About making a .exe load elsewhere

[Mythios]

Ok so what I mean by this is say in C++ I want to make lets say a KeyLogger. I'm fine with all the programming to do so for recording all the strokes and outputting them where ever I need to. But my question is how do I make it not load on the startbar but inside the taskbar etc or no where at all? Just in the running processors possibly?

Thanks,
Myth.

[helios]

A Windows app (as opposed to a Windows console app) without a window remains invisible.

PS: Did you know that the process list is a linked list?

[Mythios]

So your saying if I make a window app and delete the default window it brings up. Nothing will display?
EDIT: And by that as well you mean there will be no [START][ [KeyLoggerEtc] ][ [ICONS ] 6:23am]

Also No I didn't know that helios thats very interesting actually thanks :)

[helios]

Not quite. The main window has to be explicitly created through code by calling an API function. If you don't call this function, the app remains invisible.
I don't understand your second question.

I mentioned that because there's a way to remove a process from the process list. It's not at all practical, though. It involves writing a kernel driver.

[Mythios]

In the second question - sorry I didn't realize the picture came out funny. The [KeyLoggerEtc] was meant to be a tab on the start bar.

So what I understand from what your saying is. If I make a Windows App then disable the call in the API Function - Then when I click this .exe I create it will look like nothing has ever opened, correct?

If so thank you so much and I'll get to giving it a try for what my purpose was :)

Thanks Helios.

[helios]

It's not about disabling the call. It's about not making the call at all. I think VC++'s default Windows app project is like this.
And yes, that's exactly what will happen.

[Mythios]

Well thank you so much helios - you've been a great help the past couple of months the most of my questions I ask. So I give you a big thank you :)

[Mythios]

Sorry to be a pain but just checking.

// KeyLogger.cpp : main project file.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "Form1.h"

using namespace KeyLogger;

[STAThreadAttribute]
int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
{
	// Enabling Windows XP visual effects before any controls are created
	//Application::EnableVisualStyles();
	//Application::SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false); 

	// Create the main window and run it
	//Application::Run(gcnew Form1());
	return 0;
}

I would take it you mean something like this? By commenting out the Application::Run();

[Mythios]

Sorry for the other post just keeping things seperate - I'm pretty sure what I did above is wrong but i gather this is correct to what you mean so it doesn't load the form.

// KL.cpp : main project file.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "Form1.h"

using namespace KL;

[STAThreadAttribute]
int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
{
	// Enabling Windows XP visual effects before any controls are created
	Application::EnableVisualStyles();
	Application::SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false); 

	// Create the main window and run it
	Application::Run();
	return 0;
}

[z05DSL3A]

But my question is how do I make it not load on the startbar but inside the taskbar etc or no where at all? Just in the running processors possibly?

I sounds like you may want to look at developing a Windows Service^[1]. There is a CLR project for Windows Service (I have not tried this) but you can also develop API versions ^[2]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_service
[2] http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb540476(VS.85).aspx

[Mythios]

Hey thanks for that. This looks quite interesting - thanks I'm reading up on it now might give it a shot soon.

Thanks Grey Wolf