Vista - Disable/re-enable or hide/unhide Start Menu in Windows Vista via registry, using VB6

Dear Brink,

Is it possible to disable/re-enable or hide/unhide Start Menu in Windows Vista via registry, using VB6 or at least disable/re-enable all items in (shortcuts and everyrthing else in Start Menu) in order to exclude starting of ANY program via contents of Start menu in Vista while my own application is active?

Could it be possible to disable/re-enable "Windows" key or any combinations of keys such as "Windows" + "Esc" via registry, using VB6?

Thanks in advance for your help.

vnaz235

Hello Vnaz235, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm not sure what you mean by the first question. Did you want to stop a startup program from running?


This tutorial will show you how to enable/disable all Windows Key keyboard shortcuts.

Windows HotKeys

Hope this helps,
Shawn

In Windows XP you could hide / unhide Windows Start button via API.
E.g. I want to run my application and do not anybody to start any programs to cause malfunction disassembly or access to codes of my software, i.e. disable access to prevent starting any programs via Windows Start button, which is equivalent of hiding or disabling this button: either it is hidden or if it is visible and you click on it, nothing happens.

I would like to be able to do with Start button in Windows Vista, in other words, when you switch on your computer, everything is normal, but when I start my application, it disables/hides Windows start button preventing a user from starting any programs via this button. When the user finishes with my application and exit it, my application either makes Windows Vista Start button visible or re-enables it.

At the same time I would like to disable Windows Key and combination of Wondows key and Esc key in order to prevent the user from forcing to re-enable Windows Start button again while my application is running.

I meant disable Windows key inself and hide from the screen or disable Windows Vista Start button, then while closing my application re-enable Windows key and Windows start button on the screen

I would like to block access to start-up programs, all programs, computer and any other items in Windows Start menu to be accessible, when starting and running my application I need to disable / hide Windows Start button, e.g. via registry.
in other word I need either of the below options:

1. Windows Start button is not visible and cannot be summoned back by any keyboard keys or their combinations,

2. Windows Start button is visible, but nothing happens, when you click it,

3. Windows start button shows blank fields with no items on it when you click it,

4. Windows start button shows all items, but they are disabled, i.e. nothing happens, when you click on any item.

Option 1 or 2 is preferrable. Programmatically, e.g. via registry.

After I or my user finished with my application, I need to re-enable / unhide Windows Start button again while closing my application, e.g. via registry.

Hi Vnaz,

You might look at some apps. that disable / hide , like Winbubble , which lets you create your own hacks , too

Unlock for Us: Windows Vista Unlocks, News, Tips and Tweaks

or Tweak VI

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or Thoojse

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You may also be able to track registry changes they make , using Regscanner

NirSoft - freeware utilities: password recovery, system utilities, desktop utilities

Hope it helps

SIW2