WinXP Desktop Shell Replacement, 2nd Release
[Update: Newer releases are available]
As a follow-on from the last release, I've uploaded the latest iteration of my EvilDesk shell replacement for Windows XP.
The changelog goes something like this:
- much more robust installer, which should address most of the problems that were reported with the last release.
- improved window state tracking. Console windows now respect the desktop state.
- improved multi-mon behaviour.
- improved window title display for really long window titles when alt-tab'ing.
- new putty context menu plugin (read the docs for details)
- experimental tweaks for changing the target slit and gravity for plugins (so you don't have to have everything on the right hand side of the screen). Registry editor required; no GUI. See docs for details.
- fleshed out the Tweakage menu, making it more useful. The shell will use RunAs for the system level items, for those of us running without admin privileges.
Some random notes/comments:
- During my debugging, I found that WinLogon doesn't like spaces in paths, so I've changed the default installation destination to \EvilDesk on your system drive. Sorry about that, but it is a Windows bug.
- You MUST have admin privileges to install the package; the installer will not modify your shell, so this is safe. Most people will be running with full admin rights anyway. (if you're one of those people, you should be reading The Non-Admin Blog)
- Sadly, you can't use RunAs to invoke the control panel without invoking explorer.exe for the admin user. I'm open to suggestions. For now, control panel is launched using your privileges via explorer.exe.
- On a related note, people running XP Home might not be able to launch the control panel. Tough luck, you should be running XP Pro anyway.
- Gaim still has weird interactions (probably other gtk+ apps will do too). If you rapidly switch desktops, the gaim window sometimes gets mashed up, as though its layout engine has gotten confused. Not sure if thats my bug or GTK's bug. The workaround is to close the chat window when that happens.
- Thunderbird/firefox: again, rapid desktop switching sometimes confuses them, causing them to not restore from minimized state properly. I have added code to spot this situation and make it less inconvenient. Again, not sure if (how?) it's my bug, or a bug in the toolkit used by those apps.
- MSDN help browser: seems to do something funky with its top-level window (could be GDI+ related) that has some weird interactions when using the Win-W popup menu in evildesk.
If you want to download and install it, you should first read the following disclaimer:
Disclaimer
The software is provided as-is in binary form only with no warranty. I am not liable for any bad mojo, be it mental, physical or meta-physical, that arises from its use. By downloading it, you assert that you will not decompile or reverse engineer the software in any way, and that you will not re-distribute it to any third party in any form without my express consent. All rights reserved; All liabilities disclaimed.
Installation
- Download evildesk.msi
- As the Administrator, install it, by double clicking on it. Note that this act will not change the shell of the administrator.
- As the user(s) that plan to use the shell, login and run the "Set Shell" shortcut from the Start Menu:
Start | Programs | Evil, as in Dr. | Shell | Set Shell - You should now reboot. Yes, rebooting sucks, but if you don't reboot, the Win-E will cause explorer.exe to load the taskbar. This is an issue with explorer.exe and affects all replacement shells. Sorry.
- When next you login, you'll be running my shell.
Would you like to work
with me?
I have positions open for server/infrastructure software development (C) and QA.
#
if you can open regedit, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Change the Shell value to Explorer.EXE
Other languages ?
It seems to be nice but do you plan to release it in others languages (such as french for myself) ? Or just leave the labels of the context menu in a plain ou xml text file ? Thanks in advance ;)
small small small
The smallest .msi ever seen, is there any PHP inside ? :P
Win2k
Is there anything preventing it from running on 2k as well?
#
I set out to make something very light weight, so I had no plans for localization. Compare bison from a few years ago with the current release. What's responsible for the huge increase in the package size? Localization. IMO, bison is the wrong tool to localize, because it's not an end-user facing application.
So, rather than localize the whole thing, I am going to include a per-user configuration file to allow you specify your own context menu. It won't be xml, because xml parsers are really painful to use.
As for win2k, you could try running it, but I suspect that I've (deliberately) used a number of APIs that are not present on win2k. XP Pro is the better operating system and provides a number of API level features to make things more convenient to code.
First time
Great desktop shell, light, easy, and fast. :)
:D
This is very sweet indeed
love it superb job m8 :D
System destroyed
OK, I've tried it... and now my (german speaking) system is not longer usable.
How can I get rid of your shell and set the old explorer as the standard shell? Using your "reset shell" does not work - the link now doesn't start the command but opens in the ascii editor.
#
Same prob here. cannot reset my desktop.
manual removal
\EvilDesk\wezdesk.exe /uninstall
Should restore the registry entries and allow explorer to run as your shell again. You should reboot after running this command.
#
start/run/ type in msconfig / at general tab you can do a system restore.
Thanks for the fast reply wez. I have a low memory machine so I like trying different shells etc, and although it did run better than it did before, gui is like an addiction. I use my desktop too much to trade it for a speedier system. Also I was never a command prompt person(not that this is a CP interface)
Uninstall Error
Hi, I've restored my old system, using 1 hour of time and another computer.
Your uninstall doesn't erase the shell command from the registry. So every command and trick to restore the old explorer as shell went wrong.
At google I've found two registry keys I had to change manually to reset my system.
You should warn your other than english customers better not to use the evil shell.
E.G. in germany "Start Menu" is "Startmenü" (with u-umlaut). So this and a lot of other links don't work on a german (french, netherlands, polish...) system.
And every other link from my menu can't be opened when using evil shell. Instead of opening the link the editor opens, showing the .lnk file.
greetings from germany Marco
cuidado al desinstalar
En xp español parece que da problemas, yo al desisntalarlo perdi el arranque normal y solo consegui q arrancase una ventana del explorer.No sirve restaurar.La unica manera creo q es volviendolo a instalar y dejarlo.
Very cool
I like it! Having a bit of a problem with switching between tasks though. Have you thought of open sourcing it?
Registry-Entry
Hey ho!
Nice Shell, working great.
But i have one problem: to edit the putty-plugin (also other plugins) i have to change the registry at the path [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Evil, as in Dr.\WezDesk\putty] (e.g.)
but there is no entry to edit. same thing at the other plugins.
thanks for your help, Steffen
...another fucked installation!
I notice in your 'Some random notes/comments' section you mention. "On a related note, people running XP Home might not be able to launch the control panel. Tough luck, you should be running XP Pro anyway." DonÂ’t you think this is a very flippant and amateurish approach to software development, considering the amount of users that use HOME instead of PRO (the majority of users I should think)? And why do you not mention this on your download page. Perhaps you would not have so many complaints of destroyed systems. Control panel use a necessity when the p.c. screws up! You obviously have a brain so fucking use it WANKER!
Lionel
If you expect an apology after taking that tone with me, you're out of luck.
As for "flippant and amateurish", this is a hobby project that some people find useful. I don't get paid for this, and I'm happy that I don't, because I don't want to support assholes like you that have no appreciation for efforts of people that do things in their spare time.
I don't run XP Home because it's a hobbled version of Pro. I develop only on Pro because it's what I use. I don't have any Home systems, and I don't want to support them.
If you're worried about your system, you should have paid attention to the bold type on the downloads page that indicates that it is a work in progress.
In fact, if you're that worried about your system, why the hell are you downloading software that replaces part of your system from some dude on the internet in the first place?
XP Home Not Supported
Alright, i'm glad someone got pissed and sent a flame latter, lol.. stopped me from doing the same thing.
however stating that people should be running xp pro, the way you said it kinda pisses people off. possibly if you just switched that to saying that since you run xp pro you are not developing support for home? it wouldn't make people angry.
i'm a developer on xp home, what api(s) are you using to call control panel in pro? maybe i can find an alternative for you that you could include or something so that people with home would be able to use your software