Howto select startup programs for different user account.

[Matt K.]

I want to select / de-select some of start up programs for different user
account.

For instance, using "msconfig.exe"-> "startup tab", I can select / de-select
programs.
I can do that. But when I do that, these changes also reflects to another
user accounts, too.

I want to change startup program only for my account, not to another
accounts on same PC.

Is there way to change only for my account?

I have XP MCE SP2, SONY VAIO PC.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I want to select / de-select some of start up programs for different user
account.

For instance, using "msconfig.exe"-> "startup tab", I can select / de-select
programs.
I can do that. But when I do that, these changes also reflects to another
user accounts, too.

I want to change startup program only for my account, not to another
accounts on same PC.

Is there way to change only for my account?

What it depends on is where the program is starting from. Look at the
Location column in msconfig.exe. If the location starts with HKLM then
that is for all users. If the location starts with HKCU then that is
only the current user. If the location is "Common Startup" then that is
for all users. If the location is just "Startup" then that is the
current user.

If you don't want one to start for you but still start for all others,
then you would need to manually manipulate the Location by removing it
from the location for all users, and adding it to each users current
user location.

 

[Matt K.]

Hello Tom, Thanks.

What it depends on is where the program is starting from. Look at the
Location column in msconfig.exe. If the location starts with HKLM then
that is for all users. If the location starts with HKCU then that is only
the current user. If the location is "Common Startup" then that is for
all users. If the location is just "Startup" then that is the current
user.

I get it... Thank you.

If you don't want one to start for you but still start for all others,
then you would need to manually manipulate the Location by removing it
from the location for all users, and adding it to each users current user
location.

OK, Then how exactly do that?

I am thinking for dual boot system. If no other way around....

 

[Tom Porterfield]

OK, Then how exactly do that?

Let's start with the easy one first. Moving items from Common Startup
to Startup is pretty straightforward as that is simply moving shortcuts.
Common startup equates to "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup". Copy the items from there to the individual
users startup folder, found at "C:\Documents and
Settings\<user_name>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup"

For the items beginning with HKLM and HKCU, those refer to locations in
the registry. What you can do there is export then from their
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE section, modify the exported reg file by replacing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE with HKEY_CURRENT_USER and then reimporting them
logged on as each user.

Once that is done, you can then remove the all users entries.

As manually manipulating the registry can cause instability on the
machine, make sure you have a good backup to restore from before proceeding.

Also note that some applications will automatically put their startup
entries back, so doing the above may not necessarily prevent the machine
wide settings from coming back.

I am thinking for dual boot system. If no other way around....

This would likely be an easier to maintain way of accomplishing what you
want.

 

[Poprivet]

I want to select / de-select some of start up programs for different
user account.

For instance, using "msconfig.exe"-> "startup tab", I can select /
de-select programs.
I can do that. But when I do that, these changes also reflects to
another user accounts, too.

I want to change startup program only for my account, not to another
accounts on same PC.

Is there way to change only for my account?

I have XP MCE SP2, SONY VAIO PC.

Thanks in Advance.

Think Profiles. Give each user who needs it their own profile at boot time.