Windows 8 and frontend: General tweaking help/tips needed

[keilmillerjr]

Hello! I am testing various operating systems and front ends in virtualbox on my mac. Trying to figure out what setup work best for when I'm ready to set up my arcade machine. I've had some issues with errors and lack of front end support using linux.

So now I'm setting up a virtual environment using windows 8. I haven't really used windows since I was younger. Google has been my friend today. I have a few tweaking questions.

Current Virtual ENV:

• Windows 8 pro x64
• Mame 0148b 64-bit
• Mala 1.7.4

Tweaks

• Pokki for start menu. App won't be installed in actual arcade machine.
• Bootuituner and disabled boot logo, spinner and messages. Boot menu is now just a black screen.
• Enabled automatic login.
• Replaced the windows shell with Mala. Mala now boots automatically upon login, without seeing the explorer desktop, taskbar, and all that crap. Ah la "Kiosk" mode.

Questions

• I enabled automatic login. However, it still displays the login screen. It seems to just enable a script that automatically types my info in and submits the form. How can I eliminate or hide this process?
• When I exit Mala, open the task manager, and run explorer.exe, it does not restore the desktop or taskbar. Is this an error? Any way I can revive them back? It would make it easier to tweak things when needed.
• Mala Gamelist Editor is not productive. There is no search function. I don't think there is an option to show roms within your rom folder to select them. Do I seriously have to scroll this never ending list to try to find a rom I have? There must be a better app for this. So many people here use mala. I am actually impressed with mala compared to the other front ends I've been testing.

Thank you!

[keilmillerjr]

I used Rom Lister in replacement of Mala Gamelist Editor. It did the job. Backed up "all games.mlg" and replaced it with a complete game list based on my rom directory. I was even able to strip the version info from the title! I only have 3 games because its a test environment, but I could load that list and create other lists based on that.

I also found this bit of information concerning explorer missing the task bar from here. Not a big deal.

To switch to Explorer.exe Shell you need to set the winlogon\Shell (registry key) to Explorer.exe.

If that key is anything else, you will only open a Explorer in a  window.

You also need to be sure that no Explorer windows is open before calling Explorer.exe

Still searching on how to hide the login screen. The shutdown screen needs to go as well. This is a necessity in my opinion.

[rpgposer]

• I enabled automatic login. However, it still displays the login screen. It seems to just enable a script that automatically types my info in and submits the form. How can I eliminate or hide this process?

When you installed windows 8, did you create a live or local account?  I am frightened of big brother, so I created a local account and am not asked for credentials.  Login screen shows my name, then goes right into the UI.

[keilmillerjr]

• I enabled automatic login. However, it still displays the login screen. It seems to just enable a script that automatically types my info in and submits the form. How can I eliminate or hide this process?

When you installed windows 8, did you create a live or local account?  I am frightened of big brother, so I created a local account and am not asked for credentials.  Login screen shows my name, then goes right into the UI.

I used a local account of course!

Here's a video of where I am at. I'm currently using Maximus Arcade for the front end. If anyone can help me with those last few issues, it would be appreciated! I'm exhausting myself searching on google.

[rpgposer]

Should have guessed you were smart enough to use a local account.  How important is security to you?  My local account is set up as an administrator with no password, home XP style.  You should be able to do away with your custom logon script if you set up the local account in that manner.
Kudos to you, the video shows your progress.  You are almost there!

[keilmillerjr]

Should have guessed you were smart enough to use a local account.  How important is security to you?  My local account is set up as an administrator with no password, home XP style.  You should be able to do away with your custom logon script if you set up the local account in that manner.
Kudos to you, the video shows your progress.  You are almost there!

Security doesn't matter as the machine will solely be used as an arcade machine. I don't know what "xp style" is as I'm not a windows user. Can you explain it to me? I used no script to auto login. It's a built in feature.

http://www.ghacks.net/2011/09/16/windows-8-how-to-automatically-log-on/

I ran netplwiz and unchecked “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”.

[rpgposer]

You set it up correctly.  I misread your earlier comment about "forms".  I thought you had set up a custom form at login, but what you were saying is that windows does it.
I did some research last night and came up with no method to hide the login screen.
Regardless, what you have done so far is really good.

[keilmillerjr]

I took care of hiding the mouse perfectly. I have to get ready for work. I'll update with how to do it tomorrow or saturday. Or maybe I should just make another thread with a full How-to guide and have a mod sticky it? I choose windows 8 because its the fastest release yet. I haven't had any compatibility issues with any front ends or mame yet.

Still need to figure out how how to hide the login screens. Thats the last thing!

[rpgposer]

Keep in mind that a lot of folks with converted/custom cabs use XP as the OS on older (32 bit) hardware, myself included.  I believe, like you, that Win 8 is great, but I would add that it's really better on dual core or newer CPU's with 64 bit architecture and 4GB of ram or more.
Good luck with hiding the login screen.