Run program at system startup

[Guest]

Our install program has set a registry entry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to run
our app everytime the computer is started. Instead it runs the app everytime
a user logs on with several available logins on the machine. Seems this
registry entry is being mapped somewhere else. Does anyone have a clue as to
how this happens ?

 

[JS]

No, but If you want to dig deeper:
Try Autoruns from the MS Windows SysInternals site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot
(Boot Execute tab),
when you logon (Logon tab) and other programs that load (grouped by labeled
tabs) for easy viewing.

It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop (use with
care) any program that you don't want to load. You can undo any changes you
have made.

JS

 

[Guest]

Thank you. Actually I already have that program and I just looked and our app
is indicated to run on logon - not boot up even though we put the registry
entry under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Thought this
location was for bootup.

 

[JS]

The following two articles may be of some help
Inside Native Applications:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/information/NativeApplications.mspx

Monitoring Registry Activity During the Boot Process:
http://www.dewassoc.com/support/useful/regboot.htm

JS

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I'll take a look. In the meantime, I found a fix because when our app
is started up automatically by the registry entry it is always invoked with
an argument. This distinguishes the autorun from user double clicking an
icon. I can just silently exit before displaying anything to the user if xp
is starting on log in after the first user has already started the app when
the computer is first turned on.