how to hide console window?

[alaphate]

I want to convert a batch file (clean.bat) to clean.exe, but I dislike the console window.

Any buddy knows how to hide the cmd window? Thanks a lot.

WinExec and ShellExecute seem can not fit my requirement.

del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"	   
del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\recent\*.*"
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs" /va /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU" /va /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs" /f

//clean.exe#include <windows.h>
#include <process.h>int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrev, LPSTR pCmdLine, int iCmdShow) {
	system("del /f /s /q \"%userprofile%\Local Settings\Temp\*.*\"");
	return 0;
}

[Ufo-Pu55y]

Surely not what you meant, but at least you can run it minimized like this:

@echo off
if not "%1"=="" goto %1start /MIN cmd.exe /C "%~nx0 begin"
goto:eof:begin
	del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"	   
	del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\recent\*.*"
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs" /va /f
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU" /va /f
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs" /f 
goto:eof

[alaphate]

Ufo-Pu55y, your batch file is awesome.

However,

I'm wondering how to hide the console window when I call function system("dir > a.txt").

[Ufo-Pu55y]

@echo off
if not "%1"=="" goto %1start /MIN cmd.exe /C "%~nx0 begin"
goto:eof:begin
	del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"	   
	del /f /s /q "%userprofile%\recent\*.*"
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs" /va /f
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU" /va /f
	reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs" /f 
goto:eof:dir
	%1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8
goto:eof

There are tons of batch tutorials out there btw..

[human]

what a problem to change in pe header from console to windowed.

also on net there are many tools that hide windows. even windowed ones.

most av detect them, due people us it to hide tools.

imagine runing command on remote pc and suddenly user see your proggy window:P

[evlncrn8]

Yep, pe header modification from console -> gui would do the trick, or alternatively you could use pipes and createprocess so the console window never 'shows'...

[STN]

ShowWindow(GetModuleHandle(0),SW_HIDE); at the start of your program.

[alaphate]

Thanks for replying.

I found a tool to convert bat to exe with ghost mode.

http://www.computerhope.com/download/utili...e_Converter.zip

But my kaspersky warned me with virus!!

[CondZero]

Yep, pe header modification from console -> gui would do the trick, or alternatively you could use pipes and createprocess so the console window never 'shows'...

I used this trick in my "PunchIt" application available on Arteam releases page.

Here's the main function for hiding a console window. I launch PECompact's

console version of their packer / encrypter below:

// The following function is a shortened variant of Q190351 - HOWTO: Spawn Console Processes with Redirected Standard Handles
// Included is commented code for creating a console window and extracting the output buffer as a possible alternative
// Run via CreateProcess the PECompact2 console program and provide feedback
BOOL RunPEC2(void)
{
	// If so desired, set the bInheritHandle flag so pipe handles are inherited.
	ZeroMemory( &sa, sizeof(sa) );
   	sa.nLength = sizeof(sa);
   	sa.bInheritHandle = TRUE;
   	sa.lpSecurityDescriptor = NULL;	/* NOTE:If using anonymous pipes include below, This is more elegant because we can hide the child process */
	CreatePipe(&hStdOutputReadPipe, &hStdOutputWritePipe, &sa, 0);	// create a inheritable pipe
	// duplicate the "write" end as inheritable stdout
	DuplicateHandle(GetCurrentProcess(), hStdOutputWritePipe,
								GetCurrentProcess(), &hStdOutput,
								0, TRUE, DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS);
	// duplicate stdout as inheritable stderr
	DuplicateHandle(GetCurrentProcess(), hStdOutput,
								GetCurrentProcess(), &hStdError,
								0, TRUE, DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS);
	// no longer need the non-inheritable "write" end of the pipe
	CloseHandle(hStdOutputWritePipe);	ZeroMemory( &si, sizeof(si) );
	si.cb = sizeof(si);
	ZeroMemory( π, sizeof(pi) );
	ZeroMemory( &b, sizeof(b) );
	/* initialize STARTUPINFO */
	si.cb = sizeof(si);
	si.dwFlags = STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW | STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
	si.hStdOutput = hStdOutput;
	si.hStdError  = hStdError;
	si.wShowWindow = SW_HIDE;
	/* If using a console window include below */
	/*
	if (!AllocConsole())
	{
		MessageBoxError("AllocConsole failed!");
		return FALSE;
	}
	else
	{
		isConsole=TRUE;
	}
	*/
	// Start the child process.
	if(!CreateProcess( NULL, 	// If no module name (use command line).
		bbuffer,				// Command line.
		NULL,			 		// Process handle not inheritable.
		NULL,			 		// Thread handle not inheritable.
		TRUE,					// Set handle inheritance to TRUE.
		CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE|NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, 	// when using anonymous pipes, otherwise 0.
		NULL,			 		// Use parent's environment block.
		temppath,				  // Use Start in Folder for (target) process
		&si,					  // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure.
		π ))			 		// Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure. 	{
		sprintf(b, "CreateProcess: %s", bbuffer);
		MessageBoxError(b);
		return FALSE;
	}	// Send update status to dialog's progress control
	do
	{
		PostMessage(hwndCmp, WM_PROGRESS,0,0);
	}
	while(WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess,500)!=WAIT_OBJECT_0); // update at 500ms = 1/2 second intervals until done!	dwRet = 0x00000000;
	GetExitCodeProcess(pi.hProcess, &dwRet);
	ReadFile(hStdOutputReadPipe, bigbuf, sizeof(bigbuf), &dwRead, NULL);	// This block is for anonymous pipes
	// Print the exit code
	//*b = '\0';
	//sprintf(b, "Exit code is: %01X\n", dwRet);
	//strcat(bigbuf, b);
	goto NEXT;
	//
	// This block of code for reading console buffer
	//
	/*
	hConsoleOut = GetStdHandle( STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE );
	GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(hConsoleOut, &csbi);
	lineWidth = csbi.dwSize.X;
	count = ((csbi.dwCursorPosition.Y-lastpos.Y)*lineWidth+(csbi.dwCursorPosition.X-lastpos.X));
	cbuf = (LPTSTR) LocalAlloc(LMEM_FIXED | LMEM_ZEROINIT, count*sizeof(TCHAR));
	// read newly output characters starting from last cursor position
	ReadConsoleOutputCharacter(hConsoleOut, cbuf, count-1, lastpos, &dwRead);
	// fill screen buffer with zeroes
	FillConsoleOutputCharacter(hConsoleOut, '\0', count, lastpos, &dwRead);
	CloseHandle(hConsoleOut);
	if (isConsole)
	{
		FreeConsole();
	}
	MessageBox(0, cbuf,"PUNCHIT",MB_OK+MB_TASKMODAL+MB_ICONINFORMATION);
	LocalFree(cbuf);
	*/
	NEXT:
	return TRUE;
}

cheers

[alaphate]

Although CreateProcess is a complicated method, it really worked.

Thanks buddies