How to run an application as shell replacement on Windows 10 Enterprise

Question

I need to create a special account on a computer running Windows 10 Enterprise. This account would launch an application directly on login instead of the default shell and e

Answer 1

I had the same problem right now. And yes, Microsoft has changed the way to do a shell replacement. You can install and use the Embedded Shell Launcher to customize windows as you like it for kiosk mode. But this is only available for Enterprise and Education.

If you don't want to buy the Enterprise version you can use the already known registry locations in HKCU and HKLM. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576(v=WinEmbedded.5).aspx

But wait, oh no since Windows 10 it is only possible to use Microsoft signed applications, so your normal .net application isn't started and the screen keeps being black after login. But we've figured out a workaround.

Just use a Batch-File as bootstrapping. If you set the registry keys you like to a Batch-File and the Batch-File starts the real application, then it works like a charm.

@echo off
echo Bootstrapping, please wait ...
start /b "Bootstrap" "C:\vmwatcher\VMViewClientWatcher.exe"