Add Standalone programs to windows startup
By on September 3rd, 2007

Many useful software’s come as standalone software which means that you do not need to install them to make use of those programs, usually these files are executables (exe) which can run by double clicking on them.

I use a variety of such software’s and have often felt the need to have them run automatically run when Windows starts up. Unfortunately most of them do not have options to make themselves run on startup.

This small trick allows you to add such programs to the Windows Startup so that you do not have to start it manually every time. The trick requires you to manually add the programs to the startup. Below is a detailed instruction on how to do this.

Open a Explorer window and navigate to the following folder C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsStartup, replace C: with the drive where Windows is installed.

This folder contains the items that are scheduled to be launched on Windows Startup, to add your program here you need to create a new shortcut to the program. To create a shortcut click right click any where in the folder and select new shortcut.

new-shortcut

Once the new shortcut windows pops up click on browse and select the application executable you want to add to startup.

select-standalone-exe

Once you have selected the appropriate file click on next and give a relevant name to it and click on Finish. That’s it the next time you boot up your windows your selected application will automatically startup.

To disable the application from loading up at windows startup you simply need to delete the shortcut that you created.

Let me know if you found this useful, your comments are always welcome.

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Author: Keith Dsouza Google Profile for Keith Dsouza
I am the editor-in-chief and owner of Techie Buzz. I love coding and have contributed to several open source projects in the past. You can know more about me and my projects by visiting my Personal Website. I am also a social networking enthusiast and can be found active on twitter, you can follow Keith on twitter @keithdsouza. You can click on my name to visit my Google+ profile.

Keith Dsouza has written and can be contacted at keith@techie-buzz.com.
  • http://saveday.blogspot.com ifan

    Nice tricks. However, placing too many apps in the start-up section can make PC load slower. Try Startup Delayer. This freeware lets you to delay the loading time for each of application placed in start-up. For example, two seconds after Windows’s booting. This way Windows loads as usual, while the apps still load automatically.

  • http://mtherald.com Transcriptionist

    Keith,

    I thought of pointing out even earlier on some occassions about your inappropriate usage of apostrophe in plural forms. Here in this article, it is softwares and not software’s. If you add an apostrophe, it is a possessive form as you would say in Keith’s blog, Raj’s car etc. Hope I didn’t hurt you pointing out this.

  • Jason

    Thanks for the helpful tip.

  • Din

    Keith,how about windows seven?

  • x

    Very useful thanks

  • Michael

    Thanks for the information on how to add a program to the Windows Start Up menu – much appreciated.

  • http://johnmoses.blogspot.com Johnmoses

    This Post is very useful to me. Thank you////////////

 
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