Hiding Microsoft Shell

By default, the CE device is started with the Microsoft CE Standard Shell, which can look like this:

Hiding Microsoft Shell 1:
Microsoft CE Standard Shell.

There are two ways to change this view:

1. Change the background image

In this case only the background image is exchanged; the functions are fully retained.

Requirement:

Change the background image as follows:

1. Store the bitmap file on your CE device.
2. Click Start > Run….
3. Enter regedit in the input field.
4. Confirm this action with OK.
5. Click HKEY_CURRENT_USER > ControlPanel > Desktop.
6. Double-click wallpaper.
The Edit Value window appears.
Hiding Microsoft Shell 2:
Menu window – wallpaper.
7. Under Value data, enter the folder path of your bitmap file.
8. Confirm this action with OK.
9. Restart the device.
The bitmap file is now used as the default background image.

The changed background image could look like this:

Hiding Microsoft Shell 3:
Changed background image.

2. Modify the registry settings

The registry key HKLM\Init\Launch50 contains the entry explorer.exe as the default setting. This is the standard Microsoft CE Shell.

Proceed as follows to change the settings:

1. Click Start > Run…
2. Enter regedit in the input field.
3. Confirm this action with OK.
4. Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > init.
5. Double-click Launch50.
Hiding Microsoft Shell 4:
Menu window – Launch50.
6. Replace the entry explorer.exe by TaskMan.exe.
7. Restart the system.
The system now starts without the standard Microsoft CE Shell.

The user can start his own applications here and hide the standard shell. Applications such as Notepad, etc. can be started via the task manager.

The changed shell looks like this:

Hiding Microsoft Shell 5:
Hidden standard shell.

Notice

Changing the function

By changing the registry settings, the start button, the icons and other things are no longer displayed. Only the background image remains unchanged. The standard shell explorer.exe cannot subsequently be started.