convert startups to shortcut LNK files?

[spoon2001]

I'd like to pare down my startup config, including programs that are started
from the startup registry keys. But at the same time I'd like to keep
shortcuts to these programs as .LNK files so that I could start them up if
and when needed.

Is there a Startup config utility out there that will convert the startup
items in the registry to LNK files? I haven't found it.

If not, there are utilities - like Autoruns - that will give me a text
report of the startup items, including those starting from the registry. I
could edit this into a list of executable file pathnames (with parameters).
Is there a utility out there that will scan a list of pathnames and make
shortcut LNK files to those executables?

 

[Bjorn Simonsen]

I'd like to pare down my startup config, including programs that are started
from the startup registry keys. But at the same time I'd like to keep
shortcuts to these programs as .LNK files so that I could start them up if

Not lnk files, but..: Have a look at "Winpatrol" <www.winpatrol.com>.
I do not have Winpatrol installed on this computer, so I can not
check, but: I think in addition to disable a startup item (instead of
simply removing it),it offers a RUN command - so you can run any of
the disabled items when needed...from Winpatrols list of (disabled and
enabled) startup items. On my current computer I'm using a shareware

If not, there are utilities - like Autoruns - that will give me a text
report of the startup items, including those starting from the registry. I
could edit this into a list of executable file pathnames (with parameters).
Is there a utility out there that will scan a list of pathnames and make
shortcut LNK files to those executables?

As for generating a list of startup items w/paths, there are several
startup(list/edit/monitor) programs out there,
<www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_SYSTEMUTILITIES.php#2.02ProcessMonitor:Start-Up>
(scroll down the list for various sub-categories). I belive several of
them can generate and save a list of startup items w/paths... fx
"Autostart Viewer" <www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products>
(scroll down to freeware section).

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen

 

[spoon2001]

Not lnk files, but..: Have a look at "Winpatrol" <www.winpatrol.com>.
I do not have Winpatrol installed on this computer, so I can not
check, but: I think in addition to disable a startup item (instead of
simply removing it),it offers a RUN command - so you can run any of
the disabled items when needed...from Winpatrols list of (disabled and
enabled) startup items. On my current computer I'm using a shareware
program that can do this, "RegRun Niva" <www.greatis.com/security/>.

Thanks very much Bjorn. Actually this may be an easier solution than
generating LNK files to start disabled startup items.

Good idea ... I hadn't thought of that. I noticed that Starter also had
this capability to Run disabled autostart programs ... probably others do as
well.

Starter
http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/Starter.zip

As for generating a list of startup items w/paths, there are several
startup(list/edit/monitor) programs out there,
<www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_SYSTEMUTILITIES.php#2.02ProcessMonitor:Start-Up>
(scroll down the list for various sub-categories). I belive several of
them can generate and save a list of startup items w/paths... fx
"Autostart Viewer" <www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products>
(scroll down to freeware section).

Thanks ... just downloaded.

I'll be a bit more interested in programs that can "go the other way" - i.e.
text list to LNK files or URL files for that matter. Now, VisitURL will
capture URLs from a text file, and then you can export to IE Favorites.
Pretty cool. I don't know if it will export filepaths to shortcut LNK
files. If anybody knows of one that will do that, let me know!

Visit URL
http://www.tranglos.com/free/files/visit.zip

 

[Bjorn Simonsen]

I'll be a bit more interested in programs that can "go the other way" - i.e.
text list to LNK files

Maybe this one

Shortcut Maker
<http://www.baxcode.com/shortcut.htm>

Not tested, but according to the webpage you can

"Describe the shortcuts you want to create in shortcut.ini"

and if I understand it correctly, shortcut.exe will create
the shortcuts described in shortcut.ini when run.

All the best
Bjorn Simonsen

 

[Doc]

I'd like to pare down my startup config, including programs that are
started from the startup registry keys. But at the same time I'd like
to keep shortcuts to these programs as .LNK files so that I could
start them up if and when needed.

Check Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel. With this program you can disable
startup items by simply removing a checkmark, but the disabled item is
retained so that you can re-enable it at a later date if you wish (or
right click it and run it immediately). You can also add an already
running process to one of the startup locations.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

A companion program from the same author is Startup Monitor, which
prevents anything else adding itself to a startup location without your
permission.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml