Windows NT 4.0 source code leak
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============================================================== == == == VDESK - a simple desktop switcher for Windows NT v3.51 == == == ==============================================================
VDESK allows a user to maintain multiple desktops on a Windows NT workstation. It also provides a task manager as a replacement for the default task manager that is provided my PROGMAN. VDESK's task manager displays the PID (process id) of eash task and also switches to new desktops if required. This is necessary if a task switch is requested and the new task "lives" on another desktop.
VDESK also allows the user to logon as another user, such as administrator, on a desktop. This means that you can be logged on a a "normal", non-administrative user and be able to switch to a new desktop and perform administrative tasks. This is NOT a security problem because the logon capability MUST be enabled for the user that launches VDESK. This is done by the administrator via the User Manager utility. The administrator must enable the following User Rights:
1. "Act as part of the operating system" 2. "Increase quotas" 3. "Replace a process level token"
After the rights are changed they do not take effect until the user logs on again. To logon as another user, simply switch to the desired desktop (see below) and the press CONTROL-ALT-INSERT key sequence. The logon dialog will appear. Fill in the blanks and press OK.
The task manager in VDESK establishes a hot key, which is control-escape. If PROGMAN is already running then VDESK will not be able to establishes the hot key. The best way to fix this is to enable VDESK as the "default" task manager. This is done by modifying the registry. A new value entry must be added in the following heirarchy:
\\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon
The value entry must be named "Taskman" and must contain "vdesk.exe". Copy the VDESK.EXE to your system32 directory. Now when PROGMAN initializes it will launch VDESK, who will grap the control-escape hot key and viola, you have a task manager.
To switch to a new desktop use the key sequences CONTROL-F1 thru CONTROL-F10. Each function key corresponds to a desktop. So, you can now switch to a new desktop and use the VDESK task manager to start a new task. You can then switch away, to another desktop, do something else and return later.
VDESK also supports the concept of a "startup group". This allows you to preconfigure certain apps to be started on each desktop at the time vdesk starts. The tasks are specified in the registry as follows:
\\hkey_current_user software microsoft vdesk desktop2 task1 "winfile" task2 "msmail32" task3 "cmd /k razzle" title3 "my razzle screen" desktop3 desktop4 desktop5 desktop6 desktop7 desktop8 desktop9 desktop10
You can have as many value entries under the desktop(n) keys as you want. The text of the value is passed directly to createprocess(). The value name must be "task<n>", where <n> is the sequential task number for the desktop. You may also specify a window title for console applications. This is done by creating a value pair that is called "title<n>", where <n> is the task number that you want titled. The text for the title value is the window title.
Command Line Options =====================
-t Run as a task manager only, does not create any desktops
-n Run as a task manager & a desktop manager, but do not create the desktops when vdesk starts
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