How to Make Program Manager the Shell in Windows NT 4.0 (156092)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q156092

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.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/8/2001
Keywords:kbnetwork KB156092
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.