Hi folks I would like to know how can I avoid starting/loading the windows 7 desktop? This is the specific scenario: After turning on a machine, I would like to start a specific program that has to interact with the user. Then after input some basic info (and only after this input) start / load the Windows Desktop in a normal way. I don't know if there is some settings I can control or if I would need to develop some code to get it done, but in any case I would appreciate any help or guidance you may give. Thanks Carloscortega

The best you can do is to start your program just after the Desktop (Windows Explorer). This is achieved by adding the programs full location to the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. In the right pane look for UserInit, which should contain C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe followed by a comma. Add your programs full path to this followed by a comma.

Thanks BurrWalnut Although I havent try it yet, I was wondering that if I follow your advice, the normal execution of starting/loading the desktop will be stopped until the user input data on my program. This kind of behaviour is critical because it is a must that the first task to be done after login, would be to input data on my program, => customer does not want any deviation on this procedure, in other words, my customer requires that any user type the required data before he can have the opportunity to interact with the desktop in any way. Thanks again. Carlos cortega

Carlos I dont know how your program will affect the startup. Make a note of any changes you make and/or backup the registry or create a system restore point, so that they can be reversed if the system misbehaves. This is the startup sequence of the major registry keys, starting immediately after bootmgr has been read and ending with the program shortcut entries in the two Startup folders. 1. HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute. This can include instructions to schedule the running of chkdsk but not user programs. 2. Services start next, followed by the RunServicesOnce and RunServices registry keys (if present) 3. User then logs on to the system 4. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\UserInit. This points to the program C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe and the entry ends with a comma. Other programs can be started from this key by appending them and separating them with a comma, i.e. your program starting before Explorer, not after as I said in my previous post. 5. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell. This should contain just one entry, explorer.exe. 6. Program entries in these 2 registry keys for ALL USERS start next: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and \RunOnce 7. Program entries in these 2 registry keys for CURRENT USER start next: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and \RunOnce 8. Programs in the Startup Folders of All Users and Current User are started last of all. Important programs like antivirus and firewall start early in the sequence as Services. The icons that appear in the Notification Area (bottom right of the screen) are just their user interfaces, i.e. options and preferences.