Putting a program into the Startup?

[rkcsk]

How can I put my application into the startup routine so it will load when windows loads up? Also how can you make it be the first one to load? I know in file name if you want to have your file be the first one put an underscore in front of it like this _example.exe.

[rkcsk]

How can you also do this at runtime and remove it as well? Sort of like an option if you want it to be in the start up or not.

[zuperman]

use the registry ("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run")...

copy/paste this to a .bas module (with this code you can make or delete keys in the registry)...




Option Explicit

Private Declare Function RegOpenKeyEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, ByVal ulOptions As Long, ByVal samDesired As Long, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 0&
'****************************************************
'Indented because it belongs to the last constant of this batch - it must come before the last one
Private Const SYNCHRONIZE = &H100000
Private Const KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY = &H4
Private Const KEY_SET_VALUE = &H2
Private Const READ_CONTROL = &H20000
Private Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE = (READ_CONTROL)
Private Const KEY_WRITE = ((STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE Or KEY_SET_VALUE Or KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY) And (Not SYNCHRONIZE))

'Indented because it belongs to the last constant of this batch - it must come before the last one
'Private Const SYNCHRONIZE = &H100000
Private Const KEY_CREATE_LINK = &H20
Private Const KEY_NOTIFY = &H10
Private Const KEY_ENUMERATE_SUB_KEYS = &H8
'Private Const KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY = &H4
'Private Const KEY_SET_VALUE = &H2
Private Const KEY_QUERY_VALUE = &H1
Private Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_ALL = &H1F0000
Private Const KEY_ALL_ACCESS = ((STANDARD_RIGHTS_ALL Or KEY_QUERY_VALUE Or KEY_SET_VALUE Or KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY Or KEY_ENUMERATE_SUB_KEYS Or KEY_NOTIFY Or KEY_CREATE_LINK) And (Not SYNCHRONIZE))
'****************************************************
Private Const HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT = &H80000000
Private Const HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG = &H80000005
Private Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
Private Const HKEY_DYN_DATA = &H80000006
Private Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
Private Const HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA = &H80000004
Private Const HKEY_USERS = &H80000003
'****************************************************
Private Declare Function RegCreateKeyEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegCreateKeyExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, ByVal Reserved As Long, ByVal lpClass As String, ByVal dwOptions As Long, ByVal samDesired As Long, lpSecurityAttributes As SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES, phkResult As Long, lpdwDisposition As Long) As Long
Private Const REG_OPTION_NON_VOLATILE = 0
Private Type SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES
nLength As Long
lpSecurityDescriptor As Long
bInheritHandle As Long
End Type

Private Declare Function RegSetValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegSetValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal Reserved As Long, ByVal dwType As Long, lpData As Any, ByVal cbData As Long) As Long
Private Const REG_SZ = 1

Private Declare Function RegQueryValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegQueryValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal lpReserved As Long, lpType As Long, lpData As Any, lpcbData As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function RegDeleteValue Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegDeleteValueA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String) As Long

Private Declare Function RegDeleteKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegDeleteKeyA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String) As Long
'****************************************************


Dim str_KeyFolder As String
Dim str_Value_ProgramName As String
Dim str_Data_ProgramPath As String
Dim lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder As Long ' handle to the open or new registry key
Dim lng_Return As Long

Sub Main()
'CONCEPTS: KEY - Folders in Window Explorers
' VALUE - Files
' DATA - Path

'PITFALL: Make sure there is no "\" at the end

str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Testing"
'str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 'NOTICE: Uncomment this line will make program start everytime log on
str_Value_ProgramName = "Project1"
str_Data_ProgramPath = "C:\Test.exe"


'Open RegEdit.Exe while step through this code - Refresh(F5) Regedit Screen after each procedure

'OVERALL: Create a Key - Folder Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Key

'OVERALL: Create a Value for a registry Key - Name Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Value(str_Value_ProgramName, str_Data_ProgramPath)

'OVERALL: Read Data or File Path from a Value - Data Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Read_Data_From_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Value from a registry Key
Call p_Delete_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Key and all of its Value
Call p_Delete_Key
End Sub

Public Sub p_Create_Key()
'PURPOSE: Set the name of the new key and the default security settings
Dim sec_Attri As SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES ' security settings of the key
sec_Attri.nLength = Len(sec_Attri) ' size of the structure
sec_Attri.lpSecurityDescriptor = 0 ' default security level
sec_Attri.bInheritHandle = True ' the default value for this setting

Dim lng_New_Or_Exist As Long ' "1" if new key - "2" if existing key was opened

'PURPOSE: Create or open the registry key and assign the handle to lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder
lng_Return = RegCreateKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, str_KeyFolder, 0, vbNullString, _
REG_OPTION_NON_VOLATILE, KEY_WRITE, sec_Attri, _
lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder, lng_New_Or_Exist)

If lng_Return <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
MsgBox "Error in p_Create_Key procedure!"
End
End If

'PURPOSE: Close the registry key if it was successfully opened
Call RegCloseKey(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)
End Sub

Public Sub p_Create_Value(str_Value_ProgramName As String, str_Data_ProgramPath As String)
'PURPOSE: Open the registry key (str_KeyFolder) and _
assign the handle to lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder
lng_Return = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, str_KeyFolder, 0, _
KEY_ALL_ACCESS, lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)

If lng_Return = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
'PURPOSE: Add the desired value to the key.
Call RegSetValueEx(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder, str_Value_ProgramName, _
0, REG_SZ, ByVal str_Data_ProgramPath, Len(str_Data_ProgramPath))

'PURPOSE: Close the registry key if it was successfully opened
Call RegCloseKey(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)
End If
End Sub

Public Sub p_Read_Data_From_Value(str_Value_ProgramName As String)
'PURPOSE: Open the registry key (str_KeyFolder) and _
assign the handle to lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder
lng_Return = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, str_KeyFolder, 0, _
KEY_ALL_ACCESS, lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)

If lng_Return = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
'PURPOSE: Read data
Dim str_Data As String
str_Data = Space(50)
Call RegQueryValueEx(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder, str_Value_ProgramName, _
0, REG_SZ, ByVal str_Data, Len(str_Data))

str_Data = Left(str_Data, InStr(1, str_Data, Chr(0)) - 1)
MsgBox str_Data

'PURPOSE: Close the registry key if it was successfully opened
Call RegCloseKey(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)
End If
End Sub

Public Sub p_Delete_Value(str_Value_ProgramName As String)
'PURPOSE: Open the registry key (str_KeyFolder) and _
assign the handle to lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder
lng_Return = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, str_KeyFolder, 0, _
KEY_ALL_ACCESS, lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)

If lng_Return = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
'PURPOSE: Delete the desired value from the key.
Call RegDeleteValue(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder, str_Value_ProgramName)

'PURPOSE: Close the registry key if it was successfully opened
Call RegCloseKey(lng_Handle_To_KeyFolder)
End If
End Sub

Public Sub p_Delete_Key()
lng_Return = RegDeleteKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, str_KeyFolder)

If lng_Return <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
MsgBox "Error in p_Delete_Key procedure!"
End If
End Sub

[rkcsk]

The code seems reel long and I am not sure if I follow it. Is there some simpler way?

[zuperman]

yes, i agree, its very long, but u only have to edit the following sub:






Sub Main()
'CONCEPTS: KEY - Folders in Window Explorers
' VALUE - Files
' DATA - Path

'PITFALL: Make sure there is no "\" at the end

str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Testing"
'str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 'NOTICE: Uncomment this line will make program start everytime log on
str_Value_ProgramName = "Project1"
str_Data_ProgramPath = "C:\Test.exe"


'Open RegEdit.Exe while step through this code - Refresh(F5) Regedit Screen after each procedure

'OVERALL: Create a Key - Folder Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Key

'OVERALL: Create a Value for a registry Key - Name Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Value(str_Value_ProgramName, str_Data_ProgramPath)

'OVERALL: Read Data or File Path from a Value - Data Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Read_Data_From_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Value from a registry Key
Call p_Delete_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Key and all of its Value
Call p_Delete_Key
End Sub






this piece of code create a key, create a value, read the value, delete the value, delete the key


to test this code run it with F8 and open the regedit.exe

[zuperman]

yes, i agree, its very long, but u only have to edit the following sub (dont look at the rest)






Sub Main()
'CONCEPTS: KEY - Folders in Window Explorers
' VALUE - Files
' DATA - Path

'PITFALL: Make sure there is no "\" at the end

str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Testing"
'str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 'NOTICE: Uncomment this line will make program start everytime log on
str_Value_ProgramName = "Project1"
str_Data_ProgramPath = "C:\Test.exe"


'Open RegEdit.Exe while step through this code - Refresh(F5) Regedit Screen after each procedure

'OVERALL: Create a Key - Folder Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Key

'OVERALL: Create a Value for a registry Key - Name Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Create_Value(str_Value_ProgramName, str_Data_ProgramPath)

'OVERALL: Read Data or File Path from a Value - Data Column in RegEdit.Exe
Call p_Read_Data_From_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Value from a registry Key
Call p_Delete_Value(str_Value_ProgramName)

'OVERALL: Delete a Key and all of its Value
Call p_Delete_Key
End Sub






this piece of code create a key, create a value, read the value, delete the value, delete the key


to test this code run it with F8 and open the regedit.exe

[sunburnt]

Why not make a shortcut in
C:\windows\start menu\programs\start up\
?

[rkcsk]

When I open the Regedit.exe file what am I suppossed to be looking for? What do you mean by ( str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Testing" )
What does this do?

So if I wanted to beable to change it to startup or not startup in runtime How would I do that in a menu command?

[zuperman]

this folder is just for testing, the real one is:

str_KeyFolder = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 'NOTICE: Uncomment this line will make program start everytime log on

in this folder stays all the apps that run when windows start



when u hit the command key u got to read the value, and if does not exists then u got to create a key, and create a value.

sorry but i goto go and i dont have time to do what u ask me, but i recommend for you to analyse the sub Main first...