Shell...why wont you die.

[AntimatterAsh]

Just wondering here...a bit of a random question. I have a really old pc that I want to only run one specific program on it, it is windows xp, and therefor I do not need the shell to run explorer any more. I know how to turn this off in regedit, but as soon as I do, scheduled tasks no longer run to start the program on log on. Is there a fix or an application I can install to silently open this program on start up? The program I want to use - GRLevel3 doesn't actually have a start with windows command on it?

 

[tremmor]

Still not clear about the question. Cant you goto start run and type msconfig then startup and turn off? Then find the all programs then create a shortcut? You can always go back to start up and turn back on if that was not it.

 

[AntimatterAsh]

Still not clear about the question. Cant you goto start run and type msconfig then startup and turn off? Then find the all programs then create a shortcut? You can always go back to start up and turn back on if that was not it.

Basically I want to turn explorer.exe shell off, permanantley. So when I start windows, no icons, or task bar, or hidden task bar, just to kill the process. But I want a program - GRLevel3 to run when I start windows. But when I turn explorer off, the Start up folder does not run any programs or shortcuts in it when executed (expected) but scheduled tasks do not run either. I am just wondering if there is a way to execute an .exe application without the explorer interface on startup automatically, so I dont have to go into task manager (ctrl-alt-delete) and execute a task through that.

I want to Run a program when windows xp starts automatically on logon, without explorer running.

 

[NyxCharon]

Why don't you just make a simple batch script that opens what you need, then kills everything else, then add that as a startup entry.
Haven't used batch in a while(linux guy) but i think it's

@echo off
start "" "C:\path\to\program.exe"
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe > NUL

 

[AntimatterAsh]

Why don't you just make a simple batch script that opens what you need, then kills everything else, then add that as a startup entry.
Haven't used batch in a while(linux guy) but i think it's

@echo off
start "" "C:\path\to\program.exe"
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe > NUL

I suppose I could try it... I'll get back to you, cant see why it wouldn't work.

 

[AntimatterAsh]

I suppose I could try it... I'll get back to you, cant see why it wouldn't work.

The first part of the code:

@echo off
start "" "c:\program files\grlevel3\grlevel3.exe"

works.

The second part:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe > null

no matter how I change it, still doesn't work, I even replaced the

/im explorer.exe > null

[I]with[/I]

/pid 1544

and it still wont run command. It just ignores it.

 

[AntimatterAsh]

Why don't you just make a simple batch script that opens what you need, then kills everything else, then add that as a startup entry.
Haven't used batch in a while(linux guy) but i think it's

@echo off
start "" "C:\path\to\program.exe"
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe > NUL

taskkill doesn't work in XP Home...

you have to use:

@echo off
tskill 124
exit

 

[NyxCharon]

taskkill doesn't work in XP Home...

Then change it to Tskill
Reference:
http://commandwindows.com/taskkill.htm

Like i said, I haven't used batch in a very long time.

Edit: I see you got it.

 

[AntimatterAsh]

Then change it to Tskill
Reference:
http://commandwindows.com/taskkill.htm

Like i said, I haven't used batch in a very long time.

Edit: I see you got it.

Restarted and it just closes and reopens explorer. Still not working

Found the Answer!

I run 3 separate files in the startup folder.

The first is called 'Kill Shell Script.bat'
Because it kept restarting explorer.exe after I ran the command just as it would if explorer.exe crashed, I run a command that is constantly refreshing:

@echo off
title Shell Kill
:1
tskill explorer
cls
goto 1

I know it is messy, but it does the job in the background, it terminates any explorer.exe instance that tries to start... it may take a bit of power out of the machine, but its a simple program that it is dedicated to, so meh.

The second is a more user friendly ui, I guessed that since explorer.exe would not run, there would be no decent way to shut off the pc, or run anything else, although I can just press the power button once and it will shut off, it is still quite useful for anyone else who will try to use this and it is a useful command for other uses such as reinstating the explorer.exe interface, pinging, et cetera. It starts off as a batch command that pings Google.com, firstly to check for a connection to the internet, which is vital, especially when my internet here is very unreliable and I use an ICS Bridge connection to the internet through my main laptop, it then clears the screen with the CLS command and then explains how the UI works, before converting into a CMD instance:

@echo off
title Ashley's Logon Script
ping google.com
cls
echo.
echo Welcome to Ashley's Logon Script... This machine is solely
echo for running GRLevel3 Amongst other software. Type in 'Shutdown'
echo into this console to shutdown... 
echo.
echo It may also be helpful to run a Web Browser on another machine
echo on Weather.gov to point you to active radar sites.
echo.
echo You will need to kill the Shell Killing Batch file running
echo behind this script by pressing CTRL+C and then ALT+F4,
echo and enter into here 'Explorer' to run the normal Windows
echo Graphical Shell User Interface.
echo.
echo. 
echo What do you want to do?
echo.
cmd

Dont ask, its just for me to remember how to use it, because I am forgetful. It works though!

The last is just an .ink shortcut to the GRLevel3 .exe file, since I couldn't get a batch file to run it for me (some reason means it cant find this file on CMD).

It all works though! I half used the ping to create a lag to ensure that the UI opens over the explorer shell kill file. GRLevel3 takes a fraction longer to load anyway... but cheers for the help... much appreciated!