DOCUMENT:Q156092 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :How to Make Program Manager the Shell in Windows NT 4.0 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Windows NT 4.0 ships with a new shell, Explorer.exe. This can be changed to Program Manager by modifying a registry setting. MORE INFORMATION ================ To change the shell from Explorer to Program Manager, modify the following registry key: WARNING: Using Registry Editor can cause serious, system-wide errors that may require you to reinstall Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). 2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey: \Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell (currently Explorer.exe). 3. Change Explorer.exe to Progman.exe. 4. Quit Registry Editor; shut down and restart the system. If this is a new setup of Windows NT 4.0 you will have to create all Program Manager groups because Windows NT 4.0 setup does not create any Program Manager groups. If this is an upgrade from a previous version of Windows NT, you will have to create program groups for any applications you installed after installing Windows NT 4.0, because Explorer does not use program group files. Program groups will be created for any applications you install after changing your shell to Program Manager. Additional query words: prodnt ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : 4.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.