Idea: TotalCmd Desktop replacemet

[bullzebub]

lets face it the desktop software (explorer.exe) made by microsoft is a resource hugging monster, and isnt really useful.

so ive been thinking about using TC instead. its possible by just changing a few Reg keys but the problem is that i will loose the tray!

so my idea is to implement a taskbar in TC...

Image: http://www.greenfaces.se/upload/uploads/tcdesktopreplacement.gif

What do you think?

(hope ghisler reads this forum)

[Lefteous]

2bullzebub
Some comments about that.
The question is should it be an extra instace or maybe a whole different program which integrates fine with TC.
An unresolved problem is displaying the username in titlebar if TC runs as a different user without a running Explorer.

[icfu]

I think that if you need a replacement shell you should simply use a replacement shell, there are dozens of them out there.

I recommend LiteStep:
http://www.beyondconvention.net/ohussain/index.htm

Alternatively you can use the very basic shell LiteShell:
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~mosses/rob/

Taskmodule and Systraymodule for the latter one are avilable here:
http://am-productions.yi.org/downloads.php

@Lefteous:
You don't need a running Explorer for displaying the username in TC titlebar.

Icfu

[Lefteous]

2icfu

You don't need a running Explorer for displaying the username in TC titlebar.

I don't mean the registered user but the username (for example Administrator) who started TC.

[icfu]

I don't mean the registered user but the username (for example Administrator) who started TC.

I know, this is what I was talking about, too. You don't need Explorer or Explorer shell to display the username, everything works flawlessly with runas.

Icfu

[Lefteous]

2icfu
Please take a look at this thread:
http://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p=35959#35959

Short translation:
1. TC searches a window called "Shell_TrayWnd", this is the system tray (part of Explorer)
2. TC retrieves the process ID: GetWindowThreadProcessId
3. GetKernelObjectSecurity is used to retrive the "Security descriptor" (SID)
4. The same is done for its own thread.


Maybe the shell you are using (which one?) also has such a window? This could be a explanation and a solution.

[icfu]

Inspect this screenshot, basic LiteStep installation:
http://img139.echo.cx/img139/3002/litesteprunastc3uy.png

Maybe the shell you are using (which one?) also has such a window? This could be a explanation and a solution.

It has not and it works with LiteShell, too. This one doesn't even have a systray.

And now?

Icfu

[Lefteous]

2icfu

Inspect this screenshot, basic LiteStep installation:
http://img139.echo.cx/img139/3002/litesteprunastc3uy.png

Your screenshot doesn't show a list of window...anyway I installed LiteStep and it creates such a window. The username is displayed with LiteStep.

It has not and it works with LiteShell, too. This one doesn't even have a systray.

What do you mean with "it has not"? Judging by the screenshot you are running LiteStep...
I cannot reproduce this with LiteStep. It seems to have no such window. No username is displayed.

[icfu]

I am confused after reading your posting, sorry.

First you say that you have installed LiteStep and it creates "such a window" and below you say that you cannot reproduce it with LiteStep because it has no such window?!?

The window Shell_TrayWnd I can't find here, neither with AI3 inspector nor with WinLister:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/winlister.html

I only see it when running explorer.exe shell so I think that in your LiteStep installation you haven't disabled explorer shell but use LiteStep "ontop". In my screenshot the taskbar and systray is drawn by LiteStep, not Explorer...

I have tested it with LiteShell(!), too, this is all I wanted to express. This basic shell has no systray, it has nothing but a context menu and even in this shell the administrator is shown after using runas.

Icfu

[Lefteous]

2icfu
I'm sorry

I cannot reproduce this with LiteStep.

I meant LiteShell here.

[icfu]

Ok, I see...
Anyway, but what about LiteStep installation? There should be no "Shell_TrayWnd" because this belongs to Explorer shell. If you are seeing that window in your LiteStep installation Explorer shell is still active.

Make sure that you change the shell using the default shortcuts created by LiteStep or check the keys yourself:

Those keys are modified:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell -> litestep.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
DesktopProcess -> 00000001

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot
Shell -> USR:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

We can continue on Miranda next time, probably somewhat more comfortable.

Icfu

[Lefteous]

2icfu

Anyway, but what about LiteStep installation? There should be no "Shell_TrayWnd" because this belongs to Explorer shell. If you are seeing that window in your LiteStep installation Explorer shell is still active.

Don't be so sure:
www.lefteous.de/tc/images/misc/litestep_tray.png
I doubt that Explorer creates such a window

I used Microsoft Spy++ to look for the window.

[icfu]

Microsoft Spy++ revealed that:
1. WinLister is not suited to find everything
2. LiteStep systray module indeed creates window "Shell_TrayWnd"
3. LiteShell pure installation does NOT create it, but I tested it with the above mentioned Systraymodule which creates that window, too.

So, there is no problem with other shells IF a systray module is used.

Icfu

[TucknDar]

I'm not involving myself with the discussion of "Shell_TrayWnd"... but I certainly recommend running an alternative shell! Personally I use LiteStep, but LiteShell is a very good alternative, too, extremely tiny! Remember that there are some services etc, that you probably ought to have shell controlling instead of TC, which is not developed with that purpose in mind!

happy shelling!

[ruP]

Another excellent one is BBLean, free and open source, ultra lite, based on Blackbox for Windows.

Current version is 1.16, featuring a powerful menu (no icons) which include most of its configuration options, a configurable explorer-like taskbar plugin, a window-skinning plugin and a global hotkey plugin. And there's a lot of plugins, I only use bbColor3dc (3dc color themes) and bbAltTray (allows full system tray control by keyboard).
And recently tried bbIconBox and it rules, it's worth trying it.

http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/