Windows shell replacement

In Windows 95 and later versions of Microsoft Windows, the Windows shell is by default explorer.exe (in the Windows folder or one of its subfolders, System32) which displays the icons on the desktop, the taskbar, the Start menu and the file browser. By default, explorer.exe runs automatically when Windows starts. Mostly the shell simply launches other programs on request.

Computer users with the desire can modify explorer.exe extensively. It is also possible to completely replace explorer.exe with another shell. Such a desktop shell replacement provides an alternative to the standard Windows shell. Alternatives such as those below can replace visual elements and windowing layout on a Microsoft Windows-based system. Many of these also provide more options for customization, or use fewer resources.

Former versions of Windows relied on different default shells, which could also be replaced. In particular, this was a fairly common software enhancement in the days of Windows 3.x, due to the limitations of its default shell, Program Manager (progman.exe). Popular replacement shells of the time were Norton Desktop for Windows, Central Point Desktop, HP Dashboard and HP NewWave.

List of software

Closed source

*Aston shell
*Desktop3D
*Equinox Desktop Shell
*Secure Desktop
*SphereXP
*Talisman Desktop
*Wez's Evil Shell
*Desktop Lite
*CubeDesktop
*Winstep
*WinU
* [http://www.cairoshell.com/ Cairo]

Open source

*Emerge Desktop
*GeoShell
*LDE(X)
*LiteShell
*LiteStep
*SharpE
*bbLean
* [http://xoblite.net/ xoblite]

See also

*Shell (computing)

External links

* [http://shellcity.net/cgi-bin/DB_Search/db_search.cgi?setup_file=topicpage.setup.cgi&submit_search=yes&topic=A Shell Extension City] : list of shell replacements.