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# INFO: Replacing the Shell (Program Manager)

PSS ID Number: 100328

Article Last Modified on 5/6/2003

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), when used with:
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.1
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.5
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.51
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  - the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP

This article was previously published under Q100328

## SUMMARY

To replace the current shell, change the following registry key:

       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
          SOFTWARE\
          Microsoft\
          Windows NT\
          CurrentVersion\
          Winlogon\
          Shell

Note that Program Manager combines the functionality of Program Manager and Task Manager (the Task Manager installed is not actually run). Therefore, you must take this into account. In Windows NT 3.1, if the new shell does not replace the Task Manager functionality, the replacement string should contain both the new shell name and TASKMAN.EXE, separated by commas. In Windows NT 3.5, the new shell should either spawn TASKMAN.EXE or your own task manager, specified in

       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
          SOFTWARE\
          Microsoft\
          Windows NT\
          CurrentVersion\
          Winlogon\
          Taskman

The value does not exist by default, it must be added. The value type is REG_SZ.
To update the string that is retrieved when you call GetPrivateProfileString(), change the string in the following registry key:

       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
          SOFTWARE\
          MICROSOFT\
          Windows NT\
          Current Version\
          WOW\
          Boot\
          Shell

The duplicate entry is for compatibility with Windows 3.1.

## MORE INFORMATION

WritePrivateProfileString() changes the following registry key:

       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
          SOFTWARE\
          Microsoft\
          Windows NT\
          CurrentVersion\
          WOW\
          Boot\
          Shell

It does not have the desired effect of actually changing the Shell.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.50

Keywords: kbinfo kbKernBase KB100328
Technology: kbAudDeveloper kbOSWin2000 kbOSWinNT310 kbOSWinNT350 kbOSWinNT351 kbOSWinNT400 kbOSWinNTSearch kbOSWinSearch kbOSWinXP kbOSWinXPSearch kbWin32API kbWin32sSearch