For some reason for me, progman.exe just bugchecks my system. However, the others work just fine. 

Anyways, This is a really cool thing! Thanks for making this!

Hello

I trying now to make it with windows 7 64bits, i made everything (progman.exe, dlls and applications on sys32 and sysWOW64) but it only show me a blank gray screen with the options above like file, options, windows and help (help doesn't work)

I missed something?

Program manager:

- progman.exe

Apps:

- clock.exe

- control351.exe

- pbrush.exe

- winfile.exe

Dlls

- acledwr.dll

- kernelwr.dll

- mwr.dll

- ntanmwr

- shellwr.dll

- versiwr.dll

Just joined the site because I saw this forum post about running the old Windows Program Manager for later Windows. Saw somebody from Reddit posted the Program Manager running in Windows 11: https://www.reddit.com/r/windows/comments/1sdossu/program_manager_in_windows_11/ Looked at the internet on how to install or run, and this is one of the first results.

Anybody still have the copy of Wrapper Files? The rest of the Mega links are still available, however the Wrapper Files Mega link is no longer available. I want to try out experiencing using Program Manager for modern OS without having to run in a Virtual Machine.

Thank you.

Hey so I'm new here. Was trying to download the wrapper files and the mega link is broken/disabled.

On 11/1/2018 at 12:13 PM, SnowBall said:

Hi everyone,

I figured out a way to get Program Manager from Windows 3.x and Windows NT 3.X running again on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (32 Bit and 64 Bit).

Here is what you will need to do:

1. Download Program Manager here: https://mega.nz/#!dMsTRKBI!4wDzRrvNlhOGfkOOeUzKJY6zjazrKxs7aVFBY3GAUdY

2.     a) Extract and copy it to %SystemRoot%\System32 for 32 Bit Windows.

        b) Extract and copy it to BOTH %SystemRoot%\System32 and %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64 for 64 Bit Windows.

3. Download the wrapper files here: https://mega.nz/#!NUsh1CqB!1EbQggvisxpUysb_BxWrOfqEBlRPPVv3HuLd3E7GGuQ

4.    a) Extract and copy all the files to %SystemRoot%\System32 for 32 Bit Windows.

       b) Extract and copy all the files to BOTH %SystemRoot%\System32 and %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64 for 64 Bit Windows.

5. [RECOMMENDED] Download Additional apps such as File Manager, Paint Brush, Clock and Classic Control Panel from here: https://mega.nz/#!BU0nnCiR!AGb-uxT0CZxinbS7xwVd2iKeZXoTPPCjSsKNiTguqg4

6. [RECOMMENDED] 

      a) Extract the files and copy to %SystemRoot%\System32 for 32 Bit Windows.

      b) Extract the files and copy to BOTH %SystemRoot%\System32 and %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64 for 64 Bit Windows.

7. Launch %SystemRoot%\System32\progman.exe

8. DONE!

 

A few points:

1. This apps will display icons of 16 Bit apps which is better than Windows Explorer.

2. This app sadly has limitations on the compatibility with 64 Bit apps and icons of 64 Bit apps won't show. To solve this problem, make a batch file like this:

@echo off
start *PATH TO PROGRAM*
exit

and add the batch file to your program group. After that to get the icon back, use Resource Hacker or any other tools to extract the icon and put it in the same folder as your batch file. Click on "Change Icon" and choose the .ico file then tick "Run Minimized" so the command window doesn't pop up.

3. It is possible to add Microsoft Store Apps to Program Manager, but very hard (if you'd like to know, reply below).

4. For 64 Bit edition of Windows, when ever you add a program, the best way is to use a batch file, so it makes sure that your program works. If you tries to put any apps the your System32 folder, place it in the SysWOW64 as well, so it will show up.

5. For 64 Bit edition of Windows, %ProgramFiles% in Program Manager means %SystemDrive%\Program Files (x86) instead of %SystemDrive%\Program Files.

6. To set this as your default shell, open Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon and change the value of "Shell" from Explorer.exe to Progman.exe  Note: Backup your registry before you start editing!

Screenshots:

[Below]: Program Manager running on Windows 8 Consumer Preview (32 Bit)

[Below]: Program Manager running on Windows 10 Home 1809 (64 Bit)

https://ibb.co/nhGF7f

https://ibb.co/f6ka7f

More Coming Soon...

 

Regards,

ShowBall

 

Heya, could you maybe try putting the wrapper files back up? The link is dead.