asked on

Run before Windows

Hi,
I want to write a Visual C program that can run before Windows starts. That means, when you start your computer, before Windows starts, I want my program to start and change some configurations and delete some temp files (that will be locked by Windows)

Any ideas???

Regards

mnashadka

I think that what you really want to do is to use the MoveFile command with the MOVEFILE_DELAY_UNTIL_REBOOT flag set:
MoveFile(old_file, new_file, MOVEFILE_DELAY_UNTIL_REBOOT);

This will allow the copy to be done when the computer restarts the next time, so the files don't get locked. Hope this helps.

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nietod

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Sorry about that.

I believe that commands in AUTOEXEC.BAT will execute before Windows starts.

I recommend against doing anything in AUTOEXEC.BAT for any kind of release software, but for your own computer (or any easily maintainable on-site set of computers), it is a reasonable solution.

-- Dan

nietod

>> I believe that commands in
>> AUTOEXEC.BAT will execute
>> before Windows starts.
Before the "windows" part of windows. that is, before the GUI stuff. its Autoexec.nt in NT and win 2k though.

Paul Maker

surley MoveFile will not work before 'windows starts' ?, as this is a windows API call

nietod

It works before most of windows has started. it can be used to copy over (update) or delete most of the windows files. The function itself, the API call works when windows is fully running. But it does nothing at that time (if you specifu the delay until reboot flag) It just records what needs to be done, then the actions are taken when the machine is rebooted during the early stages of windows startup.

NBee

ASKER

nietod, you said on WIndows 9x, we must modify the registry entry. So what is it and how?

nietod

The details are documented with MoveFileEx() function in the VC help.

I was wrong however, it is not a registry entry, its an entry in the wininit.ini file.

NBee

ASKER

So, if i use the solution: edit wininit.ini, then can this be done on Windows 2000???

i want a single solution for many OS.

Thanks

NBee

ASKER

Heys, it doesn't work on Windows 2000 Profressional.
I have a Explorer.exe of my own. I want to replace Windows 2000 explorer.exe with the solution of MoveFileEx("C:\\Explorer.exe","C:\\Winnt\\Explorer.exe",MOVEFILE_DELAY_UNTIL_REBOOT | MOVEFILE_REPLACE_EXISTING )

And it doesn't work any at all.

nietod

In win2k you can use MoveFileEx(). I know that it works.

What does MoveFileEx() return?
If it returns 0 (false) what does GetLastError() return?

NBee

ASKER

I didn't check what MoveFileEx() returned, but I checked in registry and found that key PendingFileRenameOperations had been created.
I restarted win2k but nothing has happened.

nietod

Check the return values.

It is possible that you don't have sufficient access rights.

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