Sbrooks
Windows loads startup items from three locations in the Registry, two
lines in WIN.INI, and two folders. Observation reveals that it always
loads the seven groups in the same order. Here they are, in order:
1. Registry (Machine Service) - Each value in the Registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
defines a startup item. The value's data string is the command to be
executed at startup.
2. Win.ini (Load=) - The value of the Load= key in the [Windows] section
of WIN.INI consists of one or more startup program names, separated by
semicolons. Neither long filenames nor command-line arguments may be
used.
3. Win.ini (Run=) - The value of the Run= key in the [Windows] section
of WIN.INI consists of one or more startup program names, separated by
semicolons. Neither long filenames nor command-line arguments may be
used.
4. Registry (Machine Run) - Each value in the Registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run defines
a startup item. The value's data string is the command to be executed at
startup.
5. Registry (Per-User Run) - Each value in the Registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
defines a startup item. The value's data string is the command to be
executed at startup.
6. Common Startup Group - Each shortcut in the common startup group (by
default, C:\Windows\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup) is launched
at startup. This group does not appear on the Start menu. Some Windows
installations will not have a common startup group.
7. Startup Group - Each shortcut in the Start menu's startup group (by
default, C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup) is launched at startup.
For more info see KB article at following site
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560
Gord Dibben Excel MVP - XL97 SR2 & XL2002
