I am a true newbie at programming, but I have a general question, and would appreciate any suggestions on how to approach the following problem.
I need to develop a login screen for Windows XP Home public computers at a library.
When a user attempts to logon, I would like to pass control to a VB Express program that will display the library's computer use policy in a scrolling textbox. At the bottom would be two buttons (Accept and Decline). If the user clicks on "Accept", they are logged on to a Limited Account. If they click on "Decline", they loop to the top of the policy screen. I suppose I could also add a "Scroll Down" button for those who have already read the policy (or don't want to spend the time.
I think I can develop the Windows Forms portion of the program, but I am not sure how to pass control from Windows XP to the program, and how to return control to Windows XP when "Accept" is clicked. I also don't know if this will involve editing the logonui.exe file (hopefully not!)
If anyone knows of code like this that is already existing, or if you could point me in the right direction for implementing the application, I would really appreciate it.
Passing control to/from Windows XP Home login screen to VB Express program
Diego Siddi
If you mean when a user logs on and you want it to load a program at startup you add it to the registry
Start>Run>Regedit then to apply to ALL users navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ then add a string value (right click) call it somthing and then change the value to where you program is located (e.g C:\Progam Files\Logon Program\LogProg.exe). When developing you app you make you form top most so it will be above all other forms.
There is a way of making your program display before explorer.exe (the desktop) cant remeber exactly where in the registry but that will not let the user touch the desktop yet until they click accept which MUST call explorer.exe from C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe and then if they click decline you can easily make it log off again (think it's the user32.dll) but if you need any more help just ask.
NOTE: You must first log on as admin to apply this. It will apply to all users.
If you mean when any public user logs on and you want it to load a program at startup you add it to the registry
Start>Run>Regedit then to apply to ALL users navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ then add a string value (right click) call it somthing and then change the value to where you program is located (e.g C:\Progam Files\Logon Program\LogProg.exe). When developing you app you make you form top most so it will be above all other forms.
There is a way of making your program display before explorer.exe (the desktop) cant remeber exactly where in the registry but that will not let the user touch the desktop yet until they click accept which MUST call explorer.exe from C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe and then if they click decline you can easily make it log off again (think it's the user32.dll) but if you need any more help just ask.
NOTE: You must first log on as admin to apply this. It will apply to all users.
Patrick Ng - MSFT
Thomas49th
Thanks for the suggestions. As to the first idea, I could probably load the VB Express program using the Run key. If the user clicks on "Accept", it would then close the program and they would see the desktop. If they click "Decline", no action would occur...they would still be looking at the Windows Forms screen. As long as they do not minimize or close the program, this would work. Guess I would have to figure out how to disable the standard Windows minimize, restore, and close buttons.
The second idea offers more protection, I think, but requires intercepting explorer.exe, and (as you indicated) handling the forced logoff. I will try the first way and see if I can make it bulletproof. I am already using the MS Shared Computer toolkit to lock down the computers, so users cannot invoke Task Manager or right-click on the desktop.
michaelloveusa