Question : How do I hide the Start button and keep a black screen until after a startup program launches

I am setting up a kiosk type machine running Windows XP SP3 and  I have already put the /noguiboot in the boot.ini file.

The machine has a touch screen and I need to hide the Start button and keep the screen black
until a startup application loads. Once the application loads, it prevents access to the Start button.

This is needed to prevent users from pressing the start button while the machine is loading the startup application. The black screen while the application is loading is required to disguise what is going on until the application finishes loading.

I would very much appreciate any assistance that can be offered and I give my thanks in advance.

Answer : How do I hide the Start button and keep a black screen until after a startup program launches

Do you want me to make you a program that does this?
I can make a program with AUTOIT that will wait for your program then start Explorer.exe.
You can also do it yourself. Just download Autoit
http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/index.shtml

Create a new text file and rename to
program.au3

Later we will compile this to .exe by right clicking on it

Use this code
WinWaitActive("yourprogram window name")
Sleep(5000)
Run (@WindowsDir & "Explorer.exe")
Exit

Save and then right click on file and chose COMPILE

Now use group policy and go to
User Configuration
Administrative Templetes
System
Customer user Interface

Under interface name enter the program you just made and drop it in the C:/Windows drive
Example
C:\Windows\program.exe