VMware Horizon Community
jcrayski
Contributor
Contributor

View Client as shell in Windows 7

I know ther was a way to changeout the Windows XP shell for the View Client so when the computer booted up it went straight the the View Client login. Is this still something we can do with Windows 7?

TIA,

Jim

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mikeyes
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I have not had a chance to test this but it was reported as sucessful:

I have it working in Windows 7 Ultimate using a local policy that only

applies to my user account. The policy tells Windows to use VM View as my

shell instead of Explorer (so there's no start menu, just a wallpaper).

This way VM View is instantly launched upon (automatic) user log in.

*Step 2 only works on Windows 7 Ultimate, Enterprise and Professional!

(The group policy object editor is not available in other versions,

thanks M$)*

1. Setting up your user account to log in automatically

  • Log in as administrator.

  • Open the start menu, and type in the search box: netplwiz <ENTER>.

  • Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer and hit Apply.

  • A window will pop up asking for the user name and password of the
    user account which should log in automatically. Supply all the
    information and hit OK.

Next time you restart, the account selected in step 1 will log on

automatically. Now you can setup this account to use VM View as shell

instead of Explorer:

2. Set VM View as shell for a specific user account

  • Log in as administrator.

  • Open the start menu, and type in the search box: mmc <ENTER>.

  • Choose File -> Add/Remove Snap-in....

  • Select Group Policy Object Editor and hit Add.

  • In the wizard that pops up, hit Browse..., go to tab Users, select your user account (the one that you set up to log on automatically in step 1) and hit OK.

  • Make sure that the checkbox in the wizard is Unchecked, and hit Finish.

  • Hit OK in the Add/Remove Snap-ins window.

  • In the User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System folder, open Custom User Interface.

  • Select Enabled and enter the full path (including VM View exe and any switches that you may use) in the Interface file name textbox.

  • Hit OK and reboot your system. It should now log in and start VM View automatically without showing the start menu and icons first

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dmr188
Contributor
Contributor

Hello, this looks like an old thread, but hopefully still alive.  This solution is exactly what i was looking for.  Only downside I'm seeing, when I login and get a desktop and then logout, it never takes me back to the view client.  Just sites there at a blue screen.  Has anyone else seen the same or know of a little remedy?
Thank YOu

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markbenson
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Do you have a GOTO in your batch file to take you back to the top to restart the client after it ends? If not, that's probably your problem.

Something like this:

@echo off

:View

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware View\Client\bin\wswc.exe"

goto View

I don't know how up to date it is, but this guide shows an example.

Mark

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gao2
Contributor
Contributor

We set a PowerShell script as the shell, as described here:

http://www.christowles.com/2010/11/vmware-view-45-thin-client-with-pcoip.html

It works very well.

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bretttenney
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

In regards to the GPO shell solution mikeeyse suggested. I think I've tried something similar and wouldn't it work for me because there is no way to adjust the base OS resolution or make make monitor changes without using Explorer as the shell. Keeping explorer as the shell allows me to change sound, mouse, display and sound of the physical computer.

I just configured auto logon with a script similar to Marks suggestion and tightened down the machine so tight they cant do anything except for adjusting those few things.

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