Replace Desktop in Windows

Post by **Frozenport** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:59 am

I want to write a program in C# or C++ that will replace the desktop in a seemless manner. That is, not replace explorer.exe but replace the object where the icons are drawn with some standard windows controls.

I'm not quite sure how to approach this problem. Does anybody know how or have any ideas?

Post by **sibbl** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:16 am

you can either use active desktop to show something or use findwindow and setparent to get the handle of the desktop and replace it with your own app

Post by **Tootles** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:56 am

You mean customize the Window Manager (for want on a non-unix term) itself?

Post by **squidward_** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:02 pm

I thought that it would be extremely difficult or near impossible to write a replacement for the Windows desktop?

Post by **ddew** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:34 pm

There are some shells available that replaces explorer, like LiteStep and some blackbox implementation. Most tend to suck pretty hard, but atleast it's possible.

Post by **Tootles** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:01 pm

ddew wrote:There are some shells available that replaces explorer, like LiteStep and some blackbox implementation. Most tend to suck pretty hard, but atleast it's possible.

He said he didn't want to replace explorer.exe.

Post by **ddew** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:45 pm

marktuson wrote:
ddew wrote:There are some shells available that replaces explorer, like LiteStep and some blackbox implementation. Most tend to suck pretty hard, but atleast it's possible.
He said he didn't want to replace explorer.exe.

Yeah, my bad. Was thinking of replacing the desktop and window borders and keeping explorer as a file-manager.