List of Windows Auto Start Locations

We have maintained a few known abbreviations just to shorten the post. They are as follows:

HKLM : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

HKCU : HKEY_CURRENT_USER

HKCR : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

%windir% : The Windows Directory. Can be C:/Windows or C:/WINNT or anything, depending on the location, the OS & the customization of the OS!

%USERPROFILE% : Normally is C:/Documents and Settings/, depending on the installation location.

%ALLUSERSPROFILE% : Normally is C:/Documents and Settings/All Users, depending on the installation location.

Please keep in mind that the Windows registry is very sensitive and you should fiddle with it only if you know how to get out of it! We should not be held responsible for any harm coming out of their usage!

Beginning with registry methods:

Now, we will start with folder auto start locations.

<code>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%/Start Menu/Programs/Startup %USERPROFILE%/Start Menu/Programs/Startup %windir%/Tasks %windir%/System32/Tasks - Windows Vista %ALLUSERSPROFILE%/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup %USERPROFILE%/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup</code>

In addition to this, there are some more files which when added an entry, will restart the file.

win.ini:

<code>[windows] load=file.exe</code>

OR

<code>[windows] run=file.exe</code>

system.ini:

<code>[boot] Shell=Explorer.exe file.exe</code>

windir/dosstart.bat (Windows 95 or Windows 98 only)

windir/system/autoexec.nt

windir/system/config.nt