Hide all Programs, Customize Start Menu

[dav7]

Hi folks,

My first post on the list here. Hopefully I've come to the right place.

I have a M1500 SPV pocket pc device. I would like to customize the Start Menu items by removing two of them -Active Sync and Internet Explorer. I have made a cab file which makes changes to the registry and would like (if possible) to delete the above mentioned items from the start menu via making a change to the registry. I know I can delete the shortcut links from the Start Menu folder but I would prefer to do it via a registry edit if possible. Or if possible, use the same cab to delete the shortcuts from the Start Menu (not sure if this is possible!?)

I'm also looking for a way to hide *all* programs from the Start->Programs screen. Any ideas how to achieve this via a registry hack?

Best Regards and thanks a lot for any help,
dav7

[vijay555]

Dan - do you want to delete the start menu ("\windows\start menu" and all subfolders and entry on the start menu?)
Or remove most recently used entries on the start menu?
Or programs in "\windows\start menu"?

Registry isn't really your friend here, other then for the MRU list.

V

[dav7]

Hi vijay555,

Thanks for the quick reply. I only want to remove certain programs from Start Menu, this one...

>Or programs in "\windows\start menu"?

I know if I delete those programs from My Device->Windows->Start Menu then it will remove them from the Start Menu without deleteing the actual program. I was just wondering if there was a way to do that via the registry? i.e. perhaps there is a key in the registry somewhere that lists the items to put in the Start Menu following a hard reset?

I am also looking to hide all programs from the main Programs page i.e. the Programs screen\page that shows all the actual Programs. I was wondering if there is a way to do that via the registry?

I know for example I am able to hide things that reside in the Control Panel settings i.e. Connections->Beam. I was wondering if there is a similar way to do that in the Programs screen?


Hope that is clear! or clearer!

Cheers,
dav

[vijay555]

dAV:
sounds like you want to edit your startmenu.

Get a file explorer like GSFinder/Resco etc.
navigate to \windows\start menu
and delete/move everything you want to clear out.

V

[Rudegar]

perhaps there is a key in the registry somewhere that lists the items to put in the Start Menu following a hard reset?

heh problem is that the registry is reset when you do a hardreset
so it would just go back to default

same thing with the content of your \windows\start menu
all shortcuts would reappear after a hardreset

unless you made a program in the extented rom which removed them when it was run

[dav7]

Hi,

Thats basically what I'm trying to do. I've made a cab file which when run sets a lot of registry settings following a hard reset. As you said, after a hard reset the device is restored to its normal build. My cab runs right after a hard reset to make sure the device is configured the way I want it. Are there any keys in the registry which are responsible for configuring the Start Menu? I cant seem to find one for Start Menu, only the New Menu :(
An alternative approach is running an exe which deletes the Programs from the Start Menu folder...but I would prefer to parcel it all up in a tiny little cab file if possible...

Thanks again for any suggestions...

Cheers,
dav

[Rudegar]

i never seen anything like it in the reg

[dav7]

Thats a pity. I cant find anything either. I prefer to do as much as possible in either the CPF or a cab. exe's do the job but there big and more complicated to change. Neverthless seems I'm stuck with an exe for now. Oh well...:-)

Cheers,
Dav

[levenum]

Hi, Dav!
Even though there is no registry solution, exe file is not your only option.
Cabs can contain a setup.dll that exports 4 functions which the system calls before and after installation or uninstall (separate function for each event).
Check MSDN for setup.dll specifics.

[hanmin]

Get a cab file that will start up automatically after a hardreset to delete all the fies in the start menu? I think if you delete the files in the start menu, it will be removed in the Programs list. It is basically a short cut file.

[dav7]

Hi, Dav!
Even though there is no registry solution, exe file is not your only option.
Cabs can contain a setup.dll that exports 4 functions which the system calls before and after installation or uninstall (separate function for each event).
Check MSDN for setup.dll specifics.

Excellent! Thanks a lot, I'll look into that.

Cheers!

Dav

[dav7]

Get a cab file that will start up automatically after a hardreset to delete all the fies in the start menu? I think if you delete the files in the start menu, it will be removed in the Programs list. It is basically a short cut file.

Hi Hanmin,

I think you are correct...if you delete *all* files and folders from the Start Menu it will remove the files which are directly situated in the Start Menu folder as well as all files in the Program folder which also resides in the Start Menu folder. This will remove items from both the Start menu and the Programs screen. This is ok for me though as luckily I want to also hide all Programs from the Program screen. A lot of the device functionality has to be hidden from the end users, to prevent them from fiddling with anything and to also hide things like Games etc...

Cheers,
Dav

[dav7]

Hi,

I've managed to get the setup.dll working. Its really useful and stops me needing an exe for many things. However, is it possible to get the dll to show a Dialog window? I've tried incorporating a dialog to the dll but it never seems to show up. I need the user to set a value and was considering doing it via the setup dll, but so far not been able to get the dialog, or even a Message Box to show up when called within the dll?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dav

[levenum]

Here is a line of code from Install_Init function that's working perfectly for me:
g_dlg = CreateDialog(g_hInst, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_MSGDLG), hwndParent, MyDlgProc);

I save g_hInst in DllMain.

As for message boxes, just call them as usual, never had a problem there, but you need to make sure you put your code in the correct function or it will not be called at the right time.