How to boot directly into an application

Note: This will replace the whole Windows shell with your application. There will be no start menu, no task bar and no desktop.

One way to get it back, is to invoke Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Escape and start explorer.exe from there.

To permanently reverse this change, just start regedit.exe again and change the Shell key back to explorer.exe.

How to fully replace the Windows shell with another application

You can change the registry key

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell

to point to your application. Then it will be started instead of explorer.exe as the shell.

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Der Hochstapler

Posted 2012-06-12T16:12:23.683

Reputation: 77 228

Can I be using a teaviewer in the background? – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T17:05:11.497

If I will have some problem so I can connect to it? – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T17:05:26.787

@denonth: If TeamViewer is started as a service, yes, that may work. I don't know if the regular startup items are processed if explorer.exe doesn't run. – Der Hochstapler – 2012-06-12T17:07:20.510

this is sort of kiosk mode? Have you tested this? are you sure I can go back if I try this on pc? – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T20:40:08.890

@denonth: Yes, I have made use of this on many occasions. We also regularly use this when we deploy computers at fairs, so they don't look too windowsy when they boot. And switching between shells has never been an issue for us. – Der Hochstapler – 2012-06-12T20:45:05.587

so mobile internet, and all other things can be made behind that shell? I mean everything needs to be on automatic mode to be executed? – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T21:02:36.583

so where does my app needs to be installed in order to be called like explorer.exe? Do I need to put the whole path inside or? – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T21:06:28.280

@denonth: It's best to provide an absolute path to your executable. – Der Hochstapler – 2012-06-12T21:22:36.710

Can you clarify the "But he is loading some 2-3 thing and then my app and I see windows desktop normally" part? – Chad Harrison – 2012-06-12T16:18:48.023

I believe the OP means that 2-3 applications are loading before their app loads when the computer boots. They want just that one app to be the only thing visible when booting. – Kale Muscarella – 2012-06-12T16:27:33.833

Yes that's correct Huskehn. I am loading a 2-3 application at boot time. and some thing are necessary to boot. But I want to boot directly to my app and then other app can boot after that. – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T16:29:51.980

Sounds like you're looking for "Kiosk" mode. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2012-06-12T18:08:30.940

@techie007 yes I need that but difference is that I need it for my program and not for browsers – user123_456 – 2012-06-12T20:40:48.920

possible duplicate of How to load my program when Windows starts without a command console appears? – what is the difference?

– slhck – 2012-06-12T21:17:52.343

How to boot directly into an application

Answers

How to fully replace the Windows shell with another application