Stop loading windows at start-up until...
I am trying to make a program that, during start-up, creates a randomly generated password, encrypts it, and then displayed on the user interface. The user then decrypts it and types it in into the appropriate field, and if correct, Windows continues to load. If not, the program displays another randomly generated password, and keeps going.
The creating the password and all of that is easy enough, but I do not know how to make it so Windows will stop loading until the password is typed in correctly. If someone can give me a link, or post some source code for my problem I would be grateful.
[605 byte] By [
salvinger] at [2007-11-11 6:38:56]
# 1 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
I don't know if it's possible to do that with Visual Basic. See http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+gina+site%3Amsdn.microsoft.com for more information.
# 2 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Well I maybe instead of stopping Windows from loading everything on start-up, the program locks the background so only the password program can have the focus. Is that possible?
# 3 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
No, this is not possible for security reasons: if it were possible, then any hacker could create a program that could lock you out of your system.
# 4 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Hummm yes I can see how being locked out of your own computer might be a small problem :0.
You said this was probably not possible with Visual Basic, but I know some C++. About how hard would it be to do what I ask, which is just stalling the start-up process, with C++?
# 5 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Have you read the articles returned by the link I posted? You'll have to create a custom GINA DLL.
# 6 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
I've read some of them, and as far as I can tell this will be way too advanced for me. I'll just try to make something else.
# 7 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Would it be possible for this form not to be the start up form in your
executable, but to have another form that is the start up form. This
now startup form would do the password stuff and then when the correct password is entered the startup form would start the form that does the
processing that you don't want done until the password is entered.
# 8 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
I think you may have mis-read what I was asking. I wanted the actual Windows start-up to be stalled, not my program.
# 9 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
to tell you the truth I do not really understand the porpuse of this application. Why do I have to decrypt a random generated password to log on? Can you please specify?
When you say "windows start-up" you mean booting or logon?
Which OS are you using?
Marco
mstraf at 2007-11-11 17:36:11 >
# 10 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Well, to make it less confusing, just forget about what I said the program should actually do in terms of the password. When I Say start-up I mean after loggin in in Windows XP.
# 11 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
AFAIK the only way to "get involved" with the bootup process under an NT-derived OS like XP or 2000 is the C++ GINA .DLL route.
VB6 just doesn't have access to the low level OS capabilities you need. You'll need to use a language like C, C++, or Assembly Language.
It's not going to be easy no matter which of the 3 above you choose-- as Phil said, there are legitimate security concerns with this kind of programming, so Windows makes you jump through various hoops to prove you have the right to what you're trying to do.
Sorry I don't have better news- but what you want can't be done in VB6 alone.
Perhaps you could modify your program design? Do you *really* need to block access to Windows itself? It seems to me that Windows itself does a pretty good job of doing what you're trying to do, as long as you're using the NTFS filesystem.
?
-Andrew
# 12 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
No, I do not need to block Windows, I just thought this would be the only way to prevent one from just alt+ctrl+deleting the program, or even just alt tabbing out.
# 13 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
In that case in XP it is already possible to restrict what the user can/cannot do. For example, our customers creates "operator" accounts with only one access: our programs that monitor their system. In that way the operator cannot play solitaire or browse the internet. See if that can help you.
Marco
mstraf at 2007-11-11 17:40:17 >
# 14 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
That way does not sound like it would block out the key combinations such as alt+ctrl+delete and alt+tab that would make the program I am trying to make not function as I intend it to. The only thing now I am trying to temporarily block out are those 2 key combinations.
# 15 Re: Stop loading windows at start-up until...
Disabling Ctrl+Alt+Delete and Alt+Tab are part of the security policy that can be enabled per customer base. XP is very powerful (not like Outlook, that is a real Trojan Horse) for setting security policy.
Is is possible to disable those combination by code (google for disable control alt delete) but they are very risky (and depend on the OS). If you need something that is really secure, Windows policies is the way to go.
Marco
mstraf at 2007-11-11 17:42:23 >
