Windows 8 How to replace windows explorer shell with your own program?

Andrea Dixon · May 25, 2013

Hi everyone I made my own windows replacement shell, but im having trouble finding out where to replace it at , in windows xp all i had to do was go to regedit find windows explorer and replace it to some thing like this C:\myprogram\name.exe and then when i restart the computer my name.exe opens instead of windows explorer. I need some help on how i can do this or even if i can on windows 8, its a lot deference then xp, Iv been an xp user for a long time and just went to windows 8 so im not fmiller with 8 yet. please help. thanks

Andrea

patcooke · May 26, 2013

It certainly is not as simple as with Windows 8 predecessors. Legacy systems used a GUI which required only registry mods whereas Windows 8 supplements the GUI with an "immersive" shell which is managed via group policy settings. See the link below for a Microsoft document on this:

Use Windows PowerShell to Manage Group Policy

kemical · May 26, 2013

Hi Andrea,

not too sure myself but wondered if you had seen or knew about this:

Welcome to Classic Shell

patcooke · May 26, 2013

It certainly is not as simple as with Windows 8 predecessors. Legacy systems used a GUI which required only registry mods whereas Windows 8 supplements the GUI with an "immersive" shell which is managed via group policy settings. See the link below for a Microsoft document on this:

Use Windows PowerShell to Manage Group Policy

Windows 8 How to replace windows explorer shell with your own program?

Andrea Dixon

New Member

patcooke

kemical

Windows Forum Admin

patcooke

Microsoft MVP

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