PSA: Shelling is not for the faint of heart.

[Generic Eric]

Disaster avoided.  Small pat on the back for myself for figuring out how to undo it.  

~:Question:~

How do you totally shell windows, but allow a way to get to the desktop to add games, change themes or what not?

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

if you're bypassing teh loading of "explorer" as the default shell in the registry, then running that after things are loaded will bring the desktop environment up. You could probably make it a menu selection in your front end.

[upprc04]

It's been a while since I've set it up, but even if you shell windows to bypass explorer you should be able to hit ctrl-alt-delete (open task manager) and then go to new->task and run anything you want.

[Howard_Casto]

Shelling typically isn't worth it.

Let's say for example that the front-end of your choice reads the resolution of the desktop prior to loading. (To set the size).  Well there isn't a desktop and there isn't a resolution as far as the registry is concerned so it could crash.  Apps that use .net and direct 3d can also have issues if set to the shell. 

You'll notice even on the taito type x games.... games that are running on xp embedded, you see the desktop as they boot. 

It isn't that shelling can't be done, it's just typically more of a headache than it's worth.

[Gray_Area]

Shelling typically isn't worth it.

Let's say for example that the front-end of your choice reads the resolution of the desktop prior to loading. (To set the size).  Well there isn't a desktop and there isn't a resolution as far as the registry is concerned so it could crash.  Apps that use .net and direct 3d can also have issues if set to the shell.  

You'll notice even on the taito type x games.... games that are running on xp embedded, you see the desktop as they boot.  

It isn't that shelling can't be done, it's just typically more of a headache than it's worth.

I disagree. At least with XP, I've had little issues with it, the only striking one being related to resolution+Mala+arcade monitor, wherein you have two options:

- shelling while PC monitor is displaying: with Mala not running, go into mala.ini and ensure the fe resolution is correct for 15khz display; shell; change and set desktop resolution to 15khz res; restart.

- shelling with arcade monitor displaying: this is probably preferred because your desktop res is already set to what it will be on re-start/next start. Ensure Mala res is apporpriate.


Additionally, for experience's sake: while viewing on your PC monitor and not changing your desktop resolution afterward, try shelling and then un-shelling.

[nitz]

My problem with shelling is that it's a pain if you want to launch other stuff on startup. I had my PC running Mala as the shell, and then couldn't run my autohotkey scripts on startup. There is a workaround that was quite a pain, but I did it and had my scripts running - then I later changed something in my configuration and my scripts wouldn't run on startup anymore. I finally just said screw it, and went back to explorer as the shell. If you use a solid black image as your desktop, hide all the icons and taskbar, and have your FE launch on startup you get virtually the same effect as shelling with less work and no hassles.

So short story long, shelling isn't worth it IMO.

[headkaze]

then couldn't run my autohotkey scripts on startup.

One option is to run files as a service. Check out the Run Files as a Service section.

[nitz]

Yeah, that was the workaround I was referencing, but I had trouble getting it to work, and when I finally did, it stopped working after I changed something on my setup (this was 2-3 years ago, so I don't remember the specifics). There was probably some easy fix I was missing, but I had gotten to the point where I just didn't feel like messing with it anymore considering the alternative to shelling gives virtually the same net effect without all the hassle.

[Howard_Casto]

Yup... that's the exact kind of minor annoyances that I was talking about.  They add up, turning what should be in instant process into hours of tweaking and rigging. 

Or I could just delete all my icons and drag shortcuts to all the things I need to launch into my startup folder.