[python-win32] How to unload ShellExtension?

[Thomas Heller]

aurora <aurora00 at gmail.com> writes:

> I have previously asked about how to reload a ShellExtension during  
> development. There a a few good suggestions like killnig the explorer  
> process.

AFAIK, the official way to kill explorer (useful during development) on
XP is to press Start->Shutdown.  In the dialog box that now appears,
while holding down ALT-CTRL-SHIFT click the cancel button.  This will
end explorer.  Then use CTRL-SHIFT-ESCAPE to open task manager and start
a new explorer instance (via New Task).

> Now I run into a bigger issue. When I uninstall (using innosetup), the
> process is still loaded and it lock up scores of DLLs.  Killing
> explorer is probably too heavy handed for end users. So let me try one
> more time, is there anyway to positively tell explorer to unload a COM
> server?

For the end user there's no other way than to reboot.  Isn't this what
innosetup suggests anyway?

I cannot understand why MS didn't provide a way to programmatically
restart explorer.  And, BTW, the problem isn't python specific.

Thomas