Autostart Gameex with Bypass option

[Burchman82]

Hi guys,

ive been toying with the idea of having gameex launch automatically on my arcade (as it does now) with an option so if i am pressing a key/button while it boots up, it stops loading gameex and just goes into my normal xp desktop with startbar etc etc.

I am thinking this because i also use my machine for web browsing sometimes to find some internet radio, or just general maintainance etc.

Is there an easy way to do this? or am i stuck to just launching gameex and quitting every time i want to do something.

[Brian Hoffman]

Hi guys,

ive been toying with the idea of having gameex launch automatically on my arcade (as it does now) with an option so if i am pressing a key/button while it boots up, it stops loading gameex and just goes into my normal xp desktop with startbar etc etc.

I am thinking this because i also use my machine for web browsing sometimes to find some internet radio, or just general maintainance etc.

Is there an easy way to do this? or am i stuck to just launching gameex and quitting every time i want to do something.

Launch on exit = explorer.exe

[Burchman82]

thanks for the reply. i dont think you get what i mean however.

i want to BYPASS the starting of gameex alltogether with the press/hold of a key during boot. im already using the launchonexit command.

[Tempest]

Are you using Instant Sheller?

If not, It wouldn't take much to throw a script together to do what you want. Which key(s) do you want to use to start Gameex, and how long do you want to wait to see if the key is pressed? Might be easier if I knew what the path was to your GameEx.exe.

C:\Program Files\GameEX\GameEx.exe ???

If you are using Instant Sheller, it can be done, but would require more investigation on restoring the mouse pointer.

[Burchman82]

Not using instantsheller at the moment because i dont like the way i loose the startbar when i quit gameex. I only want about 3-5 seconds waiting to see if the key is pressed, but as default i want it to launch gameex if nothing is pressed.

my path is d:\gameex (my emulators are all on a seperate hdd so i dont loose anything in a format)

[Tempest]

Not using instantsheller at the moment because i dont like the way i loose the startbar when i quit gameex. I only want about 3-5 seconds waiting to see if the key is pressed, but as default i want it to launch gameex if nothing is pressed.

my path is d:\gameex (my emulators are all on a seperate hdd so i dont loose anything in a format)

Any key? or a specific key? or a combination of keys?

[Robert]

Is GameEx just in your Startup folder? If so, (From a google search):

...try a shortcut mentioned in this Microsoft article, Troubleshooting the Startup Process, which is to simply hold down the Shift key while booting your machine. Doing this disables programs set to load in the following locations:

systemdrive\Documents and Settings\Username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

systemdrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

windir\Profiles\Username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

windir\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

In order for this to work, you have to continue to hold down the Shift key until all the desktop program icons have appeared.

[bkenobi]

You don't "lose" the start bar because of GameEx when you set it to the shell, you lose it because you aren't loading explorer. If you kill the GameEx process (with it set to shell), you will see your background image and nothing more. If you hit ctrl-alt-del, select task manager, file->new task, type 'explorer', and hit enter, you will then have the full windows desktop.

So, there are a couple solutions for what you want to do. The easiest thing to do would be to just hold down the shift key like Robert said assuming that works. The next best thing would be to do what Brian suggested since it will work and it requires no real extra effort, but it does require you to wait till GameEx has loaded before dropping back to windows (takes some time). I like Tempest's idea of using a script set to the shell, but I think there's another way that might be a little cleaner...maybe.

Here's what I offer as a suggestion:

* Set GameEx to the shell

* Create a startup script that checks for whatever button(s) you want to use to load the standard windows environment

* If the keys are found within a certain time frame (say 10 seconds) then the script will kill the GameEx process and start the explorer process

If you do it this way, then Windows can't complain if there's a problem with the script and fail to load. You can add other things to the script to do your other startup type tasks (WLAN drivers, connect network drives, start other applications, verify GameEx has focus once it's fully running, etc.). This is basically how I do things and it works great! I might actually consider adding the explorer option to my script since it does seem like a good idea. Thanks for the suggestion

[Burchman82]

thanks for the suggestions guys, i might just go with the shift-key trick (pity i loose ALL startup progs). I have tried the explorer.exe on quit thing. But it only gives me a task manager, not a full desktop for some reason. Probably my shite machine.

That script sounds cool, id have to delve into the depths of my subconscious to recall some scripting skills however and for something so trivial, i might just give it a miss.

[bkenobi]

If you change your mind, check out AutoHotKey. It's really easy to develop scripts with and it runs as a startup script just fine.

[Tempest]

I'd be happy to write it for you, I was just waiting to see what you wanted to do. I still need to know what key(s) you would like to use. Or If you want to try it yourself, we have three or four (that I'm aware of) people that can help with that too. You would probably start with:

A_Tickcount

GetKeyState

If (Expressions)

Expressions

Exitapp

GoTo (Label)

Run

[Burchman82]

Ok,

i would like to use my left hand flipper key to bypass gameex launching, i guess the timeframe would be 3 seconds. so when windows boots, 3 seconds, then gameex.

My left flipper key is the C key

gameex is in d:\gameex

[Endaar]

Couldn't you just ALT+TAB out of GameEx?

[Burchman82]

i COULD but thats not the point really is it?

my machine is hardly a beast.

Maybe Tom would integrate it as a feature in future ;p

I know its not a big deal quitting out or alt-tabbing but i was just curious if it was possible. I know of all the workarounds and ive been using them for years. Just thinking if there is a BETTER way.

[bkenobi]

I can understand wanting to have access to the desktop for maintenance tasks, but I believe it would be pretty easy to get IE or Firefox set up to work within GameEx. I'm not sure this would be a common enough request to put it in the main installation. I don't have that much use for it personally since I just ctrl-alt-del, kill GameEx and launch explorer. If it bothers you having to do that, then I would go with Tempest's offer and have him put together a simple script.

Tempest: You will need to set a timer to kill the script, but you might be able to just map the 'c' key to kill GameEx and start explorer. I'm thinking:

settimer, timelimit, 10000

timelimit:
exitapp
return

c::
{
Process, Close, GameEx
Run, C:\Windows\Explorer.exe
exitapp
}

I didn't test this, but I'm thinking it could be that simple...

[Burchman82]

thanks for the help mate,

Its not that crl-alt-del and killing bothers me, like i said, thats what ive been doing for a LONG time. I was just curious to an alternative.

Thank you very much to Tempest for conjuring up a very solid sounding solution for me also.

apologies if it all sounds very whingy.

Appreciations to all helpers

[Tempest]

Settimer is a good idea... I was going to keep track myself, hence A_TickCount...

He said he wanted to not load GameEx if a button was pressed, so I was thinking:

(Tested)

 
Settimer, Gameex, 3000
Loop
{
GetKeyState, State, C
If State = D
   Exitapp
}
Return

GameEx:
Run, D:GameEx\GameEx.exe
ExitApp

Then I went crazy, and added a countdown window with a beep:

(Also Tested)

 
#SingleInstance Force
Counter = 3

Gui, Add, Text, x20 y40, GameEx will start in	seconds.
Gui, Add, Text, x113 y40 vSeconds, %Counter%
Gui, Show, autosize
SoundBeep

StartTime := A_TickCount
Loop
{
 GetKeyState, State, C
 If State = D
	Exitapp
 ElapsedTime := (A_TickCount - StartTime)
 If ElapsedTime < 1000
	Continue
 Counter--
 If Counter = 0
	Break
 GuiControl,, Seconds, %Counter%
 SoundBeep
 StartTime := A_TickCount
}
Run, D:\GameEx\GameEx.exe
ExitApp

Burchman82,

Download, and install AutoHotKey: http://www.autohotkey.com/

Copy the code from either of the windows above, and paste it into Notepad.

Save as "Name of File.ahk".

Right click on the saved file, and choose "Compile"

Put the .exe file that was created into your startup folder.

[Tempest]

BTW - To hide the desktop in AHK:

WinHide, ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd

WinHide, Start

WinHide, ahk_class Progman

To Restore:

WinShow, ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd

WinShow, Start

WinShow, ahk_class Progman

[bkenobi]

Ooooh, fancy! A beep and everything

[dmauro]

I guess I'm going to have to install AHK and play around with that because this seems to be the solution for me: http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=6856

[bkenobi]

Yes, this is a good way to do what you want!

[Tempest]

I guess I'm going to have to install AHK and play around with that because this seems to be the solution for me: http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=6856

I would be happy to help if you need it. It would be simple to either select by a key, or have a menu to choose from...

I can even throw in a beep or two if you want!

[Burchman82]

Wow, thanks for that. I guess i wasnt the only person wanting it after all!

[Burchman82]

just played with it, and its fantastic! thanks for that.

Could i in theory instantshell straight into AHK and then if a key is pressed ahk would continue loading windows as normal?

[bkenobi]

Yes, but you might need to compile the script to an exe. I don't know if Windows will let you shell a non exe file.