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January 3rd, 2007, 14:47 GMT · By Dragos Jijau

How to Add an Application to Startup Using the Registry

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Have you noticed that lately many Windows applications add themselves to startup and when Windows boots up they pop up?

Some startups are useful, some are very annoying and can be deleted from the startup folder (Start - > Programs-> Startup) or going to msconfig (Start -> Run-> Msconfig-> Startup and uncheck the unwanted item).



But what happens when you voluntarily want an application to start when Windows loads?





There is always the option to drag it into the Startup folder, but that is vulnerable to the intervention of other users. Anyone can easily remove that item from startup. Moreover, this technique works only for the logged user. Once you logged off or switched user, it won't start anymore.

The solution is to add the desired application into the registry telling it to start when Windows loads. To do that you need to create a registry entry, which is very simple. Open the notepad and create a new text document adding this into it:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun] "Name of the application"="/"C:Program FilesApplication FolderApplication.exe""

This is just the pattern of the task. You just need to substitute the generic names with desired ones.

Personal example:

My job consists in working on my computer every day. Computer work means Internet access, Internet access involves mail addictiveness, therefore I must check my email as soon as I get to work. So I want to make my email client start right after I turn on my computer. Because Windows comes with Outlook Express I will use it as an example:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun] "Outlook Express"="/"C:Program FilesOutlook Expressmsimn.exe""

Next step is to save the created document but not as .txt document. The file should be saved in .reg format. I will save it as outlookstart.reg. After that, double click on the created document to get the confirmation that will be added to the registry. Now you can restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
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For applications with no automatic startup option, this method can be a trustful and comfortable solution.

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Nick on 29 Aug 2008, 17:01 UTC reply to this comment

Great instructions, quite easy. One thing, make sure to add "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00" (minus the quotes) before everything or you'll get an error saying "The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import binary registry file form within the registry editor". Hope this helps!

Comment #1.1 by: krims on 10 Jan 2010, 19:24 GMT

Hi,

I didn't get this point make sure to add "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00" (minus the quotes) .
Could u pls provide me an example.

Thank you.


Comment #2 by: Lara on 04 Feb 2009, 18:19 UTC reply to this comment

Thanks guys. It worked.


Comment #3 by: xuevana on 28 Jun 2009, 14:27 UTC reply to this comment

Thank you for the guide, I have a doubt to ask you. I wanna add Dictionary to the registry, and is it have to be .exe? coz I dun see any .exe file in the folder? Please help. Thanks


Comment #4 by: Dumdnoob on 12 Dec 2009, 16:34 UTC reply to this comment

Bad instructions. I followed exactly what it said: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun] "tclock"="/"C:Documents and SettingsSuryaMy DocumentsProgramsHelpful programs tclock.lnk""

And now after start up, it does not start up.


Comment #5 by: Dumdnoob on 12 Dec 2009, 16:50 UTC reply to this comment

Also i created a new key by acccident and i'm trying to delete it but getting error like Cannot delete New Key#1: Error while deleting key.

Also did this [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun] "Styler"="/"C:Program FilesStyler.lnk" Did not work.


Comment #6 by: krims on 10 Jan 2010, 19:26 UTC reply to this comment

Thank you. I got it.


Comment #7 by: yusuf on 31 Mar 2010, 03:48 UTC reply to this comment

Hi,
Thanks for information. I added to an exe files path to registry as described above. I don't know why only the exe file starts on the startup but the exe file are not able to access its text files to read and write which are on same directory with exe file.

Any informtiaon about this?

Comment #7.1 by: shubham gore on 01 Jun 2010, 20:22 GMT

i agree with you yusuf , i have found this absolutely correct, with my past experience , that only the specified *.exe , *.bat etc. which is placed in startup alone loads and executed not the data associated with the file.
somebody plz help us....
thanx in advance.


Comment #8 by: SupaDupaFly on 02 Feb 2011, 21:09 UTC reply to this comment

This is The Correct reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"WinRar"="\"C:\\Program Files\\WinRar\\Rar.exe\""


Comment #9 by: nick on 31 Jul 2011, 11:53 UTC reply to this comment

good link, thanks

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