Program Startup

[Joe]

Using Windows XP Pro fully updated.

I have installed a program that I want the computer to load at startup. I do
not want it in the startup folder where it opens on the computer starting up
but I would like it to load and run in the background.

Strangely this program is not listed in msconfig/startup and I was wondering
if there is anyway that it can be put in that folder.

Any thoughts please?

 

[Rock]

Using Windows XP Pro fully updated.

I have installed a program that I want the computer to load at startup. I
do not want it in the startup folder where it opens on the computer
starting up but I would like it to load and run in the background.

Strangely this program is not listed in msconfig/startup and I was
wondering if there is anyway that it can be put in that folder.

It won't be listed unless it's set in some fashion to run at start up. Is
it?

Does the program have an option to have it run at start up? If not place a
call to it in one of the Run keys in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

 

[Joe]

Thanks for the reply Rock,

Although I have Office installed I want to use the Calender in Works which I
did on my previous computer so I installed the full works suite but it
hasn't put an entry in msconfig or in the two registry hives that you
mention below. Also I don't know how to ' put a call ' to it in the registry
if you can advise me on that or any other suggestion.

The only two components that I was to use is Money and the Calender although
I have to keep that version of Word or my Outlook Express spell-check
changes to France as I use Office 2007.

Further thoughts appreciated.

 

[Rock]

Thanks for the reply Rock,

Although I have Office installed I want to use the Calender in Works which
I did on my previous computer so I installed the full works suite but it
hasn't put an entry in msconfig or in the two registry hives that you
mention below. Also I don't know how to ' put a call ' to it in the
registry if you can advise me on that or any other suggestion.

The only two components that I was to use is Money and the Calender
although I have to keep that version of Word or my Outlook Express
spell-check changes to France as I use Office 2007.

Joe, look in those registry keys for examples of the format. If you want
the program to run for any account on the computer put it in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. If you want it just for one account, login to that
account and put it in HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

Before making any changes to the registry save a copy of the Run key you are
going to modify. Highlight the key in the left pane, then select File |
Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box give a a descriptive name
and save it. It should save to a file with that name and an extension of
..reg. If something doesn't work right you can double click that file to
merge it back into the registry, undoing the change. Also make a system
restore point before making changes. This will backup the registry.

To add an entry to the run key right click on the Run key in the left pane |
New | String Value. Name it something descriptive, like Works Calendar.

Then right click that value in the right pane and choose modify. In the
Value data field enter the path to and name of the executable file to start
that program, for example:

C:\Program Files\FolderName\ProgramName.exe

Replace C:\Program Files\FolderName\ with the correct path to the
executable.
Replace ProgramName with the name of the executable.

I don't use Works or Money so I don't know where those executables are
located or what the file names are.