Auto-Start a program

[NY Jester]

Im wondering if there is a way to have a program 'auto-start'. Not just show up in the Start Up but actually open completely when I login to Windows.

[dunc]

I'm sure there is cos MSN messenger does it all the time (bloody kids)

I think its somewhere in your start menu options... which differs from system to system.

On a side note, its really easy to do on Apple Macs

[JackDaniel's]

I use Startup Manager for this. Here's a link : http://sourceforge.net/projects/st-m/

Hope this helps

[CrazySy]

You should be able to change the setting by going to Run ----> services.msc

[NY Jester]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I have done the "normal" methods of adding the program to the start up, etc. but what that does is places the icon in the quick launch tray. I actualy need the program to open ready to use. I have a client with MS and Im trying to make accessing her main used program to open with minimal effort.

[Daniel_webcams]

also... you could create a batch.bat and tell it to run your program after x seconds... add it then in the start up...

[ed_banger]

What version of windows?

3.1
95
98
2000
ME
XP
Vista
7
????

[MeatPounder]

put a shortcut to the program in your startup folder in your start menu (that's what that folder is there for)

[NY Jester]

MP..I think you may have missed what I said about it. I have it in the start up folder..its not what I need I need the program to actually open and start ready to use without clicking etc. Thats why I tried to make that as clear as possible. Guess some just look past whats written.

Im wondering if there is a way to have a program 'auto-start'. Not just show up in the Start Up but actually open completely when I login to Windows.

I have done the "normal" methods of adding the program to the start up, etc. but what that does is places the icon in the quick launch tray. I actualy need the program to open ready to use. I have a client with MS and Im trying to make accessing her main used program to open with minimal effort.

Ed_ she is running Vista and has MS so it's physically hard for her to open alot of things. Just trying to make it easier for her.

[Simon]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...Windows-starts

That's how MS says to do it.

[MeatPounder]

As I said (and Simon verified), that is the recommended method that I have found works 100% of the time.

I did read you had tried the normal methods as far as adding to start up (but that statement is general...there are dozens of ways to add different things to start up, but for a program window to open, that is the sure way to do it.)

Now that said, many programs have multiple icons that do different things (including starting as a background service in the system tray such as aol, quicktime and others love to do)

So I will walk through this

1. in your start menu all programs list find the icon for the program that when you click it the program window opens.
2. right click that and select create shortcut
3. now in your start menu in the same place you see the original program icon you will see a shortcut to that program
4. drag that new icon to the start menu startup folder
5.for an added tweak, right click that new shortcut that you have moved to the startup folder and select properties, go to the shortcut tab if not already there and make sure normal window is selected and not minimized (in fact you may want to choose maximized)

I have never seen this fail in 14 years of being a MCP and MSCE for PROGRAMS....this is not the method for starting services.

Now admitted this may be a real oddball program I do not know about....or perhaps this is a rare case that the program needs administrative permission to run (does she need to click the uac prompt when she starts the program manually?), in that case also click the advanced button while on the shortcut tab in properties and make sure run as administrator is checked (in fact if she has difficulties clicking the mouse you may want to turn odd UAC altogether to make it easier on her...that can be done in user config in the start menu

The very last thing I can think of is the program needs a service (or services) running to open, and those services are set to start on demand.
I really doubt that would be a problem. But it is possible that windows start up is processed before service load and thus the request for the service is not completed properly.

If that is the case, which I doubt, then you can set those services to auto start also. First thing is to find out what service...After windows fully boots, open your task manager and go to the services tab...check carefully every service that is running. Now open the program you want manually...and check the running services again to see if anything new is there (remember services tab not processes)

If you do see the program starts a service, go to the start menu and type services in the search box, at the top of the menu find and click services.
Scroll down to find the service (or services), and if the one(s) you need are set to manual change to auto (right click the service and select properties and the option will be there)....but as I said I seriously doubt the service option will be necessary.

Originally Posted by NY Jester

MP..I think you may have missed what I said about it. I have it in the start up folder..its not what I need I need the program to actually open and start ready to use without clicking etc. Thats why I tried to make that as clear as possible. Guess some just look past whats written.








Ed_ she is running Vista and has MS so it's physically hard for her to open alot of things. Just trying to make it easier for her.

[NY Jester]

I agree thats how it says to have it done. I have done it though under administrator and it still only opens in the quick launch tray. I am in contact with the programs support as well. I appreciate all the advice for sure..just has me frustrated.

[MeatPounder]

Hmmm
Why not try task scheduler
set the trigger either when windows starts or the user logs in (try both)
Set the action to open a program and select your problematic program

((what that will do is it creates a script to run)