Process start-up sequence / Active Synch

[Peter A]

Can the order in which automatically run programs at start-up can be
adjusted?
My reason for asking is the following problem.

Some months ago I added a Bluetooth USB adapter to my PC to easily be able
to communicate with a Pocket PC (and mobile phone). This worked fine for
some time.
At some stage, however, a problem arose during start-up with MS Active Synch
saying it couldn't open the COM port. The obvious reason for this message
(it seems to me) is that Active Synch is trying to initialize itself (long)
before the Bluetooth management software has configured the software COM
port. It doesn't stop the function from working, but I have to set it up
again after each start-up.

So is there way to either delay loading of MS Active Synch or bringing
forward the loading of the Bluetooth software?

Thanks

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can the order in which automatically run programs at start-up can be
adjusted?

Start them from a batch file, and invoke the batch file from
the startup folder instead of the individual programs. If you
want starting one to wait until another is finished, use the
Start command with the /wait parameter in the batch file. Type
start /? at a command prompt for more information.

 

[Peter A]

O.K., thanks. But...
Presumably, before inserting such a batch file, I need to remove the
existing start command for the app. For the Bluetooth software, this is
easy: it's in the Startup menu. For MS ActiveSync, I suppose I need to
remove the Registry key at
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. I suppose this is safe?
Peter

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

O.K., thanks.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

But...
Presumably, before inserting such a batch file, I need to remove the
existing start command for the app. For the Bluetooth software, this is
easy: it's in the Startup menu. For MS ActiveSync, I suppose I need to
remove the Registry key at
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. I suppose this is safe?

Yes, you can do it that way, or you can use a tool like the MSCONFIG
command to do it for you. The latter is somewhat safer than a direct
registry edit.