Win 98 to start Citrix Automatically

[GREENGROCER]

I have W98 clients and I want to them to go straight into a citrix session without going to windows. I have heard you make a change to the shell any ideas?

 

[CitrixEngineer]

You could use the DOS client and bypass Windows completely...

Or you could set Windows to use pn.exe as its shell instead of explorer (can't remember the reg key, but it's quite straightforward).


Hope this helps CitrixEngineer@yahoo.co.uk

 

[JCDugas]

Create a custom application using the PN and then create a shortcut to it in the startup folder. The only bad thing is that when a user logs off they need to log of twice.

 

[gbiello]

CitrixEngineer, GREAT idea of using pn.exe for the shell program! and it <almost> works! Here's how you do it:

Start, Run..., 'sysedit'.
Click on the system.ini window.
Look down about 7 lines.
Modify 'shell=Explorer.exe' to 'shell=c:\...\pn.exe'. Make sure you get the correct path.
Save changes. Close out and reboot.
Reboot and it logs you into the network, then launches pn.exe.
Piece of cake!

Now here's the problem: When you quit pn.exe, you get a blank screen and a cursor. You can double-click and get the Task Manager to launch, and run an app from there, but that isn't going to work for the end-user. Any ideas?

-gbiello

 

[GREENGROCER]

This is what I have done

Used system policies and Tweakui to remove everything from start menu and desktop
Put a short cut in the start up folder for citrix server
The machine now boots up logs itself onto the network and conects to the citrix server where it waits for the user to logon to citrix server
The only shortcuts on the desktop are the applications on the citrix server
The start menu contains shut down which is not available if you use pn as shell
What do you think?

 

[gbiello]

If you're happy I'm happy
-gbiello

 

[wilsona]

Here is the install stuff from a program called 'wrapper.exe'. If it will do what you want, post your email address and I'll send it to you.

The author is Richard Lewis.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WRAPPER.EXE

Starts Citrix ICA client application called &quot;Vdesktop&quot;; waits for Program Neighbourhood to exit, then shuts down Windows 95/98/Me/Win2K.

Requirements:

- VB runtime files in path
- Define an application in your Program Neighbourhood called &quot;vDesktop&quot; (without the quotes)
- Place the attached file (or a shortcut to it) in your &quot;Start Menu/Programs/Startup&quot; folder
- Reboot

Note: to save the vDesktop app to everyone's Program Neighbourhood, I simply copied my APPSRV.INI to all users machines, (C:\program files\citrix\ica client) or even better, rename it to APPSRV.SRC and include with the diskette image you use to install the client from in the first place. This becomes the clients APPSRV.INI when the installation has finished. Note: you should see a vDesktop= line in your APPSRV.INI after you have configured a session manually. This is the entry to use in all machines APPSRV.INI.

One effect I have found when running this &quot;wrapper&quot; application is that, if the user is quick, they can escape from the Citrix login screen (full screen mode) and return to Windows 9x.

The &quot;wrapper&quot; program will only shut the machine down when another application starts...any application!. This is due to the fact that I can't check to see if ICA is running when no app is running! When an app starts, wrapper detects that it is not ICA and reboots the machine. Rebooting the machine manually while in this &quot;limbo&quot; state will cause the machine to stop and wait for the wrapper to exit...but it never does!

A workaround is in the works, but for now please try this and let me know...it works well for me.

To bypass the wrapper app, simply hold the SHIFT key down when the Windows desktop first appears (you have to be quick!). Keep it held down until all disk activity subsides. Then you can use the machine (for admin purposes) as long as you want without it rebooting you all the time! Don't tell your users though!

You may find that you need VB6 runtime files like...

msvbvm60.dll and
oleaut32.dll

...so if you get a message regarding missing DLLs please copy these files to the %WINDIR%\system of the Win9x machine you are running it on.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

[saulm10]

Hi, would it be possible to start a ica client through vb. In addition, would it be possible to start an application through the cia client.

Saul

 

[khushal]

I tried to experiment with it and what I did was in a VB program, created the ica client and then had the shell scirpt to logoff a normal windows
Hope this helps. It works fine in all aspects.

 

[JCDugas]

Could I get a copy of that VB script? I know you did all the work, but I certainly could use some help with this. I'm trying to save my company some money by using old 166mhz boxes.

Thanks,

Jeremy JDugas@NELifeCare.org

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

Yes, I am the author of wrapper.exe. If you need a download try thethin.net downloads page or post and I'll send ya a copy for free.

 

[Guest_imported]

I will always received the error &quot;Run Time error '53' File not found&quot; when i call wrapper.exe. I have Windows98SE and i have install the VB6 Runtime Pack. Please help ! Thanks
a.suter@ferrum.ch

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

i have tested WIN98SE and is OK. Hmm, can you run wrapper.exe directly from Explorer or is this error present when you call it from the Startup folder?

Try putting the vbruntime files in the same directory as the exe. Do you have a vDesktop app in your ini file as per the readme.txt file?

 

[Guest_imported]

The message is also present when i call it from the explorer and when i put the vbruntime files in the same directory. I have the entry vDesktop in the appsrv.ini file.
I make also a test with a win95 pc. The error is the same.
Can you send me an copy of your wrapper.exe ?
Thanks !
a.suter@ferrum.ch

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

See my other post...