Running programs when Windows starts

[Lightman]

Hi Everybody,

I have been looking at ways to make my programs run automatically when Windows starts.  I found that I can add an entry into the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. However, I have noticed that some software starts before the user logs in.  My Cisco VPN software starts before I press crlt-alt-del to login. 

Does anyone know how this is achived?

Regards,

Lightman

[ecube]

well that key loads your program for all users, if you want to load just for your current account use HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead. As far as autostart methods go i'm not sure policy here around that, but if you want to start before other programs make your program install as a service or try the activex autostart method.

[drizz]

Does anyone know how this is achived?

Is your login dialog customized? Maybe it starts via MSGINA hook.

BTW, you can use http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx to investigate

[Vortex]

Lightman,

You can create your own service to run an application when Windows starts. Here is an example :

Create your own user-defined services Windows NT/2000/XP/2003

How To Create a User-Defined Service

[askm]

You will need two Resource Kit tools

srvany and instsrv,

off the top my head...

LSS (long story short), you'll be running it as a SYSTEM service

on startup. I have a script running that shuts down the computer

if nobodys logged on for a certain number of minutes.

I can fetch the details of how I did it. It has worked on Vista and XP.