Controlling the Start order of programs

[Guest]

Running WinXP - ProSP2
Is there a way to control/dictate to Windows the order in which to start
various auto load programs?
In particular, I run both Norton NIS 2007 and SpySweeper - both which
automatically start with Windows which I prefer, but I would like to specify
that NIS starts first, then SpySweeper.
Now it seems either one starts first, but mostly SpySweeper starts first
which sometimes interferes with NIS loading.
Thanks for any help.

 

[John John]

The easiest way to do that would be to remove SpySweeper from the
"Automatic" startup and place it or a "net start" batch file in your
Startup folder instead.

John

 

[Guest]

John,
Sounds like what I want to do is doable, but I'm not that experienced with
batch file creation. Can you give me some guidance on how to create what you
are refering to?

In concept, I think you are saying to create a .bat file that will start the
SpySweeper file (referenced within the icon properties), then place this bat
file in the Programs>StartUp folder.

Can you write this out for me?
Does the contents of the StartUp folder always start after all other auto
start programs? (ie: does this ensure that it will always start after NIS?)

 

[John John]

I have never used SpySweeper so I don't know how it starts. Some
programs start Services instead of the full fledged GUI, that is the
program is running but without the user interface or actual program
window, it runs as a service and parks itself in the Taskbar
Notification Area, aka the System Tray.

To simply start the program just drag or put a shortcut to it in your
Startup folder. Note that you can have different switches or parameters
in the shortcut's Properties Target line. If such startup parameters
are available they would or should be documented in the software's
documentation. Note that you can also use the START command in a
batch file instead of a shortcut:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/start.mspx?mfr=true

If the program starts as service then get the name of the service or
services and use a batch file and the NET START command to start the
service. The batch file would contain a single line for each service to
start:

net start SpySweepServiceName

Note that in batch files or in the Shortcut's Target if there are spaces
in the path or name of the application or service you must surround the
path or name with quotation marks:

net start "Spy Sweeper Service Name"

or in a shortcut target:

"C:\Program Files\Program Folder\Program Name" /Parameter

Place the batch file or a shortcut to the batch file in your Startup
folder. If you want the program or service to start for all who log on
to the computer put it in the "All Users" startup folder.

You will have to try different methods and see which one suits you best.
You should also check the support web site for the program, maybe they
know of the problems and they may have addressed the issue. The other
way of changing the load order of services is to use SC and the
lpLoadOrderGroup parameter, it's pretty complicated stuff and if you
make mistakes the computer may not boot after the changes:

http://search.microsoft.com/results...0=Search&FORM=QBME1&l=1&mkt=en-US&PageType=99
http://search.microsoft.com/results...M\CurrentControlSet\Control\ServiceGroupOrder
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/115486
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/LoadOrder.mspx

Other than that you might find a third party utility that can do it for you.

John

 

[Guest]

For the 'net start' command: start/run, type:
HH mkMSITStore:%windir%\Help\ntcmds.chm::/net_start.htm

To find the service name for spysweeper, start run type:
services.msc
doubleclick the spysweeper service to see its properties. (and set to manual
startup)

To create a bat file in notepad, and save as something.bat

--??.bat--
net start <spysweeperservicename goes here>
--end file--

Drag a shortcut to ??.bat to the startup folder on the start menu.

 

[WTC]

Running WinXP - ProSP2
Is there a way to control/dictate to Windows the order in which to
start various auto load programs?
In particular, I run both Norton NIS 2007 and SpySweeper - both which
automatically start with Windows which I prefer, but I would like to
specify that NIS starts first, then SpySweeper.
Now it seems either one starts first, but mostly SpySweeper starts
first which sometimes interferes with NIS loading.
Thanks for any help.

Hi Lexus,

Are you saying the Icons are not showing one the taskbar when you log
in?

If you are then this is a known problem due to Automaric Login, The
programs are runing but are not showing the icon on the taskbar. You
can verify the programs are runing by looking at the Task Manager.

Soloutions, do _not_ use automatic logon and wait a minite or two when
the welcome shows before logging in to your desktop. Or simply log off
your account then log back in.

 

[WTC]

For the 'net start' command: start/run, type:
HH mkMSITStore:%windir%\Help\ntcmds.chm::/net_start.htm

To find the service name for spysweeper, start run type:
services.msc
doubleclick the spysweeper service to see its properties. (and set to
manual startup)

To create a bat file in notepad, and save as something.bat

--??.bat--
net start <spysweeperservicename goes here>
--end file--

Drag a shortcut to ??.bat to the startup folder on the start menu.

This will never work for Spysweeper since the Spysweeper service is
protected by a Winlogon entry.

 

[Norm]

Have you looked into Startup Delayer http://www.r2.com.au/ ?

Norm


WTC wrote:
| Lexus wrote:
|
|| Running WinXP - ProSP2
|| Is there a way to control/dictate to Windows the order in which to
|| start various auto load programs?
|| In particular, I run both Norton NIS 2007 and SpySweeper - both which
|| automatically start with Windows which I prefer, but I would like to
|| specify that NIS starts first, then SpySweeper.
|| Now it seems either one starts first, but mostly SpySweeper starts
|| first which sometimes interferes with NIS loading.
|| Thanks for any help.
|
| Hi Lexus,
|
| Are you saying the Icons are not showing one the taskbar when you log
| in?
|
| If you are then this is a known problem due to Automaric Login, The
| programs are runing but are not showing the icon on the taskbar. You
| can verify the programs are runing by looking at the Task Manager.
|
| Soloutions, do _not_ use automatic logon and wait a minite or two when
| the welcome shows before logging in to your desktop. Or simply log off
| your account then log back in.