How to run a C application at Windows startup

Question

I made an application that launches during startup  with the next code below  The process runs on the process manager tool after the restart  but I can t see the application on the screen  When I open the same  exe file from the startup registry value the program runs perfect      The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications RegistryKey rkApp   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true       Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup rkApp SetValue  MyApp   Application ExecutablePath ToString       What can I do to fix it up

User · Answer

You could try copying a shortcut to your application into the startup folder instead of adding things to the registry. You can get the path with Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup. This is available in all .net frameworks since 1.1.

Alternatively, maybe this site will be helpful to you, it lists a lot of the different ways you can get an application to auto-start.

User · Answer

I did not find any of the above code worked  Maybe that s because my app is running  NET 3 5  I don t know  The following code worked perfectly for me  I got this from a senior level  NET app developer on my team     Write Microsoft Win32 Registry LocalMachine    SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Run     WordWatcher          Application ExecutablePath ToString                  public bool Write RegistryKey baseKey  string keyPath  string KeyName  object Value        try                  Setting          RegistryKey rk   baseKey             I have to use CreateSubKey              create or open it if already exits                cause OpenSubKey open a subKey as read-only          RegistryKey sk1   rk CreateSubKey keyPath              Save the value          sk1 SetValue KeyName ToUpper    Value            return true            catch  Exception e                   an error           MessageBox Show e Message   Writing registry     KeyName ToUpper             return false

User · Answer

Code is here  Win form app    using System  using System Collections Generic  using System ComponentModel  using System Data  using System Drawing  using System Text  using System Windows Forms  using Microsoft Win32   namespace RunAtStartup       public partial class frmStartup   Form                  The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications         RegistryKey rkApp   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true            public frmStartup                         InitializeComponent                   Check to see the current state  running at startup or not              if  rkApp GetValue  MyApp      null                                   The value doesn t exist  the application is not set to run at startup                 chkRun Checked   false                            else                                  The value exists  the application is set to run at startup                 chkRun Checked   true                                   private void btnOk Click object sender  EventArgs e                        if  chkRun Checked                                   Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup                 rkApp SetValue  MyApp   Application ExecutablePath                             else                                  Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn t start                 rkApp DeleteValue  MyApp   false

User · Answer

I think there is a specific Win32 API call which takes the application path and puts it in the registry automatically for you in the proper location  I ve used it in the past but I don t remember the function name anymore

User · Answer

Try this code   private void RegisterInStartup bool isChecked        RegistryKey registryKey   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey               SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true       if  isChecked                registryKey SetValue  ApplicationName   Application ExecutablePath             else               registryKey DeleteValue  ApplicationName              Source  dead   http   www dotnetthoughts net 2010 09 26 run-the-application-at-windows-startup   Archived link  https   web archive org web 20110104113608 http   www dotnetthoughts net 2010 09 26 run-the-application-at-windows-startup

User · Answer

public class StartUpManager       public static void AddApplicationToCurrentUserStartup                 using  RegistryKey key   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true                         key SetValue  My ApplicationStartUpDemo          System Reflection Assembly GetExecutingAssembly   Location                               public static void AddApplicationToAllUserStartup                 using  RegistryKey key       Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true                         key SetValue  My ApplicationStartUpDemo          System Reflection Assembly GetExecutingAssembly   Location                               public static void RemoveApplicationFromCurrentUserStartup                  using  RegistryKey key   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true                           key DeleteValue  My ApplicationStartUpDemo   false                         public static void RemoveApplicationFromAllUserStartup                 using  RegistryKey key   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true                         key DeleteValue  My ApplicationStartUpDemo   false                        public static bool IsUserAdministrator                   bool value to hold our return value         bool isAdmin          try                         get the currently logged in user             WindowsIdentity user   WindowsIdentity GetCurrent                WindowsPrincipal principal   new WindowsPrincipal user               isAdmin   principal IsInRole WindowsBuiltInRole Administrator                     catch  UnauthorizedAccessException ex                        isAdmin   false                    catch  Exception ex                        isAdmin   false                    return isAdmin            you can check whole article here

User · Answer

An open source application called  Startup Creator  configures Windows Startup by creating a script while giving an easy to use interface  Utilizing powerful VBScript  it allows applications or services to start up at timed delay intervals  always in the same order  These scripts are automatically placed in your startup folder  and can be opened back up to allow modifications in the future   http   startupcreator codeplex com

User · Answer

for WPF   where lblInfo is a label  chkRun is a checkBox   this Topmost is just to keep my app on the top of other windows  you will also need to add a using statement   using Microsoft Win32     StartupWithWindows is my application s name  public partial class MainWindow   Window                  The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications         RegistryKey rkApp   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true            public MainWindow                         InitializeComponent                if  this IsFocused                                this Topmost   true                            else                               this Topmost   false                                Check to see the current state  running at startup or not              if  rkApp GetValue  StartupWithWindows      null                                   The value doesn t exist  the application is not set to run at startup  Check box                 chkRun IsChecked   false                  lblInfo Content    The application doesn t run at startup                             else                                  The value exists  the application is set to run at startup                 chkRun IsChecked   true                  lblInfo Content    The application runs at startup                               Run at startup               rkApp SetValue  StartupWithWindows  System Reflection Assembly GetExecutingAssembly   Location                   Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn t start               rkApp DeleteValue  StartupWithWindows   false                       private void btnConfirm Click object sender  RoutedEventArgs e                        if   bool chkRun IsChecked                                   Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup                 rkApp SetValue  StartupWithWindows   System Reflection Assembly GetExecutingAssembly   Location                   lblInfo Content    The application will run at startup                             else                                  Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn t start                 rkApp DeleteValue  StartupWithWindows   false                   lblInfo Content    The application will not run at startup

User · Answer

its very simple add two part in code   1- add namespace  using Microsoft Win32   2-add application to registery   RegistryKey key Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  quot SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run quot   true   key SetValue  quot your app name quot   Application ExecutablePath    if you want delete app from registery  key DeleteValue  quot your app name quot  false

User · Answer

OK here are my 2 cents  try passing path with each backslash as double backslash  I have found sometimes calling WIN API requires that

User · Answer

first I tried the code below and it was not working  RegistryKey rkApp   Registry CurrentUser OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true   rkApp SetValue  MyAPP   Application ExecutablePath ToString       Then  I changed CurrentUser with LocalMachine and it works  RegistryKey rkApp   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey  SOFTWARE  Microsoft  Windows  CurrentVersion  Run   true   rkApp SetValue  MyAPP   Application ExecutablePath ToString

User · Answer

If you could not set your application autostart you can try to paste this code to manifest   lt requestedExecutionLevel  level  asInvoker  uiAccess  false    gt    or delete manifest I had found it in my application

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