Developer wanted: Simple PPCPE WM5 app

[Guest chucky.egg]

Any bored developers out there?

I'm trying to find a way to "lock down" some PPCPEs, so that the user can't install CAB files they download without putting in a password.

I've come up with an extremely ugly set of CAB files which change the registry setting for the CAB file association - so (when "locked") the CAB file opens an HTML page saying "Installation prohibited".

The trouble is it really is very ugly, and (once locked) it's fiddly to unlock the device again.

What I'd like is a very simple app that:

1. Changes the CAB file association to point to the wrapper executable

2. When triggered will prompt for a PIN/password (that can be hard coded, or IMEI/date based)

3. If the correct PIN is entered the wrapper executes WCELoad.exe with the CAB file passed into it

4. If the wrong PIN is entered the wrapper tells them and then exits

I can Beta test for you and provide all the registry settings for the file association

Who knows, you could even sell it for $5 a pop quite easily I suspect

Anyone interested?

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Seems straightforward enough, maybe later this week...

P

[Guest chucky.egg]

That'd be fantastic if you can

I know you're busy, so there's no huge panic - we're not rolling out PPCs for at least another 3 weeks.

[Guest janp92]

I'm looking for practically the same thing however has anyone worked out a way of blocking installation via activesync or activesyn entirely

[Guest chucky.egg]

Our PC policies dont allow apps to be installed, but this wont stop them installing things through their home PCs...

I might have to have a read on how AS triggers the installation and see if there's something that can stop it, but I suspect there just ins't - PPC isn't designed with security in mind IMO

[Guest chucky.egg]

Paul

This is what I had in mind to make it clearer what the fields are for etc (it's a bit rough, but you'll get the idea)

[Guest conan_troutman]

what happens if you go to the registry

HKLM/Security/AppInstall/ExtensionOptions

abd delete the DWORD .cab

would that not not stop installations

mind you if they read this they would just put it back in again if it did work

[Guest janp92]

That would probably work but not for installing apps over ActiveSync which seems to be the main issue.

[Guest conan_troutman]

active synch sill uses the cab files to install software if you look in the active synch folder cor every apllet you install via active sych a cab file is placed in the active synch folder which it uses to put the software on the phone so it would work

[Guest janp92]

active synch sill uses the cab files to install software if you look in the active synch folder cor every apllet you install via active sych a cab file is placed in the active synch folder which it uses to put the software on the phone so it would work

Gave the reg key a try and although it worked. It leaves a blank screen behind all applications. On my Prophet it literally brought it to a halt and takes 10mins to do anything. Tried re adding the DWORD key and then reset but no difference. Will try a hard reset later today. Going to give it a go on a Blue Angel next week so will report how it works on WM2003 but I wouldn't reccomend anyone try it unless they dont mind resetting to factory

[Guest janp92]

Ok gave it a try on the HTC Blue Angel (Vodafone VPx). However the reg key doesnt exist on it. Anyone know where else it is located.

[Guest chucky.egg]

active synch sill uses the cab files to install software

True, but ActiveSync calls wceload.exe itself, and doesn't open the file using the file type association, so changing the registry settings does NOT stop ActiveSync

gave it a try on the HTC Blue Angel

The BA was a WM2003 device I think, so the reg entry may be different.

On a WM5 device it's here:

HKCR - cabfile\shell\open\command

The default value is "\Windows\wceload.exe %1"

As for the app to control this ... there may be news about that soon.