Will this piece of code trigger a VAC ban?

[Da9L]

Hello

Im coding a simple program to minimize one of my games autimaticly. It works by grabbing the exes window handler and then minimize it .. heres the code:

        If Minimized.CheckState = CheckState.Checked Then
            Dim MW3 As New Process
            Try
                RichTextBox1.Text = RichTextBox1.Text & vbCrLf & "* - Starting Modern Warfare 3"
                MW3.StartInfo.FileName = (My.Settings.path_mw3)
                MW3.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False
                MW3.StartInfo.RedirectStandardInput = False
                MW3.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = False
                MW3.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = True
                MW3.Start()
                MW3.WaitForInputIdle(-1)
                Dim tmp_hWnd As IntPtr = MW3.MainWindowHandle
                For i As Integer = 1 To 10
                    tmp_hWnd = MW3.MainWindowHandle
                    If Not tmp_hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then Exit For
                    Threading.Thread.Sleep(300)
                Next
                If Not tmp_hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then
                    ShowWindow(tmp_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Minimize)
                    'ShowWindow(tmp_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Hide)
                    MW3_hWnd = tmp_hWnd
                Else
                    RichTextBox1.Text = RichTextBox1.Text & vbCrLf & "! - Error - Could not get Window handle for MW3"
                End If

            Catch ex As Exception
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
            End Try
        Else
        End If

Obviously im not sure that this is working or not, since i cant test before i know if it would trigger a VAC ban or not ..

Can anyone here assist?

[DoYouCareBro]

Probably not. Since your program doesn't have any of cheating functions, you are safe. But use at your own risk of course.

[durrchet]

It will not. It has nothing to do with memmory manipulation and even if it was it still needs to be in the database of known cheats.

Also visual basic. Wat : p

[Da9L]

Originally Posted by durrchet

It will not. It has nothing to do with memmory manipulation and even if it was it still needs to be in the database of known cheats.

Also visual basic. Wat : p

Visual BASIC :P its my first time using any programming tool, so please give me a break

[NabsterHax]

You will get no official word from Valve, but I think you should be safe using this. AFAIK, VAC only bans for known cheats, and there are plenty of tools out there that hook into game processes without triggering VAC.

On the other hand, it looks like you're trying to do this with MW3, which i have no experience with.

[bha2597]

Ask support. But use at your own risk

[NabsterHax]

Originally Posted by bha2597

Ask support. But use at your own risk

Don't ask support. All they will tell you is that they cannot provide VAC information on third party software and you must use it at your own risk. Waste of a ticket that someone who genuinely has a support problem that needs answering.

[Custom333]

Even opening the console in MW3 is ban-able, don't risk it.

[Stryker7990]

I would'nt use it, it looks that you want to change how MW3 starts up, that would be classed as a Ban m8.

[azzonie]

It looks safe to me. I think it would be easier and safer to use Autoit for something like this though.

[CTRL ALT DEL !]

I would be really surprised if it caused a ban, isn't there a startup parameter you could use within Steam to get the game windowed?

[Cryzbl]

Originally Posted by Custom333

Even opening the console in MW3 is ban-able, don't risk it.

Enabling the console itself isn't VAC ban-able/detectable (well, depends on how you achieve it, but it should be possible without triggering VAC at all).

The way VAC catches you is to detect the program that performs the task. Meaning you can write your own console enabler, not share it with anyone and it'll never get you banned.

[Heisterburg]

I doubt you will get banned, as I cannot imagine how Valve could get this code and add it to their database.

However, I believe there is a launch option for windowed mode for Steam games, and that would be completely risk freel, so I would reccomend looking into that.

[GTX2GvO]

How about you try your code on a single player NON-VAC secured game first for functionality testing?

That way you can determine IF it would work.

Finding out if something is VAC ban able can only be confirmed if it ends up banning you.
(You're not likely to get any definite answer otherwise)

[Lostie]

It is 100% safe, because all you're doing is starting a process in exactly the same way that windows explorer does, and then platform invoking the ShowWindow() API with SW_MINIMIZE. Nothing even remotely dodgy about that - it's safe and you need not worry. I made a similar program to you many years ago although it went a bit further - it bound global hotkeys to SetDeviceGammaRamp() in order to adjust the screen gamma (brightness) when I pressed PGUP and PGDN. I used this when playing counterstrike due to a dodgy CRT monitor that made dark areas too dark; one keypress and I could see again

Don't knock the guy for using VB, this is VB.NET not VB6 which is just as powerful as any other language! Language snobbery is sooo 1990's Anyway he could easily convert his code to C# if he wanted using an online converter like this or this.
The learning of any programming language should be encouraged, so if you get stuck and need any help with your code then feel free to PM me and I'll do my best (time allowing).