Programs Automatically Start When User Logs on to Windows (147369)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

When you log on to Windows, a program immediately starts. After you view the the Startup group, Autoexec.bat and your login script file, there is nothing that specifies the program to automatically start during Windows logon.

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WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Another way you can run or load programs at Windows 3.x startup is to add the file name of the program to the load= or run= line in the Win.ini file. In Windows NT and later, you can also use this method; however, you must add the file name of the program in the registry. To verify the load and run lines in the registry:

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and locate the following Registry subkey in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree:
\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Look at the entries load and run.
If the program path and file name is assigned to load or run, select load or run.
From the Edit menu, select String and remove the path and file name.
Choose OK and quit the Registry Editor.
Log off and log back on.