EWF and Custom shell

[h.roland]

Hi NG.

I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am able to
set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the EWF with
etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect (to good to
be true).

My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i perfer to
make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can start task
manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point is that the use
only se our application. And that is here that I goes into Philosofic
mode, if I make a shell that start my application how do I set up IP
addresses, enable EWF ect ???

I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe, that
was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and fore some
reson my application stats in several instances.

Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the Taskmanager
shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next boot my application
is the shell

 

[KM]

Have you tried changing [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"Shell" registry value on the running image? You
can set your app to be a shell this way.
If you got access to cmd and regedit (reg.exe) in your runtime image at
least once, you may do whatever tweaks you need to remove any components you
don't want users to have access to from the image completely, then commit
the changes with EWF and get the final golden image saved.

Also, most of the XPe specific command (ewf, etc.) may be automated with
batch or another script supported by your runtime. This way you may not need
to have shell at all.

Also, another way may be to have your custom shell integrated into your
image (and remove Task Manager Shell). The trick would be to have a backdoor
in your app (password protected, e.g.) to launch cmd.exe or taskmgr.exe or
whatever standard apps or settings you have to run/set.

KM


h> Hi NG.

h> I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
h> question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

h> During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
h> manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am able to
h> set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the EWF with
h> etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect (to good to
h> be true).

h> My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i perfer to
h> make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can start task
h> manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point is that the
h> use only se our application. And that is here that I goes into
h> Philosofic mode, if I make a shell that start my application how do I
h> set up IP addresses, enable EWF ect ???

h> I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe, that
h> was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and fore some
h> reson my application stats in several instances.

h> Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the Taskmanager
h> shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next boot my
h> application is the shell

With best regards, KM. E-mail: (e-mail address removed)

 

[Anil Ingle]

To make your app a shell, did you look at the shell prototype component?
Look up Shell Customization in the Platform help. If your App is the shell,
you should be able to call NetSh, the Ewf API's etc to set the IP address,
and configure EWF from your app.

-Anil [MS] This posting is provided AS IS. It provides no warranties and
confers no rights.

 

[Henrik Roland]

I think/hope that I missed something.

After running the FAB and two system reboot (should be normal when
using EWF) I did the following:

1) opend the Controlpanel to change the Static IP addresses
2) Start the CMD (I used this later)
3) Start the Regedit and change the
KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell =
%SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe
4) With Alt+Tab switch to CMD and run ETPREP / Delete

When I reboot the Taskmanager Shell starts ????

My IP settings for the LAN connection that was connectet during boot
did not keep is Static IP address. The LAN connection that was NOT
connected during boot kept ist IP address.

does anyone have some ideas

Henrik

Have you tried changing [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"Shell" registry value on the running image? You
can set your app to be a shell this way.
If you got access to cmd and regedit (reg.exe) in your runtime image at
least once, you may do whatever tweaks you need to remove any components you
don't want users to have access to from the image completely, then commit
the changes with EWF and get the final golden image saved.

Also, most of the XPe specific command (ewf, etc.) may be automated with
batch or another script supported by your runtime. This way you may not need
to have shell at all.

Also, another way may be to have your custom shell integrated into your
image (and remove Task Manager Shell). The trick would be to have a backdoor
in your app (password protected, e.g.) to launch cmd.exe or taskmgr.exe or
whatever standard apps or settings you have to run/set.

KM


h> Hi NG.

h> I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
h> question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

h> During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
h> manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am able to
h> set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the EWF with
h> etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect (to good to
h> be true).

h> My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i perfer to
h> make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can start task
h> manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point is that the
h> use only se our application. And that is here that I goes into
h> Philosofic mode, if I make a shell that start my application how do I
h> set up IP addresses, enable EWF ect ???

h> I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe, that
h> was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and fore some
h> reson my application stats in several instances.

h> Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the Taskmanager
h> shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next boot my
h> application is the shell

With best regards, KM. E-mail: (e-mail address removed)

 

[KM]

Henrik,

Changing the registry should work so I expect that the registry
modifications did not get persistent in your image.
Do you want to try to launch "ewfmgr c: commit" first and then, after
reboot, the "ETPREP / Delete" ?

If you can't do that from your shell, you may want to automate these command
running a batch file that does the commands and cleans up itself (and sets
up your app as shell) afterwards.

KM


HR> I think/hope that I missed something.

HR> After running the FAB and two system reboot (should be normal when
HR> using EWF) I did the following:

HR> 1) opend the Controlpanel to change the Static IP addresses
HR> 2) Start the CMD (I used this later)
HR> 3) Start the Regedit and change the
HR> KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
HR> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell =
HR> %SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe
HR> 4) With Alt+Tab switch to CMD and run ETPREP / Delete

HR> When I reboot the Taskmanager Shell starts ????

HR> My IP settings for the LAN connection that was connectet during boot
HR> did not keep is Static IP address. The LAN connection that was NOT
HR> connected during boot kept ist IP address.

HR> does anyone have some ideas

HR> Henrik

Have you tried changing
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"Shell" registry value on the running
image? You can set your app to be a shell this way.
If you got access to cmd and regedit (reg.exe) in your runtime image
at least once, you may do whatever tweaks you need to remove any
components you don't want users to have access to from the image
completely, then commit the changes with EWF and get the final golden
image saved.
Also, most of the XPe specific command (ewf, etc.) may be automated
with batch or another script supported by your runtime. This way you
may not need to have shell at all.
Also, another way may be to have your custom shell integrated into
your image (and remove Task Manager Shell). The trick would be to
have a backdoor in your app (password protected, e.g.) to launch
cmd.exe or taskmgr.exe or whatever standard apps or settings you have
to run/set.
KM

h>>> Hi NG.

h>>> I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
h>>> question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

h>>> During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
h>>> manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am able
h>>> to set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the EWF
h>>> with etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect (to
h>>> good to be true).

h>>> My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i perfer
h>>> to make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can start
h>>> task manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point is that
h>>> the use only se our application. And that is here that I goes into
h>>> Philosofic mode, if I make a shell that start my application how do
h>>> I set up IP addresses, enable EWF ect ???

h>>> I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe,
h>>> that was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and
h>>> fore some reson my application stats in several instances.

h>>> Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the Taskmanager
h>>> shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next boot my
h>>> application is the shell

With best regards, KM. E-mail: (e-mail address removed)

 

[Joerg Schneider]

3) Start the Regedit and change the

KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell =
%SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe

I only use "hard coded" paths for my shell!
First I tried it with the %SystemRoot% alias too. It will not work! Why? The
(cmd) shell itself replaces the alias -> chicken or egg problem......

Jörg

 

[Henrik Roland]

If seems that my error was that I did not launch "ewfmgr c: commit" so
my changes did not get in to the protcted drive. I managed to make
changes to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
= %SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe

and it works

but MyApplication.exe is a small program that start one of two
programs and the terminates, the nature of the shell is that is
restarts when is terminates, so my application keep on restarting even
if I changed the KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\AutoRestartShell
= 0


Henrik

Henrik,

Changing the registry should work so I expect that the registry
modifications did not get persistent in your image.
Do you want to try to launch "ewfmgr c: commit" first and then, after
reboot, the "ETPREP / Delete" ?

If you can't do that from your shell, you may want to automate these command
running a batch file that does the commands and cleans up itself (and sets
up your app as shell) afterwards.

KM


HR> I think/hope that I missed something.

HR> After running the FAB and two system reboot (should be normal when
HR> using EWF) I did the following:

HR> 1) opend the Controlpanel to change the Static IP addresses
HR> 2) Start the CMD (I used this later)
HR> 3) Start the Regedit and change the
HR> KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
HR> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell =
HR> %SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe
HR> 4) With Alt+Tab switch to CMD and run ETPREP / Delete

HR> When I reboot the Taskmanager Shell starts ????

HR> My IP settings for the LAN connection that was connectet during boot
HR> did not keep is Static IP address. The LAN connection that was NOT
HR> connected during boot kept ist IP address.

HR> does anyone have some ideas

HR> Henrik

Have you tried changing
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"Shell" registry value on the running
image? You can set your app to be a shell this way.
If you got access to cmd and regedit (reg.exe) in your runtime image
at least once, you may do whatever tweaks you need to remove any
components you don't want users to have access to from the image
completely, then commit the changes with EWF and get the final golden
image saved.
Also, most of the XPe specific command (ewf, etc.) may be automated
with batch or another script supported by your runtime. This way you
may not need to have shell at all.
Also, another way may be to have your custom shell integrated into
your image (and remove Task Manager Shell). The trick would be to
have a backdoor in your app (password protected, e.g.) to launch
cmd.exe or taskmgr.exe or whatever standard apps or settings you have
to run/set.
KM

h>>> Hi NG.

h>>> I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
h>>> question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

h>>> During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
h>>> manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am able
h>>> to set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the EWF
h>>> with etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect (to
h>>> good to be true).

h>>> My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i perfer
h>>> to make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can start
h>>> task manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point is that
h>>> the use only se our application. And that is here that I goes into
h>>> Philosofic mode, if I make a shell that start my application how do
h>>> I set up IP addresses, enable EWF ect ???

h>>> I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe,
h>>> that was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and
h>>> fore some reson my application stats in several instances.

h>>> Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the Taskmanager
h>>> shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next boot my
h>>> application is the shell

With best regards, KM. E-mail: (e-mail address removed)

 

[KM]

Joerg,

I'm not really sure what you're saying.
Yes, you can use %SystemRoot% in your shell registry setting.
CMD.exe (not Command Shell, btw) should not replace the "alias".

KM


JS> I only use "hard coded" paths for my shell!
JS> First I tried it with the %SystemRoot% alias too. It will not work!
JS> Why? The (cmd) shell itself replaces the alias -> chicken or egg
JS> problem......

JS> Jörg

 

[KM]

Henrik,

Not sure what's your question but AutoRestartShell should work if you have
it set to "0" before last reboot (at least it works for me here ).
Also, from my understanding, an app that is used as a shell better be a
"long run" app that is it may not be terminated by end user. However, it
depends on your device business logic and you know better how to implement
the shell.

KM

HR> If seems that my error was that I did not launch "ewfmgr c: commit"
HR> so my changes did not get in to the protcted drive. I managed to
HR> make changes to
HR> KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\
HR> Winlogon\Shell = %SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe

HR> and it works

HR> but MyApplication.exe is a small program that start one of two
HR> programs and the terminates, the nature of the shell is that is
HR> restarts when is terminates, so my application keep on restarting
HR> even if I changed the
HR> KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\
HR> Winlogon\AutoRestartShell = 0


HR> Henrik



HR>>> I think/hope that I missed something.

HR>>> After running the FAB and two system reboot (should be normal when
HR>>> using EWF) I did the following:

HR>>> 1) opend the Controlpanel to change the Static IP addresses
HR>>> 2) Start the CMD (I used this later)
HR>>> 3) Start the Regedit and change the
HR>>> KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
HR>>> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell =
HR>>> %SystemRoot%\System32\MyApplication.exe
HR>>> 4) With Alt+Tab switch to CMD and run ETPREP / Delete

HR>>> When I reboot the Taskmanager Shell starts ????

HR>>> My IP settings for the LAN connection that was connectet during
HR>>> boot did not keep is Static IP address. The LAN connection that
HR>>> was NOT connected during boot kept ist IP address.

HR>>> does anyone have some ideas

HR>>> Henrik

Have you tried changing
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"Shell" registry value on the running
image? You can set your app to be a shell this way.
If you got access to cmd and regedit (reg.exe) in your runtime
image at least once, you may do whatever tweaks you need to remove
any components you don't want users to have access to from the
image completely, then commit the changes with EWF and get the
final golden image saved.
Also, most of the XPe specific command (ewf, etc.) may be automated
with batch or another script supported by your runtime. This way
you may not need to have shell at all.
Also, another way may be to have your custom shell integrated into
your image (and remove Task Manager Shell). The trick would be to
have a backdoor in your app (password protected, e.g.) to launch
cmd.exe or taskmgr.exe or whatever standard apps or settings you
have to run/set.
KM

h>>>>> Hi NG.

h>>>>> I ran into a problem that could turn into the clasic philisofic
h>>>>> question. What comes first the Chicken or the eg?.

h>>>>> During developing of my EX embedded image I have used the Task
h>>>>> manager Shell. With this shell and some other components I am
h>>>>> able to set static IP addresses, test my application ,enable the
h>>>>> EWF with etprep.exe in the El Torito ect. And it all work perfect
h>>>>> (to good to be true).

h>>>>> My task is to start our application at boot. I think that i
h>>>>> perfer to make a shell One point is to prevent that the user can
h>>>>> start task manager, get into the control panel ect. Another point
h>>>>> is that the use only se our application. And that is here that I
h>>>>> goes into
h>>>>> Philosofic mode, if I make a shell that start my application how
h>>>>> do
h>>>>> I set up IP addresses, enable EWF ect ???

h>>>>> I red abou a guy who simply named his application explorer.exe,
h>>>>> that was the shell he used. I tryed it with the taskmgr.exe and
h>>>>> fore some reson my application stats in several instances.

h>>>>> Is there a way where I can boot the first time with the
h>>>>> Taskmanager shell make the settings enable EWF and on the next
h>>>>> boot my application is the shell

With best regards, KM. E-mail: (e-mail address removed)