Running programs at Windows startup

If I include program shortcuts in C:\Documents and settings\<user name>\Programs\Startup, they don't run when <user name> logs on. If I put them in C:\Documents and settings\All Users\Programs\Startup, they run twice. Startup Cop shows entries for the programs under both 'All Users' and 'Current User Only' . What could be the reason for this behaviour, and how can I correct it?

 

Remove it from the specfic user and let all users handle it.

Mike

 

There are two objections to this 'solution':

1) As I said in my post, if I 'let all users handle it' by putting a shortcut in the 'All Users' folder, the program runs twice.

2) In any case, I might want to have programs run for specific users.

 

Ok then remove it from the ALL USERS and put it in the individual profile.

And if it don't run from here you must have a security/permissions issue. Check these settings.

If it will run in the Administrators startup but not in the others this confirms it is a permissions/security setting issue.

Mike

 

there is a hidden profile called " Default User" it is hidden so change your folder settings to show everything. Setup the startup in there and delete it from all users. Or use policies to run the logon and logoff or shutdown scripts.

 

jrporter and irfanmalik

The DEFAULT USER profile never never runs anything. It is only used as Template for new Users that are created under Local Users and groups.

True if you put something in the Default user profile and create a new user it will be there in the new users profile.

But it will never execute from the Default User profile nor will it automatically go to old profiles only new!

jrporter I say again if they will not execute from the Users Startup then you have a security/permissions config error. Look at this and if you need help get back to us.

Mike


PS if you have time just visit BillyBobs thread in support of our troops! http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16101

 

It can't be a 'security/permissions config error' because:

1) All users can run the relevant programs once logged on.

2) Irrespective of which user logs on, the programs run (twice) if included in the 'All Users' startup folder.

 

Ok that makes sense!

Let me get this stright!

Well then you say it runs twice, when you put 1 shortcut in all users, and 1 shortcut in the specific users profile.

If so it has to be running from the specific user 1 of these times.

So if you remove it from the all users then it don't run at all?

Is this correct?

Mike

 

I thought I'd described the behaviour clearly enough in my original post. To recap:

If the program is included in the individual user's profile only, it doesn't run when that user logs on.

If it's included in the 'All Users' profile, it runs twice, irrespective of whether it's also included in the user profile of the user logging on. In this case, Startup Cop lists the program twice, under 'All Users' and 'Current User Only'. The 'Location' for both occurrences is the 'All Users' startup folder.

I think this must be due to an error in the Registry, but don't know enough to diagnose it

 

Mmmmm

Create a new fresh user.

log off

log back on as this new user

install the program to start

reboot

what now?

Off to work, may not get back to till tonight1

mike

 

I tried this, and found that the startup programs ran as they should for the new user, i.e. everything in the 'All Users' startup folder, and everything in the new user's startup folder ran once. So the problem affects only one specific user, or perhaps a group.

However, I also noticed that a program group in the 'All Users\Start Menu\Programs' folder was missing from the new user's Start menu. This is of no practical importance, but is another strange thing to wonder about.