By George Norman
Added on 27 Oct 2009(33181 Views)



On top of the Windows 7 operating system you will install several software applications – some of these software applications will automatically run at startup, while others will not. Now the thing is that you might want a specific program to automatically run when you boot your Windows 7-powered computer. This way you will do away with the mundane task of opening the program yourself.

In my case I have set up my computer to automatically launch my music player, word editor, web browser and instant messaging app. I just press the power button, go pour a coup of coffee, and when I return to my computer, the operating system is up and running and so are the apps I mentioned earlier.

To get programs to automatically run at startup, you need only place that program’s shortcut in the Startup folder. You can also place the shortcut of a specific file or folder in the Startup folder and that filer/folder will be accessed automatically at startup.

Here is what you have to do get programs and files to run at startup in Windows 7:

Step 1. Click the Start icon from the bottom left hand corner of the screen. If you favor using the keyboard, press the Windows key on your keyboard (the one bearing the Microsoft logo).

Step 2. Select All Programs

Step 3. Right click the Startup folder -> select Open All Users to open the startup folder for all user accounts. Right click the Startup folder -> select Explore to open the startup folder for the currently logged user.

Step 4. Locate the program, file or folder you want to automatically run at startup. Right click the file and select Copy Shortcut.

Step 5. Paste the shortcut in the Startup folder.

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Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, Startup

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Comments

Suresh - 22 Nov 2011 10:47
How to start up an explore with the address mean i wanted to start up yahoo.com and facebook automaticly when i start up my machine. kindly advice
Spinel - 16 Nov 2011 00:21
ok I tried both ways and none of them work can someone plese help me
Ronald - 18 Jul 2011 17:14
I didn't have "Copy Shortcut" in my context menu. However, I could do a normal "Copy", and then in the Startup folder a "Paste Shortcut".
jtrain - 13 Feb 2011 18:09
Thank you so much. this was so helpful in opening my reminders on login. but how could I open a program from awaken from sleep? that would be very helpful.
flatdog - 28 Nov 2010 10:01
You can get it working by editing your registry, like this: fire up regedt32.exe, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, add a new string, let's name it wampserv, with "C:\Program Files\Your_App\your.exe" /min as value. This will start your program minimized, when you log in. Good luck.
Niklas - 23 Oct 2010 20:05
i dont have the startup folder, can i made it ?
Peter - 01 May 2010 20:38
I tried this as it's the obvious way to go - but explorer doesn't open - what now?
Jacques - 24 Feb 2010 20:37
Hi I need wampserver to start up on windows 7 machine I've copied the shortcut into the all users startup folder. I've also right clicked on the aplication and set it to run as administrator. But still the program does not start on windows startup. Is there a way to force a program to start automatically. The program does not have settings to invoke on startup so I have to rely on windows 7 startup folder. Any further help would be appreciated

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