start-explorer

This is a batch file meant to be added as a "Non-Steam game" to exit Big Picture Mode, start explorer and then restart Steam.

Specifically used for whenever Steam is set to be the start-up shell as shown in the following resource: https://superuser.com/questions/1805533/change-windows-shell

Prerequisites

• start-explorer.bat must be Whitelisted from Windows Smart Screen, otherwise it would fail to launch
  • This can be done by just running it once manually and allowing it
• Disable Steam on start-up
• Ensure that Big Picture Mode is NOT enabled
• Most importantly, have auto logon enabled on the Windows PC's Account being used

Steps

• Add start-explorer.bat as a non-Steam game after whitelisting the batch file
  • It may be easier to add another random .exe file, edit the Properties and changing the path to wherever start-explorer.bat is saved
  • Test that it executes from Steam properly. It should just restart Steam
• After ensuring that it works open Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
• Create a new string entry called "Shell"
• Steam must be added as the start up shell with -tenfoot argument. Assuming Steam was installed in the default location, the full string value would be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" -tenfoot

Post-setup

• Use SGBoop to add Windows banner/art from SteamGridDB so it would be asthetically pleasing

Resources:

• For autologon, navigate here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autologon