Startup program order

Is there a way designate the order in which programs load from startup in XP? I have a particular program that I would like to ensure always starts last, but I cannot see a way to do this.

Thanks,

RobF

 

XP Boot Program Load Order

It looks like you may not have much (if any) control over XP's boot order. However, I've remember seeing articles about creating batch files in the startup folder that start programs after introducing a time delay loop. Maybe that is your solution.

See -->
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1148808,00.asp

for an interesting discussion of the 'technology' M$ uses to determine this loading order.

Also, there is some controversy over the use of M$'s "BootVis.exe" which initially appeared to help improve XP's boot performance by adjusting boot order. M$ denies any performance increase due to BootVis (alone) and evidently no longer supports this program but you can still find it on the internet.

good luck
Top Dog

 

Startup program order .....

Hi I came across something recently that there are entries in the registry to control/dictate what I think was for whether a program or application is for a specific user or all users. Wondering if you added a 2nd user [assuming you have one at the moment] to the list then windows would only boot to the user sign in process and then when you clicked "YOU" it would load the selected pgm. Even if it would work I cannot advise how to create the requisite registry entries... maybe food for thought....
Trev.

 

Hello robfrais,

Startup Delayer v2.1

Allows timing of individual startups.

http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay

Regards - Charles

 

Startup Order

I "think" you could use the RunOnce reg key whose contents start at the end of the startup sequence.
(or, put a shortcut in the Startup folder, IF, that is the only entry starting from there)

And, I think that this entry, after it is run, is deleted. (ie it only runs once), so you would need to add a REG file to a shutdown script, to recreated the entry every time the PC is shutdown.

 

Changing the sequence that programs start up can be a very dangerous business and "on your head be itâ€. The order is controlled by registry keys, so program details can be moved from one key to another This is the actual sequence, starting immediately after boot.ini has been read and ending with your programs in Start, All Programs, Startup.

1.BootExecute HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute
2.Services are started
3.User enters a password to logon to the system
4.UserInit HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\UserInit
5.Shell HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
6.Programs in ALL USERS keys start next
7.RunOnce HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
8.Run HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
9.RunOnceEx HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
10.RunEx HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunEx
11.Programs in CURRENT USER keys start next
12.RunOnce HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
13.Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
14.RunOnceEx HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
15.RunEx HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunEx
16.Programs in STARTUP FOLDER(S) are started last of all

I would recommend that only 2 keys are changed, those ending in \Run. Of course, if you have multiple users they will have to log on and change their "current_user" key. Make sure you get the spellings and locations right.

Have a look at the 2 keys and you will be able to identify your applications. Back-up the registry first or make a restore point. Don’t forget BE CAREFUL.

 

Thanks everyone - I realize that changing registry keys is dangerous.

I found a freebie program called Startup Delayer, by R2 studios, which seems to do the trick. You can choose any program or programs and then decide on a delay after windows starts.

I wanted to get ObjectDock, which I own, to start late, as one of the object docklets is a tray cluster that shows all tray loaded programs. This particular docklet is a bit fickle, but if it is started after everything has loaded, it works well

The Startup Delayer program gives it time.

RobF

 

Charlesvar any precautions with Startup delayer? My sygate firewall (Free version) loads last or 2nd last. I think Norton wins the race to load every time. In fact so do many others. From right to left I have
ITouch keyboard,mouse,LCD gamma, Go Back, Safely remove hardware,M.Antispyware,NAV,Sygate firewall,Winpatrol

XP Home edition SP2

 

Hi Alicia,

The normal kind of precaution, create a SR point before install in case of a bad install.

What it does is move the startup shortcuts to it's own area and then launches them according to the time delay the user sets.

Also easy to disable - then it puts the startups back in their original locations.

BTW, what you're seeing with Sygate is the GUI loading, not the firewall component, which is an XP Service - two seperate things, and loads along with other XP Services, well ahead of the AV.

This is true of other firewalls, ZA Pro for instance, while not an XP Service, does load its firewall component - vsmon.ex, also well ahead of other apps no matter when it shows up in the Notification Area.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks Charlesvar,

You are a wealth of information!