I've made my Launchbox into the first ever interactive scroll-able desktop wallpaper!

[Jayinem]

There really wasn't a great section to choose from so I put it here but if it needs to be moved no problem. I could help someone with the scripts on doing this if you wanted. 

Edited Saturday at 05:21 AM by Jayinem

[Caroline Harper]

That’s a very cool and unique use of LaunchBox.
Never thought of using it as a scrollable desktop wallpaper before.
Would love to hear more about the scripts you used and how it performs long-term.

[Jayinem]

4 hours ago, Caroline Harper said:

That’s a very cool and unique use of LaunchBox.
Never thought of using it as a scrollable desktop wallpaper before.
Would love to hear more about the scripts you used and how it performs long-term.

Okay if you don't already have it installed then install Autohotkey https://www.autohotkey.com/

Since I don't know if you've ever used autohotkey before or not I'm just going to walk you through every step as if you know nothing.  If you're not very computer saavy it may seem like a lot but if you at least know how to do things like copy and paste create documents you should be fine (You're using Launchbox I assume so you should be okay). And even if this is easy to you maybe someone else will read this who are not so computer saavy. 

Go to the folder that has your Launchbox.exe right click on an empty space and select New  > AutoHotKey Script call it anything you choose I call it "Launchbox WinMaximized" let's say you also choose that it will make a document called "Launchbox WinMaximized.ahk" or whatever you called it.ahk. It doesn't matter what it's called as long as it ends with .ahk. 

Copy this entire code and paste it in your script (under the first four lines that are already there just leave them untouched) 

SetTitleMatchMode 2 
#SingleInstance force
#Persistent
WinGet, state, MinMax, % "ahk_id " WinExist("ahk_exe Launchbox.exe")
Loop
{
   if WinActive("ahk_exe LaunchBox.exe")
      WinMaximize 
   if (state = -1)
      WinMaximize 
}
  return 

Choose File and Save The Document. 

Right click on the document you just created and choose Compile Script

You should have a 2nd document named <Whatever you called it.exe> Right click on it and choose create shortcut.

Hit Windows Key + R key both at the same time it should open up  run type in "startup.exe" and hit enter, copy this shortcut you made (or cut) and paste it into this location.

Now you need 1 more script to keep Launchbox open at all times so make another AutoHotKey script following the same instructions in the same location of Launchbox.exe.

Paste this code this time
 

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#SingleInstance, Force
SendMode Input
SetTitleMatchMode 2

loop {
Process, Exist, %iTC_imgName%
If (ErrorLevel = 0)
{
Run, LaunchBox.exe
}
Else
{
sleep 5000
}
}

Do the same things as the first script right click on the .ahk file choose Compile Script, right click on the newly created .exe and create shortcut and put it the same startup folder I told you before by pressing Windows Key + R and putting the shortcut there. And that should be it your Launchbox should stay fullscreen at all times (however you can use anything such as your internet browser over it with no problems) and it should stay open at all times. Let me know if anything doesn't work or if need any additional help. 

 

Just keep in mind you won't be able to minimize Launchbox with these scripts or close it without it automatically reopening without you doing anything, but you can always hit your Windows key if you need to get to anywhere on your computer such as your start menu however you should still be able to see your taskbar on the bottom of the screen with this unless you've chosen to hide your taskbar. And also your scripts will stay in your tray down on the bottom right of your computer that if needed you can close out the scripts or pause/suspend the scripts if you ever need to. But as long as they stay in the startup folder they will start with your computer each time you boot it up. You shouldn't have to do anything else as long as you want to keep it like this it'll just keep working. from now on.  Just make sure you can access anything that is currently on your desktop as shortcuts but you can still open a folder and on the left side choose Desktop and access your desktop shortcuts if needed. You can also most likely find everything in the start menu on the bottom left where it looks like a Windows key. I put everything in Launchbox my computer needs I could help you do that too if you want (it's not too difficult).

Edited Saturday at 11:01 AM by Jayinem

[Caroline Harper]

On 1/3/2026 at 3:28 PM, Jayinem said:

Okay if you don't already have it installed then install Autohotkey https://www.autohotkey.com/

Since I don't know if you've ever used autohotkey before or not I'm just going to walk you through every step as if you know nothing.  If you're not very computer saavy it may seem like a lot but if you at least know how to do things like copy and paste create documents you should be fine (You're using Launchbox I assume so you should be okay). And even if this is easy to you maybe someone else will read this who are not so computer saavy. 

Go to the folder that has your Launchbox.exe right click on an empty space and select New  > AutoHotKey Script call it anything you choose I call it "Launchbox WinMaximized" let's say you also choose that it will make a document called "Launchbox WinMaximized.ahk" or whatever you called it.ahk. It doesn't matter what it's called as long as it ends with .ahk. 

Copy this entire code and paste it in your script (under the first four lines that are already there just leave them untouched) 

SetTitleMatchMode 2 
#SingleInstance force
#Persistent
WinGet, state, MinMax, % "ahk_id " WinExist("ahk_exe Launchbox.exe")
Loop
{
   if WinActive("ahk_exe LaunchBox.exe")
      WinMaximize 
   if (state = -1)
      WinMaximize 
}
  return 

Choose File and Save The Document. 

Right click on the document you just created and choose Compile Script

You should have a 2nd document named <Whatever you called it.exe> Right click on it and choose create shortcut.

Hit Windows Key + R key both at the same time it should open up  run type in "startup.exe" and hit enter, copy this shortcut you made (or cut) and paste it into this location.

Now you need 1 more script to keep Launchbox open at all times so make another AutoHotKey script following the same instructions in the same location of Launchbox.exe.

Paste this code this time
 

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#SingleInstance, Force
SendMode Input
SetTitleMatchMode 2

loop {
Process, Exist, %iTC_imgName%
If (ErrorLevel = 0)
{
Run, LaunchBox.exe
}
Else
{
sleep 5000
}
}

Do the same things as the first script right click on the .ahk file choose Compile Script, right click on the newly created .exe and create shortcut and put it the same startup folder I told you before by pressing Windows Key + R and putting the shortcut there. And that should be it your Launchbox should stay fullscreen at all times (however you can use anything such as your internet browser over it with no problems) and it should stay open at all times. Let me know if anything doesn't work or if need any additional help. 

 

Just keep in mind you won't be able to minimize Launchbox with these scripts or close it without it automatically reopening without you doing anything, but you can always hit your Windows key if you need to get to anywhere on your computer such as your start menu however you should still be able to see your taskbar on the bottom of the screen with this unless you've chosen to hide your taskbar. And also your scripts will stay in your tray down on the bottom right of your computer that if needed you can close out the scripts or pause/suspend the scripts if you ever need to. But as long as they stay in the startup folder they will start with your computer each time you boot it up. You shouldn't have to do anything else as long as you want to keep it like this it'll just keep working. from now on.  Just make sure you can access anything that is currently on your desktop as shortcuts but you can still open a folder and on the left side choose Desktop and access your desktop shortcuts if needed. You can also most likely find everything in the start menu on the bottom left where it looks like a Windows key. I put everything in Launchbox my computer needs I could help you do that too if you want (it's not too difficult).

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
That clears up why the warning is showing and how the checks work.
I understand that it is more about tooling limits than an actual user issue.
I will review the setup again with this in mind.

[Jayinem]

1 hour ago, Caroline Harper said:

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
That clears up why the warning is showing and how the checks work.
I understand that it is more about tooling limits than an actual user issue.
I will review the setup again with this in mind.

I'm sorry I don't know what you mean by warning and how the check works? Can you tell me what's going on. I have no warnings. 

[Caroline Harper]

1 hour ago, Jayinem said:

I'm sorry I don't know what you mean by warning and how the check works? Can you tell me what's going on. I have no warnings. 

Sorry for the confusion.
By warning, I meant the message shown by the tool about setup or configuration limits, not an actual error.
In my case, everything works, but the tool still shows a warning based on how it checks the setup.
That’s why I said it seems more like a tooling check than a real issue.