation to a custom MKX animation.

Change the login screen background.

Remove all verbiage, from the welcome to shutting down, including the Please wait.....

Remove the branding.

Confirmed an easy was to get the resourced hacked files back into the proper directories.

Found a cool tool to keep the toolbar from popping up and found regedits to supress any toolbar balloon popups

I plan to package up all of the necessary tools with a dropbox link, in case any of the file are taken offline for any reason.

So far the install I have going now is really clean with no hiccups  :cheers:

Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: drewjbx on October 30, 2015, 08:36:17 pm
Look forward to it.. If you can also include changing windows startup sound.. Win7 sound options doesn't allow this anymore


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on October 30, 2015, 09:26:23 pm
Ill look into it instantsheller jist disables all windows sounds

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: abispac on November 01, 2015, 02:10:26 am
m i the only one who uses this guide and works just perfect, whats the point on having another one?
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113896.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113896.0.html)
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 01, 2015, 10:12:31 am
m i the only one who uses this guide and works just perfect, whats the point on having another one?
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113896.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113896.0.html)

No, you aren't, the fact that my contents mimics wweumina's awesome thread should key you in that you aren't the only one. I followed that one as well, which is why i'm writing this one, cause I spent hours bouncing all over the place.

 I followed that thread down to the period and it did not work perfectly, hence the reason folks brought up issues they were having throughout the thread.

I'm adding a few extra tweaks and more defined instructions, in one post, plus a few things that were never mentioned.  In the thread your referring to, there were bright ideas spread throughout, that were never brought back up to the first post.  I'm also clearing up a few issues regarding the recompile and the please wait that was still showing up for folks at shutdown.

If you want to continue to follow that thread, hunt for files, go back and forth between websites, then by all means knock yourself out.  If it wasn't warranted, wouldn't waste my time.  If I thought the other thread was the fastest, most complete way to hide windows.  I wouldn't bother trust me.  You might ought to have let me finish though, and then ask that question.

Read under my avatar, there's your answer all wrapped up for ya.... :cheers:


Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: abispac on November 01, 2015, 12:42:06 pm
Dont mean to disrespect your post, but i got the other post saved in my pc and ive followed since the day it was created, and alway works wonders, sure there are more instructions if you scroll down and they are crystal clear to me, i always had good results on each pc i hide windows 7.
Sure (and im not saying you or anyone here is) a more idiot proof guide would be usefull.

so what features or tweks are you saying the old post itrs missing?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 01, 2015, 01:15:51 pm
 :dunno Your confusing me, you ask why is another tutorial needed but yet you want to know what additional tweaks can be done....make your mind up sir :)


I followed the old thread for a commissioned build, and had to go back to tweak due to the following.

Issues not covered in original post included.


thats off the top of my head........so if your way works for you then i'm not hating on what you got going on.  This is why i asked before i even started and some of the folks who have been here a long time wanted to see a revision.  I figured it would be useful, and utilized which is the reason why i'm sharing my findings for this process.

Plus im packaging up all the files to make it work, no need to go back and forth to multiple sites to grab files etc. 

The idea is to make it easier and more user friendly, not challenge what was already done.  So if you blazed through that tutorial with no issues, didnt tweak anything and you have no sign of windows showing on any of your builds then coolio, you can just ignore this one completely >:D
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: abispac on November 01, 2015, 03:13:25 pm
:dunno Your confusing me, you ask why is another tutorial needed but yet you want to know what additional tweaks can be done....make your mind up sir :)


I followed the old thread for a commissioned build, and had to go back to tweak due to the following.

Issues not covered in original post included.

  • Notifications in toolbar kept popping up
  • Toolbar would appear front end would lose focus
  • Please wait at shutdown was still there
  • Confusion on how to change the files w/o using a linux disk
  • How to avoid the BSOD by switching off your updates
  • No visual pics to make sure user is in the correct spot to make the change
  • Detailed instructions on removing and compiling the OS files, which lines, some weren't listed
  • Removing lines from the authui.dll.mui
  • setting the power settings so the lock screen doesn't appear if the pc sleeps
  • resource hacker has changed over 4 years, no longer need to make backups, does it for you, not explained


sorry my englih is bad and sometimes i can look or  sound rude?  guess what i try to say is, most issues are covered in the old topic, thaats why i asked what tweaks are you try to cover besides the ones that alrready are so you got your list . let go check on it. you said :

Notifications in toolbar kept popping up    i dont get this once i shell the front end or whatever software i want use via the regedit instrucctions wich are
13. Set Hyperspin as the shell for windows

This step will prevent the taskbar etc showing up at all.  I wouldn't do it until you have the rest of your system set up the way you want it.  It can be worked around easily enough but it's more convenient to save it until last.

Open up Regedit again.  Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

If there is no 'Shell' key then create one and set the value to be the path to your frontend.  In my case it's: "C:\Emulate\Hyperspin\Hyperspin.exe"

Toolbar would appear front end would lose focus.......... again i dont have this issue once i shell the aplication

Please wait at shutdown was still there          ..............i dont have this issue because i followed this instruction that where clear to me :WELCOME TEXT - After following the instructions above to edit and replace winlogo.exe.mui you need to do the following.
1) Open a elevated command prompt.
2) In the command prompt, type mcbuilder and press Enter.
3) When the command window closes, restart the computer.

SHUTTING DOWN TEXT - The "Shutting Down..." text is in a different file called "wininit.exe.mui".  After modifying you need to run mcbuilder as well.
1) Open a elevated command prompt.
2) In the command prompt, type mcbuilder and press Enter.
3) When the command window closes, restart the computer.

Confusion on how to change the files w/o using a linux disk......... on this one you are right, what i do i use the security settings and make me a full owner of the files, that way i canjust simply modified the conten and save, a tip i use was, once the files where modified i made a back up of them and save them, once ii had them i can just replace those on new instalations.

How to avoid the BSOD by switching off your updates....this one everytime i do a mame machine or juke , i never update nothing, i just use windows 7 even without a service pack as  most machine will never be hooked to the internet, so no antivirus ether.

No visual pics to make sure user is in the correct spot to make the change.... good one

Detailed instructions on removing and compiling the OS files, which lines, some weren't listed...ok

Removing lines from the authui.dll.mui........whats this one for?

setting the power settings so the lock screen doesn't appear if the pc sleeps......... i always do this, turn off slepp and monitor always on

resource hacker has changed over 4 years, no longer need to make backups, does it for you, not explained....nice thanks.

if i can help in anyway to explain things please let me know and pardon my bad editor skills.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: Phreakwars on November 01, 2015, 03:16:47 pm
I remember one of the issues I ran into was with imageres.dll

I was able to change ( delete) the needed values in Resource Hacker and save the new file , but it wouldn't let me overwrite (copy and paste) the new file with the old one, even in safe mode, even with taking ownership. What I ended up doing that worked for me, was just rename imageres.dll to imageres.dll.old and THEN pasting the new file in it's place.

Just thought I'd put that out there for anybody else who has this issue.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 01, 2015, 03:20:11 pm
I remember one of the issues I ran into was with imageres.dll

I was able to change ( delete) the needed values in Resource Hacker and save the new file , but it wouldn't let me overwrite (copy and paste) the new file with the old one, even in safe mode, even with taking ownership. What I ended up doing that worked for me, was just rename imageres.dll to imageres.dll.old and THEN pasting the new file in it's place.

Just thought I'd put that out there for anybody else who has this issue.

I think you gave that advice in the other thread, i followed your instructions there as well.  The easier way for me, was to use the take ownership regedit, then you can just move the file out of the folder, hack it, RH will create a copy for you and file_original.  Then just move the hacked file back into the folder you took it from.  Retain original file for safe keeping.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 01, 2015, 03:36:17 pm

Notifications in toolbar kept popping up    i dont get this once i shell the front end or whatever software i want use via the regedit instrucctions wich are
13. Set Hyperspin as the shell for windows

This step will prevent the taskbar etc showing up at all.  I wouldn't do it until you have the rest of your system set up the way you want it.  It can be worked around easily enough but it's more convenient to save it until last. Correct, another reason for the revision is order of steps.

Open up Regedit again.  Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

If there is no 'Shell' key then create one and set the value to be the path to your frontend.  In my case it's: "C:\Emulate\Hyperspin\Hyperspin.exe" I use instantsheller to shell, mainly for the undo functionality, and the taskbar was an issue, the revised version will keep a user from physically editing registry files (which could be a disaster), and give the user an easier way to undo.

Toolbar would appear front end would lose focus.......... again i dont have this issue once i shell the aplication Check out shybar, it's double protection so it never shows for any reason

Please wait at shutdown was still there          ..............i dont have this issue because i followed this instruction that where clear to me :WELCOME TEXT - After following the instructions above to edit and replace winlogo.exe.mui you need to do the following.
1) Open a elevated command prompt.
2) In the command prompt, type mcbuilder and press Enter.
3) When the command window closes, restart the computer.

Tried this and it still didn't work, it didn't disappear for me until i ran the Windows 7 Boot Updater as a last step, also I never had to run mcbuilder on any of my steps, Phreakwars had the same problem I had, running that MCBuilder command did not work. It's also how you remove the text from the mui files.  You have to just delete the text in the quotes, not delete the resource. Then hit the compile button in RH and save.

SHUTTING DOWN TEXT - The "Shutting Down..." text is in a different file called "wininit.exe.mui".  After modifying you need to run mcbuilder as well.
1) Open a elevated command prompt.
2) In the command prompt, type mcbuilder and press Enter.
3) When the command window closes, restart the computer.

Confusion on how to change the files w/o using a linux disk......... on this one you are right, what i do i use the security settings and make me a full owner of the files, that way i canjust simply modified the conten and save, a tip i use was, once the files where modified i made a back up of them and save them, once ii had them i can just replace those on new instalations. Please see post above

How to avoid the BSOD by switching off your updates....this one everytime i do a mame machine or juke , i never update nothing, i just use windows 7 even without a service pack as  most machine will never be hooked to the internet, so no antivirus ether. Correct, however we know to do this, it is not covered or mentioned in the tutorial

No visual pics to make sure user is in the correct spot to make the change.... good one

Detailed instructions on removing and compiling the OS files, which lines, some weren't listed...ok

Removing lines from the authui.dll.mui........whats this one for? Contains Please wait verbiage to be removed

setting the power settings so the lock screen doesn't appear if the pc sleeps......... i always do this, turn off slepp and monitor always on Correct, however we know to do this, it is not covered or mentioned in the tutorial

resource hacker has changed over 4 years, no longer need to make backups, does it for you, not explained....nice thanks.

if i can help in anyway to explain things please let me know and pardon my bad editor skills.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 03, 2015, 12:56:13 pm
Not sure if anyone knew about this, but this is hella useful while going through this process.

GODMODE

Create a folder on your desktop and name it this.

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

The resulting folder will contain 270 items, representing virtually every configurable option in Windows 7.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: JDFan on November 03, 2015, 01:23:59 pm
Not sure if anyone knew about this, but this is hella useful while going through this process.

GODMODE

Create a folder on your desktop and name it this.

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

The resulting folder will contain 270 items, representing virtually every configurable option in Windows 7.

Interesting - nice find !!  :cheers:
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: Howard_Casto on November 03, 2015, 11:08:41 pm
Dude that is one I didn't know and it's very hard to find something I don't know about windows 7.  Thanks!

I wonder if something similar works for 8/10?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: Howard_Casto on November 03, 2015, 11:11:30 pm
Well apparently you can. 

http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/enabling-godmode-windows-10 (http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/enabling-godmode-windows-10)

I'm currently upgrading a couple of mame cabs... maybe I'll do a windows 10 thread since everyone loves it so much.  ; )
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 03, 2015, 11:16:21 pm
Yes sir, there is one for 8 and 10....

I hated 8 love windows 10.  GodMode is sooooo much better to use, i love it...

Glad i could help out.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 05, 2015, 12:30:01 am
Ok folks its done..........how do i get a mod to sticky this?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: PL1 on November 05, 2015, 01:24:47 am
Ok folks its done..........how do i get a mod to sticky this?
Stickied.   :cheers:


Scott
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 05, 2015, 08:01:13 am
Nice, Thx Scott....
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: abispac on November 05, 2015, 07:06:16 pm
i got another thing i do on my cabs , this is to Disable Windows Startup Repair as Default Option in case something happens and when you restart you dont need to press f8 or f nothing, it restarts the computer again like nothing happened, and im talking on situations like someone disconected the cab or the electrycity goes out.
i open a cmd promt and run this 2 comands

bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No

bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on November 05, 2015, 07:14:09 pm
cool i can add this to the windows prep....

today i had a force to close pop-up show, do you have this issue.

I think i saw this verbiage in the mui files, might be good to remove these as well.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: heykool69 on November 11, 2015, 10:14:47 pm
This is great!  Gonna give it a shot this weekend.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: iamjimmic on December 19, 2015, 07:56:14 am
What a brilliant guide.

Just one question, where do you get the files that have have to be run. I have found some of them but others such as Add_Take_Ownership_to_context.reg are proving elusive??


UPDATE: Found the links to them on the original guide referenced at the top of this thread.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: burn_654 on February 04, 2016, 10:40:54 am
I think adding a note about disabling stickykeys could be good - especially if someone is using the default key map for ipac and similar hardware.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-disable-the-sticky-and-filter-keys-in-windows/ (http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-disable-the-sticky-and-filter-keys-in-windows/)

This is important as left shift is one of the player one buttons and if its mashed quickly you'll be seeing that dialog.
Changing the key defaults to only letter and arrow keys is in the end a better solution, though - no chance of weird windows commands happening.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - WIP - DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL WIP = COMPLETE
Post by: romshark on February 18, 2016, 11:50:38 am
I followed this guide over the weekend, and no problems have popped up. Things are looking great.

Only problem I had was editing imageres.dll in the system32 folder. No matter how many times I "took ownership", I couldn't overwrite it (nor could I delete it and place the edited one in it's place. A Google hit hinted that, since I'm running 64-bit, to edit the one in the SysWOW64 directory instead. Editing that file worked without a problem. The rest of the listed files in system32 were modified without any issue, and I also modified their counterparts in Syswow64, just in case.

I'm currently upgrading a couple of mame cabs... maybe I'll do a windows 10 thread since everyone loves it so much.  ; )

I'd love to hear your experiences and opinions on Windows 10 and arcade software. Any issues with any emulators? Do the Taito X games run just as well? Can it be skinned and reshelled like I did with Win7? I have Win10 on an old laptop for testing, but I've barely worked with it.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on February 18, 2016, 12:20:42 pm
I followed this guide over the weekend, and no problems have popped up. Things are looking great.

Only problem I had was editing imageres.dll in the system32 folder. No matter how many times I "took ownership", I couldn't overwrite it (nor could I delete it and place the edited one in it's place. A Google hit hinted that, since I'm running 64-bit, to edit the one in the SysWOW64 directory instead. Editing that file worked without a problem. The rest of the listed files in system32 were modified without any issue, and I also modified their counterparts in Syswow64, just in case.

Did you try moving it to your desktop first and then editing the file, and then moving it back.  Copying and or deleting it doesn't work.

I've modded both 32 and 64 bit OS's, no problem.  However I have added this note to the tutorial, thanks for the feedback.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: romshark on February 18, 2016, 12:49:55 pm
Yup. Take ownership, drag file to desktop, edit, drag back. But with this file, it created a replacement in the system32 (or only copied and didn't move it) and wouldn't let me replace it with the edited one. Guess my system decided to be the oddball. Got it working in the end though.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: richardbmw on May 03, 2016, 12:12:18 pm
Is this still valid?

I cant seem to see the dropbox link
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: dragon_sa on May 04, 2016, 11:06:26 pm
Is this still valid?

I cant seem to see the dropbox link

In first post click on Tutorial Tools text in white....I just downloaded an hour ago about to apply to a system myself :)
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: richardbmw on May 06, 2016, 10:17:08 am
Thanks for that, couldn't see the wood for the trees and all that!!
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: clhug on August 01, 2016, 11:05:00 pm
Has anyone done this on Windows 10 yet?  Do these things still apply there, or has it all changed?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: markronz on February 04, 2017, 12:41:33 am
So the title of this post says "WINDOWS 7 - 2015"  Does that mean it also covers Windows 10?  If not, is there a similar guide for Windows 10 somewhere?  This one looks very well written but the text of it only mentioned Windows 7 so I wasn't sure.   Anyone know?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: clhug on February 04, 2017, 10:07:52 am
Some stuff from this applies to Win 10, but a lot doesn't.  I've not yet figured out how to do some things in Win 10.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on February 04, 2017, 07:08:49 pm
Correct, there isn't a complete win10 tutorial for hiding the OS that I have seen.

This one does not cover windows 10.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: keilmillerjr on February 14, 2017, 11:45:06 pm
Correct, there isn't a complete win10 tutorial for hiding the OS that I have seen.

This one does not cover windows 10.

I have windows 10 almost completely hidden. Pm me guys if you want me to write a tutorial.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: markronz on February 15, 2017, 12:13:55 am
I would love to see a guide written up!
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on February 20, 2017, 01:56:24 pm
Same here any update

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Vincefaro on February 21, 2017, 11:38:45 am
Ok sorry to start this thread again , I m in the middle of setting up my arcade and I followed the steps and it is working , however I may have jumped the gun and I need my desktop back , which part restores the desktop back to normal so that I can continue tweaking other software ?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on February 21, 2017, 11:44:19 am
Instant sheller

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: DTxAg on September 03, 2017, 08:13:32 pm
This seems to be a good thread for this question.

I have used Windows 7 Boot Updater to change the Windows 7 boot screen, and when the computer is hooked up to an LCD TV you can see the new boot screen.

When I hook the computer up to my WG D9200, it says "Out of Range" during the boot sequence and you can't see anything until Windows completely loads. Even if I use the nobootgui option when booting, it still says out of range. If I try to use the "base video" option in msconfig, it boots up to a black screen that doesn't work.

Any idea how to force Windows to display the boot screen?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Vincefaro on September 21, 2017, 04:51:27 pm
So I am still getting the "Welcome" Screen with the background and "Shutting Down" . Which part did I not remove? Everything else is removed.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: rablack97 on September 21, 2017, 04:55:02 pm
did you remember to hit the green arrow to compile it after you made the changes, and did you run the mcbuilder?

Also, turn off windows updates, new updates will overlay your work, and cause things to re-appear.

If you still have the welcome you did something wrong with Windows 7 Logon Background changer.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Vincefaro on December 20, 2017, 01:26:30 pm
I did not run that, That fixed it . Thank you.


Instant sheller

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: P.H.U. on February 25, 2018, 11:12:50 am
45 : 1033
--715,    "%wsWindows %ws"
--716,    "%ws Build %ws"

47 : 1033

--738,    "Test Mode"[/list]

You can remove what is in quotes, or you can edit the text to customize/brand your emulation cab. But you can't turn off TEST MODE; that kills Calamity's drivers. Trust if you have made it thus far, you can figure out how to do the rest of the steps w/Resource Hacker and mcbuilder.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: G0nz0 on November 11, 2018, 07:13:21 pm
Is the dropbox files still available? I don't see a link.


TIA
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: PL1 on November 11, 2018, 07:32:56 pm
Is the dropbox files still available? I don't see a link.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, it's in the OP, but the text color makes the link hard to identify.

Click on the white "Tutorial Tools" text . . .
To save you some time, I have provided a Dropbox link which will have all of the basic tools/files to follow the tutorial.

Tutorial Tools (https://www.dropbox.com/s/h1sbj3ntab9d9ec/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0)

. . . or this link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h1sbj3ntab9d9ec/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/h1sbj3ntab9d9ec/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0)


Scott
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Rahzel on November 03, 2019, 05:38:33 am
The link to the tutorial files is broken. Could someone please mirror it?
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Mark Norville on November 04, 2019, 11:43:51 am
I would avoid doing this like the plague, in other words avoid it at all costs.

The reason being is that I done this on my home cinema PC I think it was, or it might have been my arcade PC. I wanted to exit out and go to the operating system so that I could make changes. To my horror I could not exit to the operating system, so I was starting to panic, I eventually got back into my system and removed the instant sheller and would not recommend using one, unless you have your system 100% configured, but even then I would not recommend it.

If you want to do a poor mans version of this, change the windows boot screen, and have your desktop clear of icons and add whatever you want in your start up folder.

So you boot up, and HyperSpin loads straight away, on an SSD you will hardly notice the load time. At least this way you can still access your PC at any time.

Just my two pennies worth, it works for some people but not others, especially not if you want to make changes, especially for two seconds of loading time.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Trnzaddict on November 04, 2019, 12:59:39 pm
I would avoid doing this like the plague, in other words avoid it at all costs.

The reason being is that I done this on my home cinema PC I think it was, or it might have been my arcade PC. I wanted to exit out and go to the operating system so that I could make changes. To my horror I could not exit to the operating system, so I was starting to panic, I eventually got back into my system and removed the instant sheller and would not recommend using one, unless you have your system 100% configured, but even then I would not recommend it.

If you want to do a poor mans version of this, change the windows boot screen, and have your desktop clear of icons and add whatever you want in your start up folder.

So you boot up, and HyperSpin loads straight away, on an SSD you will hardly notice the load time. At least this way you can still access your PC at any time.

Just my two pennies worth, it works for some people but not others, especially not if you want to make changes, especially for two seconds of loading time.

Regards

Mark

Hmm....did you try running Explorer.exe when you brought up task manager? I was shelled like this and anytime I needed to perform some maintenance here or there I just ran Explorer and your desktop should show right up.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Mark Norville on November 04, 2019, 04:13:03 pm
I had to insert my windows DVD in and got into the operating system that way, I never used this guide, I cannot remember what website I done the sheller from, but it was more hassle than it was worth for me. I was expecting that it would exit the program and then want to load up the OS, sadly was not the case, I could not access anything, I think all what I had was a dead screen and keyboard etc would not work.

I was lucky that I managed to get back in without formatting, but someone with less PC knowledge might have struggled.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Foxhole on January 27, 2020, 07:44:33 am
Adding mirros to the file, since the link isn't available.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=134GHZ0yoO89wi10Yerd-IhPMywXjnzGP (https://drive.google.com/open?id=134GHZ0yoO89wi10Yerd-IhPMywXjnzGP)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7zvg44uro5tp8b1/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/7zvg44uro5tp8b1/Hide%20Windows%207%20Files.rar?dl=0)
Also added it as an attachment.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: formula409 on July 08, 2020, 11:34:11 am
I would avoid doing this like the plague, in other words avoid it at all costs.

The reason being is that I done this on my home cinema PC I think it was, or it might have been my arcade PC. I wanted to exit out and go to the operating system so that I could make changes. To my horror I could not exit to the operating system, so I was starting to panic, I eventually got back into my system and removed the instant sheller and would not recommend using one, unless you have your system 100% configured, but even then I would not recommend it.

If you want to do a poor mans version of this, change the windows boot screen, and have your desktop clear of icons and add whatever you want in your start up folder.

So you boot up, and HyperSpin loads straight away, on an SSD you will hardly notice the load time. At least this way you can still access your PC at any time.

Just my two pennies worth, it works for some people but not others, especially not if you want to make changes, especially for two seconds of loading time.

Regards

Mark

That's why, at this point, you're better off just using Windows 10. It's incredibly easy to hide everything in Windows 10, and easy to revert it back to normal behavior.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: clhug on February 03, 2021, 01:59:42 pm
That's why, at this point, you're better off just using Windows 10. It's incredibly easy to hide everything in Windows 10, and easy to revert it back to normal behavior.
Can you elaborate?  HOW do you hide things in Windows 10?  I have not been able to figure it out, and I can't find a guide anywhere.  I AM using Win 10 for my MAME PC, but I still see the standard Win 10 boot screen.  I've not been able to find a way to hide or replace it.  Also, there is no startup or shutdown sounds in Win 10.  I found a workaround for startup sounds by using a scheduled task on startup to play a sound, but I can't find any such workaround for shutdown sounds.  (I have fun arcade sounds for both startup and shutdown on my previous MAME PCs up until Win 10.)

Thanks!
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Phreakwars on February 03, 2021, 05:09:37 pm
I had to insert my windows DVD in and got into the operating system that way, I never used this guide, I cannot remember what website I done the sheller from, but it was more hassle than it was worth for me. I was expecting that it would exit the program and then want to load up the OS, sadly was not the case, I could not access anything, I think all what I had was a dead screen and keyboard etc would not work.

I was lucky that I managed to get back in without formatting, but someone with less PC knowledge might have struggled.
I just use Team Viewer. Then you can even see the mouse if you have it hidden on the cab and can send key combos like Ctrl+alt+del or windows key. Have almost all my cabs running 7, never had issue getting into the OS.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: JohnDoh on May 22, 2022, 05:08:36 pm
thanks for the tutorial
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: JohnDoh on June 03, 2022, 01:06:38 am
Thx for this guide! I just did all steps and it's all good except for one thing. I don't know why but when booting or shutting down the language bar icon appears in the upper left corner. Never saw this before. It wasn't there before I started to do the steps for hiding the OS.
Anyone knows how to hide it ?

Thanks  :)
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Phreakwars on June 03, 2022, 03:48:04 pm
You'll need to go into the right hand corner, right click on it, and disable it. I've seen this happen many times as well, slight annoyance, but easy fix. One thing I recommend doing before applying the hacks is do all of your updating and OS optimizing first. That language bar is one of those things that comes up that needs dealt with, but after all that, Windows 7x64 is hands down the best OS for arcade cabs.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: JohnDoh on June 04, 2022, 02:22:36 am
I think the ricght click and disable is only an option in the taskbar, but the problem I had was different as it was on the opposite end of the display in the upper left corner.
Anyway here is the solution if anyone ever needs it :

When you choose regional and language settings for your computer,
such as your default input language or keyboard layout, you can apply those settings to special
accounts in Windows called reserved accounts. Reserved accounts include the default
user account and the system accounts. These accounts are described below.

1, Open control panel Regions and Language

2, Click the Administrative tab, and then click
Copy settings. If
you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password
or provide confirmation.

3, Do one of the following:


To copy the current settings to the default user account, select
the New user accounts check box. The default account is
used as a template for creating new user accounts. This setting allows
administrators to set the default format, keyboard layout, and display language
for new users. Any user account created on the computer after the settings have
been copied to the default user account will have these settings applied.
Existing user accounts aren't affected.

To copy the current settings to the Welcome Screen and other system accounts (local system, local service, and network
service), select the Welcome screen and system accounts
check box. The system accounts are special accounts used by Windows‌ services
This setting allows administrators to specify a display language and keyboard
layout for the Welcome screen. It also sets the display language for users who
haven't specified a display language.
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: dchase on July 12, 2022, 09:47:26 pm
That's why, at this point, you're better off just using Windows 10. It's incredibly easy to hide everything in Windows 10, and easy to revert it back to normal behavior.
Can you elaborate?  HOW do you hide things in Windows 10?  I have not been able to figure it out, and I can't find a guide anywhere.  I AM using Win 10 for my MAME PC, but I still see the standard Win 10 boot screen.  I've not been able to find a way to hide or replace it.  Also, there is no startup or shutdown sounds in Win 10.  I found a workaround for startup sounds by using a scheduled task on startup to play a sound, but I can't find any such workaround for shutdown sounds.  (I have fun arcade sounds for both startup and shutdown on my previous MAME PCs up until Win 10.)

Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppy6INgXbJM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppy6INgXbJM)
Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Zebidee on April 01, 2023, 05:52:54 am
Thanks for the guide! I tried to follow the tips in the original post, as much as I could.

Unfortunately I discovered some issues.

First off, the Windows 7 Boot Updater didn't seem to work properly on my system (Win 7x64). Nothing I did seemed to work for it. All changes made were gone with the next boot. The animation and (c) Microsoft persisted. The only exception was I managed to somehow remove the "Starting Windows" text. I did download the latest version, but no luck.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with Thai language being installed on my system (but that's more for the fonts, still running primarily EN-US). In any case the whole issue is moot because I've decided to boot with "no GUI boot" enabled via Win+R (Run) then "MSconfig".

Secondly, I had problems with the instantsheller, because I am using Attract Mode for a frontend. The instasheller demands an executable with a *.exe only and without flexibility, no parameters, which (for whatever reason) meant Attract Mode wasn't loading any configuration files. I got around it by hacking the registry instead. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

and at the 'Shell' key entry, replace "explorer.exe" with "c:\attract\attract.exe -c c:\attract". This tells Attract Mode where the working directory and config files are! This worked well, a success.

However, for a number of reasons, I decided that I wanted to keep my explorer/desktop options open. So, I reverted "shelling" the AM frontend and went back to traditional, loading explorer.exe as normal, and then launching AM from the Startup folder (and pinned it to the Start Bar for good measure).

You can access the Startup folder by Win+R (run) then type "shell:startup". This opens the startup folder where you can place shortcuts (and other cool stuff like autohotkey scripts). Drop in shortcuts to the programs you want to automatically run at startup there.

I placed a shortcut to a batch file (AM.bat, in the c:\attract directory, more on that below) on my desktop (right-click on file, choose "send to desktop"), to launch Attract Mode. This shortcut has a simple "shortcut key" combo (Ctrl+Alt+1, do this by right-clicking on the shortcut to edit it's properties). This makes it easy to launch Attract Mode from desktop (or arcade cab) later. I then copied that shortcut into the Startup folder.

Next problem, the taskbar wanted to play up. Every time I booted into AM, the taskbar would sneakily come up, right at the end, and "steal focus" away from AM. Even when hidden, the very top of the taskbar would stick up and steal focus. To get focus back to AM I had to Alt-Tab, not very slick.

I tried using Shybar, but it didn't work. Problem persisted.

Eventually I tamed the taskbar using nircmd.exe (https://nircmd.nirsoft.net/), a powerful but light command line utility. It provides some great tools to help launch programs, bring them to the front or hide them, including the taskbar. My batch file (AM.bat), which lives in the c:\attract directory, ended up looking like this:

Quote
@ECHO OFF
cd c:\attract
nircmd.exe exec show "attract.exe -c c:\attract"
nircmd.exe win focus process attract.exe
nircmd.exe win settopmost process attract.exe 1
nircmd.exe win hide class Shell_Traywnd
exit

These commands launch AM, force windows to focus on it, makes it as the top process, and finally hides the taskbar. I'm not sure if all of the commands above were 100% necessary, maybe just the first and the last one ("nircmd.exe win hide class Shell_Traywnd"), as that seemed to settle everything down.

Setup like this, with a clean desktop, is almost like having the frontend as a shell. It leaves me some more flexibility to fiddle with stuff, I can always shell it later when I'm done. 



Title: Re: HIDING WINDOWS 7 - 2015 TUTORIAL - COMPLETE
Post by: Zebidee on April 14, 2023, 01:43:14 am
The taskbar started mysteriously stealing focus again. I could boot into Attract-Mode and see it onscreen, but could see top bit of taskbar at bottom. Keyboard controls would not work until I alt-tabbed back to AM.

I guessed that something was automatically starting and making the taskbar grab focus.

Shybar did nothing to help (or hinder), so I uninstalled it.
Uninstalled any programs that looked non-essential.
I edited the notification area properties and set everything to hide, not show.
All to no avail.

Then I started going through the local services (settings, services) and, one by one, either disabled or prevented automatic startup for anything that seemed non-essential, then restarted.

Finally I got lucky with a network speed shaping application called "cFosSpeed System Service", which is a mainboard utility bundled and installed with other system software and drivers. I think it was forcing an icon onto the notification area of the toolbar, despite my settings. I set it to "manual" start instead of "automatic". In any case, it is not essential, especially as this computer will rarely (if ever) see another network, and I can always just enable it again.

So, taskbar problem solved without needing any extra software or starting attract-mode as a shell.