Auto Start: How do I run a program automatically when Windows starts?

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Just for the record (and for users still using Windows 95/98/ME): on 9x-based Windows operating-systems there were also "run=" and "load=" lines in the "win.ini" file, which purpose was to load programs (and drivers, read on); where the run= one was intended to run programs and load= one to load any additional drivers.

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best regards,
Ivan Tadej, Slovenija, EU
http://www.tadej-ivan.be/

Another idea - you can convert your program or script to Windows Service. This service will start your program after computer restart even if no user is logged on.
I recommend to use ExeToService.
http://www.exetoservice.com/

This article helped me a lot. That's what I can say...

How about using the Local Computer Policy (if the computer is not a member of a domain) and add a Startup/Logon Script

Jankovic Milan, Belgrade, Serbia

Hi,
I chanced upon this site as Iw as searching for info on auto start ups. Nice site with lot of information, Thanks.
I need a little more help. I have tried the start up option. But that does not do waht I need. I have an exe that I would like to run before anything is shown on the desktop to the user. The app should take over the screen before anyone can see anything else about the desktop. I saw your note about downloading autoruns. And I installed it on my machine. Boy, there's a whole bunch of things that auto start up on my machine. But how do I know the order of these things? If I knew the order, I could probably set my app to be the first to be started. But even then, there might be some windows apps that need to be running before mine can start.
I am looking at exetoService.com as suggested in a user comment above. I also have a service that this app responds to. Will that in anyway be jeoparadized if I turn this exe into a service?

Please let me know what my options are at this point.

Thanks for your help,
Ramya

I used the exetoservice software to convert my app to a service and set it up. I think it works great now and addresses my needs very well. Thanks you for the info on this web site. This was so helpful.
Ramya

HELP!! i need to know how to directly start a program example... When your friend asks a file and you send it by msn i want the program or file to start or open directly after download... Tell me please,,. Thanks

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Starting a program automatically after a download (without
the recipient explicitly saying "now run this") would be a
HUGE security hole and would open up the doors to malware
even wider than they already are. I'm not aware of a way to
do that on an IM file transfer, and I wouldn't recommended
it if I did.

Leo

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I have question LEo, how to mapping drive auto to user when they login.I use Terminal Service Client that i want they all put they data on server.Example i have folder on D:/Share on server i want when theyuser login,automatically mapping drive z on they computer.Thank

Great information. To take this a step further. I have a small freeware executable (Windows) that I want to distribute. I want to include in the install script the ability for the user to either run this program at every boot up and/or at a specified time every day. Is there an easy way to do this?? Thanks

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