Alt+Tab, Win-X Not Working After 1.1.8 Addons Install

[AYColumbia]

Hi,
I have Windows 8 Pro and the 1.1.8 install was working fine. I wanted to add the Addons, for the mirror driver and the extra Win8 support, so I downloaded and installed all the components. After doing so, Alt+Tab no longer works to switch between apps. The Win8 keys work fine from what I can tell but not Alt+Tab.

Let me know if you need any more info or something you want me to try. Thank you.

[AYColumbia]

Anyone else having this issue?

[AYColumbia]

Another update on this. I don't have this issue with 1.1.8 installed on Windows 7. When I connect to that PC, Alt-Tab works fine. It's only when I connect to Windows 8 PCs that Alt-Tab isn't working. This does work on Windows 8 if I revert back to 1.0.9.6.2.

[Prisma]

If I understood Rudi right w8hook.dll is only used on windows8. You wrote you haven't had this problem on Win8 without Addons installed. So it seems to be a bug within w8hook.dll. I'd say...

[Rudi De Vos]

w8hook -> video only, replace mirror driver
In the addons is a keyboardhelper exe, this take care of the alt-tab.

win8 running as service
*alt-tab
*winkey + x, winkey .c etc...
The keys doesn't work, UAC in win8 is stricter then in win7/Vista and can only be simulated by exe that has a special manifest.
The keyboard helper is just a small exe with the manifest set to be able to inject the special keys.

Without the keyboard helper, the special key's can't work when vnc run as sevice, it looks strange that they worked before
installing the addons.
(win8 -> no mirror driver, w8hook replace it)

[AYColumbia]

w8hook -> video only, replace mirror driver
In the addons is a keyboardhelper exe, this take care of the alt-tab.

win8 running as service
*alt-tab
*winkey + x, winkey .c etc...
The keys doesn't work, UAC in win8 is stricter then in win7/Vista and can only be simulated by exe that has a special manifest.
The keyboard helper is just a small exe with the manifest set to be able to inject the special keys.

Without the keyboard helper, the special key's can't work when vnc run as sevice, it looks strange that they worked before
installing the addons.
(win8 -> no mirror driver, w8hook replace it)

After I started having this issue, I uninstalled everything. I then installed only the main program, i.e., not the add-ons and the Alt-Tab no longer worked at all. So I then installed the Addons with all the options EXCEPT the mirror driver since w8hook replaces mirror and Alt-Tab still doesn't work.

I do have it running as a service and just checked and the folder does contain the uvnckeyboardhelper.exe file. Also, UAC is disabled.

So I'm still not sure what I'm missing. Let me know if you need any other info I can provide. Thank you.

[Rudi De Vos]

All test i did were with UAC on.

You could try to manual rename/remove the uvnckeyboardhelper.exe , possible the special handling of alt-tab is not needed
with UAC off.

The uninstaller didn't removed the addons and after reinstall the file was already there.
Then it could make sense
UAC off-> uvnckeyboardhelper.exe can not be installed
UAC on -> uvnckeyboardhelper.exe needed

Please let me know if this works

[AYColumbia]

All test i did were with UAC on.

You could try to manual rename/remove the uvnckeyboardhelper.exe , possible the special handling of alt-tab is not needed
with UAC off.

The uninstaller didn't removed the addons and after reinstall the file was already there.
Then it could make sense
UAC off-> uvnckeyboardhelper.exe can not be installed
UAC on -> uvnckeyboardhelper.exe needed

Please let me know if this works

Hi Rudi,
Here's what I did and the results:

• With UAC off, I renamed key mapper exec (_uvnckeyboardhelper.exe) and rebooted - did NOT work
• With UAC off, I renamed key mapper file and extension (_uvnckeyboardhelper.ex_) and rebooted - did NOT work
• Turned on UAC at lowest level, I renamed key mapper back to original name (uvnckeyboardhelper.exe) and rebooted - did NOT work

I tried both Alt-Tab and Win-X and neither worked under the conditions above. Any other ideas?

[AYColumbia]

Any update on this?

[Yod4z]

are you running winvnc.exe as service or not?

[AYColumbia]

Yes, running it as a service. The tray icon tool tip shows "- service -" to verify it.

[Yod4z]

ok because i have the same problem as you but without service mode (alt+X working but not Alt+Tab) UAC off

[AYColumbia]

Yep. I just tried this and it didn't work:
- uninstalled everything
- turned UAC on at minimal setting
- installed UVNC (as service) which caused UAC to pop up prompts so it is on
- installed all addons except mirror driver
- rebooted

Alt-Tab and Win-X still NOT working. Very frustrating. Not sure what else to do. I hate having UAC on, even at minimal, but I wouldn't mind it so much if UVNC keys actually worked. Seems like all the files are in the same folder like uvnckeyboardhelper.exe so am not exactly sure WHY things aren't working. Maybe Rudi will be able to figure this out soon?

Help us Rudi De Vos-enobi, you're our only hope...

[Rudi De Vos]

All was tested with the default settings of win8.

The file has a UAC manifest with uiaccess=true.
*A UAC manifest only works with UAC enabled.
*Uiacess need to be signed by a thrusted certificat ( check if digital signature of "uvnckeyboardhelper.exe" is ok), this cert is checked during runtime.
Sometimes if the check fail, like access to verisign doesn't work it's better to import the cert as thrusted certificat. ( via the digital signature tab you can import
the cert)
*The file need to be installed in a secure location (program files, windows system32 ..)

Some more info can be found if you google for uiaccess=yes.

[AYColumbia]

All was tested with the default settings of win8.

The file has a UAC manifest with uiaccess=true.
*A UAC manifest only works with UAC enabled.
*Uiacess need to be signed by a thrusted certificat ( check if digital signature of "uvnckeyboardhelper.exe" is ok), this cert is checked during runtime.
Sometimes if the check fail, like access to verisign doesn't work it's better to import the cert as thrusted certificat. ( via the digital signature tab you can import
the cert)
*The file need to be installed in a secure location (program files, windows system32 ..)

Some more info can be found if you google for uiaccess=yes.

I looked at that uiaccess setting and as long you have it set to true in the embedded manifest, it shouldn't be the source of this problem I would think.

In regards to the certificate. What tab are you referring to? In UltraVNC or in Windows? Because the "uvnc bvba" certificate is installed just fine under the Certificates | Trusted Publishers | Certificates.

The app is installed to the standard default location, i.e., C:\Program Files.

[balubeto]

Where is the uvnckeyboardhelper.exe Add-On?

Thanks

Bye

[Rudi De Vos]

http://www.uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc/ ... -1100.html
It's part of the addons
Addons win32 v1180
Addons x64 v1180

[AYColumbia]

Have any of you, who have experienced this problem, been able to resolve it? I'm still dead in the water and can't use Alt-Tab. There's got to be a way to get this working. Is it possible that the edition of Windows 8 can be the problem? In my case, both problematic computers are running Win 8 Pro with Media Center. I'm probably grasping at straws, but am desperate at this point.

Rudi,
I've pretty much tried everything you're recommended. Would it be worth using my installation as a test for logging some information? I'd be willing to help if you're open to sending a debug build that has some logging for this issue. Maybe my OS installation can provide info that may shed some light on this? What do you think?

[Rudi De Vos]

This was tested on a windows 8 OS ( out of the box, without disabling, chaging anything).

special keys require seperate exe
uvnckeyboardhelper.exe ( installed via addon in th same folder as winvnc.exe)
This exe use a special uiaccess=yes manifest ( UAC ON is required)
If UAC was off duing install and later activated it doesn't work.

Summaryze
1° UAC need to be ON ( Keep in mind that chaging UAC setting require reboot)
2° UAC need to be ON when you install the software ( MS add sepcial bitys to exe only when UAC is on)
3° winvnc folder need to be in program files

Until know all special key issue's could be tracked to UAC settings during install
of after install.

[AYColumbia]

This was tested on a windows 8 OS ( out of the box, without disabling, chaging anything).

special keys require seperate exe
uvnckeyboardhelper.exe ( installed via addon in th same folder as winvnc.exe)
This exe use a special uiaccess=yes manifest ( UAC ON is required)
If UAC was off duing install and later activated it doesn't work.

Summaryze
1° UAC need to be ON ( Keep in mind that chaging UAC setting require reboot)
2° UAC need to be ON when you install the software ( MS add sepcial bitys to exe only when UAC is on)
3° winvnc folder need to be in program files

Until know all special key issue's could be tracked to UAC settings during install
of after install.

Do you know if UAC needs to be ON and on a specific level or is just being ON sufficient? I ask because I've done everything you've mentioned. Per my earlier post, I've already gone through these steps but made no difference, i.e.,

I just tried this and it didn't work:
- uninstalled everything
- turned UAC on at minimal setting
- installed UVNC (as service) which caused UAC to pop up prompts so it is on
- installed all addons except mirror driver
- rebooted

Note that when installing, on my HTPC I use the default folder and on my laptop I only change the drive letter from C to D. The default path is used on both computers.

I'll give this another try in the next day or two and report back, but I'm not very confident it'll make a difference. Stay tuned...

[Rudi De Vos]

From de MS site (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... s.85).aspx)

the application must reside in a protected location in the file system. Currently, there are two allowable protected locations:
\Program Files\
\Program Files(x86)\
\windows\system32\

I tested with the default value's.
UAC was on.

You can test it, if you copy a file to "program files", UAC need to popup and ask for permission.
If it doesn't, UAC is not working proper.

Sorry, but MS UAC is a hell. SOme functions depdn on it and
get disabled when you change UAC settings. UAC is more then the
popup...

[AYColumbia]

Hi Rudi,
Yep, UAC is working fine as it does prompt me when I copy the authentication key files to, e.g., C:\Program Files\uvnc bvba\UltraVnc. So I, again, did the following:
- Uninstalled and manually removed any files/folders NOT removed by the uninstall
- Rebooted
- Turned ON UAC at medium level
- Rebooted
- Installed uVNC to default location
- Copied authentication key files (UAC popped up permissions dialog)
- Configured uVNC
- Rebooted
- Connected to server and Alt-Tab still NOT working

So am I and others who experience are SOL is what you're saying? I'm sure UAC is hell, which is why I turn it off normally, but there has to be a way to solve this, no?

[Rudi De Vos]

alt-tab just like the winkey combinations can only be used with UAC.
( This was something MS added for win8)
Not possible to bypass the security.

Other people were able to use it after activating UAC.
I realy don't know what's going on on your system.

on windows 8
DO NOT use the old Windows 7 and Vista method of setting the EnableLUA registry DWORD to 0 (zero) to completely disable UAC. If you do this in Windows 8, it will break all programs that require UAC.

default value

"PromptOnSecureDesktop"=dword:00000001
"EnableLUA"=dword:00000001
"ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin"=dword:00000005

I will do some test myself to see if i can break alt-tab by chaning one of the UAC reg settings.

[AYColumbia]

Hi Rudi,
I've only disabled/enabled UAC through the UI, i.e., I go to the Windows 8 Start screen and type "user control" which finds the "Change UAC settings" in the results under Settings. Selecting it brings up the UAC Settings UI and I use the slider to enable/disable. I've never used the registry to tinker with UAC, not even in Windows 7.

BTW, this issue I have, as I've mentioned before, is on two computers which are the only two running Windows 8. Both are Win8 Pro with Media Center. Both are new installations and NOT upgrades. One is a custom built HTPC and the other an ASUS Notebook. I mean what are the odds that I experience the same dang problem on both?

I know others are working otherwise they'd probably posted in this thread. I appreciate whatever you can do as I understand your frustration as a developer and with what Microsoft has done to make this so ridiculously complicated.

[Rudi De Vos]

tested with AUC default and one lower ( no popup)
Removed and reinstalled for each setting
In both cases alt-tab is working...

software': windows 8 pro version no media center: language english
remark: scroll lock ON (viewer pc) to send special keys remote.

[AYColumbia]

tested with AUC default and one lower ( no popup)
Removed and reinstalled for each setting
In both cases alt-tab is working...

software': windows 8 pro version no media center: language english
remark: scroll lock ON (viewer pc) to send special keys remote.

Thanks for trying. I appreciate it. This is just so vexing. Last night I tried again but this time I not only uninstalled, but I manually went through the registry and cleaned out some remaining entries using "UltraVNC" and "uvnc" for search criteria. That didn't help either.

I also used the Sysinternals process monitor program to monitor winvnc.exe and the keyboard helper but I didn't see anything that jumped out at me. Is it worth sending you the process monitor dump for the keyboard helper to possibly compare to what you're seeing? Have you used this utility before?