Windows 10: Can no longer change default shell from explorer.exe to custom

I had an old installation of Windows 10(Unsure of exact version, was v 1703 or older) where I replaced the default shell of explorer.exe with my own startup.bat file(which started multiple programs excluding explorer) so it would boot directly into my programs. I accomplished this by editing the registry key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell.

To re-access the desktop I would Control-Alt-Delete --> taskmanager --> run new task --> explorer.exe. This worked fine for 2 years(without internet access) until the other day I connected it to the internet and it updated to version 1903. This reset the default shell back to explorer.exe which I changed back to my startup.bat file. This works fine but now when I attempt to run explorer.exe it only opens an explorer window rather then starting the entire desktop. I am able to access most programs by running them through task manager but would like to have access to the desktop when needed. Any suggestions to try and fix this are welcome! Thank you

:)

 

Accidentally changed .exe files

Not sure how you got a File Explorer window open. But if you can get in there, the following may work. I tested the first part on my machine.

Some .exe.files will still launch successfully with their extension changed to .com --- which has an identical open command as .exe.

• Male sure Explorer is set to show file extension.
• Copy cmd.exe from C:\Windows\System32 and paste it in a folder under your user profile (I used the Desktop).
• Rename to cmd.com. Then you can launch it.
• Use the Reg Query & Reg Add commands to make the necessary changes. Get help for these commands by tying Reg /?
• Here's what the correct keys look like:
  
  C:\>reg query HKCR\.exe
  
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
  
  (Default) REG_SZ exefile
  
  Content Type REG_SZ application/x-msdownload
  
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\PersistentHandler
  
  C:\>reg query HKCR\exefile\shell\open\command
  
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command
  
  (Default) REG_SZ "%1" %*
  
  IsolatedCommand REG_SZ "%1" %*
• The only tricky part will be getting the quotes inside a quoted string. You have to precede the interior quotes with a backslash. Here's an example adding a value named MyTest to txtfile:

C:\>reg query HKCR\txtfile\shell\open\command
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\shell\open\command

(Default) REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1

C:\>reg add HKCR\txtfile\shell\open\command /v MyTest /d "\"%1\" %*"

The operation completed successfully.
C:\>reg query HKCR\txtfile\shell\open\command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\shell\open\command

(Default) REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1

MyTest REG_SZ "%1" %*

Good Luck,

Keith

 

Devices not automatically refreshed in File Explorer when running from a custom shell

Hi,

I am running a custom shell on Windows 10 IoT Enterprise (1809). When I start the explorer.exe process (File Explorer) from the shell or open a File Dialog box, and subsequently connect or disconnect a USB drive, the navigation pane and the "This PC" view
do not refresh automatically. To see the change to the list of connected devices, I have to close and reopen File Explorer.

If the "Desktop" explorer.exe process is started from Task Manager, the problem goes away - i.e. devices are immediately added or removed from the navigation pane/This PC when connected/disconnected.

So my question is: how can automatic device discovery in File Explorer be enabled when using a custom shell?

I have looked at registry keys and services, but haven't managed to find a solution.

P.S. moving the File Explorer window seems to force an update and refreshes the list of connected devices.

 

Change How Folders Open By Default (My laptop keeps using CMD)

Hi,

Sorry for the delayed response. I suggest you to set File Explorer as the Default program and check if that helps. To do this, refer the steps given below.

• Open Control Panel.
• Search for Default Programs.
• Go to Default Programs.
• Look for File Explorer towards the left pane and select it.
• Set this as default program and apply changes.
• Check if the issue persists.

Hope this helps.