How can I prevent explorer.exe from loading at startup?

Glad you got it worked out to your satisfaction.

I have 3 pcs in the workplace that I configured a quicklaunch icon for 2 programs, and a Start button that's empty except for Log Off and Shut Down. That's the extent of accessibility. They reboot daily, log on automatically and start one of the 2 programs. Nothing 3rd party involved.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can do almost everything without 3rd-party applications. But maybe at least some of the manipulation requires programming anyway (either 3rd-party, or your own - for example, disabling the taskbar and start menu requires hooks.)

How did you make your PCs reboot daily? I have probably seen it somewhere but have forgotten.

Next thing I'm trying to do is to password protect Task Manager. I believe you can only do that by disabling CTRL+ALT+Del and CTRL+Shift+Esc to load Task Manager, and assigning CTRL+ALT+Del a new script which requests a password verification and then loads taskmgr.exe.

What do you think? Maybe you have better ideas?

 

Create a batch with the following command and place it in C:

shutdown -r -f

Now create a scheduled task to run the batch at a specified time, using the Admin username and password for credentials to run it (a limited user cannot run scheduled tasks).

Done!

More on the shutdown command using shutdown /? from a command prompt.

I don't know of any scripts to password protect the Task Manager.

 

That's cool. Yeah, I know this shutdown command - I use it in my script to auto log off the user.

I guess I'll have to work out this password protection business a bit more. I believe it will require programming.

If you guys have any enlightments for me on that, please, be my guest

Thanks, pilau.

 

I'm guessing that you want to figure out a tweak for running the task manager because you have disabled the taskbar and Start button, making it impossible to log off/shutdown without using the task manager?

If you instead, disable the task manager, then;

1. Right click the Start button>Properties>Customize, uncheck the Show on Start Menu items and set Number of programs to zero, then on the Advanced tab, remove access to everything (don't display and uncheck). That leaves only the All Programs list and possibly some items pinned to the Start menu.
2. Right click items pinned to the Start menu and Remove them.
3. Right click the Start button and select Explore. Right click>Properties the Programs folder and any other items, then set the hidden attribute.
4. Right click the Start button and select Explore All Users. Set all item's attributes to hidden.
5. Open Folder Options>View tab from any explorer window and select Do not show hidden files and folders.

The Start menu should now be empty except for the log off and shutdown buttons.

6. Apply tweaks to the Current_User hive policies to disable right click on the taskbar/Start button.