Run on start up?

[JamieWarren09]

Hi everyone, i followed a thread on this forum on how to make my app start on windows start up.

the problem is it isnt working. the code is below. do i actually need to change or add anything. the code below as all exactly what i added.

it saves and keeps the check box ticked it i say i want it to run. but it actually dont start on start up :S


thanks!

Option Explicit

Private Sub Form_Load()

    If WillRunAtStartup(App.EXEName) Then
        Start_Up.Value = 1
    Else
        Start_Up.Value = 0
    End If

End Sub

Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)

    Dim SwW As Boolean
    
    If Start_Up.Value = 1 Then
        SwW = True
    Else
        SwW = False
    End If
    
    SetRunAtStartup App.EXEName, App.Path, SwW

End Sub

Bas Module

Option Explicit

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, ByVal lpSecurityAttributes As Long, phkResult As Long, lpdwDisposition As Long) As Long
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 Declare Function RegDeleteValue Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegDeleteValueA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
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 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 Const READ_CONTROL As Long = &H20000
Private Const KEY_SET_VALUE As Long = &H2
Private Const KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY As Long = &H4
Private Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE As Long = (READ_CONTROL)
Private Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Private Const KEY_WRITE As Long = ((STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE Or KEY_SET_VALUE Or KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY) And (Not SYNCHRONIZE))

Private Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ As Long = (READ_CONTROL)
Private Const KEY_ENUMERATE_SUB_KEYS As Long = &H8
Private Const KEY_NOTIFY As Long = &H10
Private Const KEY_QUERY_VALUE As Long = &H1
Private Const KEY_READ As Long = ((STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ Or KEY_QUERY_VALUE Or KEY_ENUMERATE_SUB_KEYS Or KEY_NOTIFY) And (Not SYNCHRONIZE))

Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS As Long = 0&
Private Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER As Long = &H80000001
Private Const REG_SZ As Long = 1
Public Function WillRunAtStartup(ByVal App_Name As String) As Boolean

  Dim hKey As Long
  Dim value_type As Long

    If RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _
                    "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run", _
                    0, KEY_READ, hKey) = ERROR_SUCCESS _
                    Then
        WillRunAtStartup = _
                           (RegQueryValueEx(hKey, App_Name, _
                           ByVal 0&, value_type, ByVal 0&, ByVal 0&) = _
                           ERROR_SUCCESS)

        RegCloseKey hKey
      Else
        WillRunAtStartup = False
    End If

End Function

Public Sub SetRunAtStartup(ByVal App_Name As String, ByVal app_path As String, Optional ByVal run_at_startup As Boolean = True)

  Dim hKey As Long
  Dim key_value As String
  Dim status As Long

    On Error GoTo SetStartupError

    If RegCreateKeyEx(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run", ByVal 0&, ByVal 0&, ByVal 0&, KEY_WRITE, ByVal 0&, hKey, ByVal 0&) <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
        MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & " opening key" & vbCrLf & Err.Description
        Exit Sub
    End If

    If run_at_startup Then

        key_value = app_path & "\" & App_Name & ".exe" & vbNullChar
        status = RegSetValueEx(hKey, App.EXEName, 0, REG_SZ, _
                 ByVal key_value, Len(key_value))
        If status <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
            MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & " setting key" & vbCrLf & Err.Description
        End If

      Else

        RegDeleteValue hKey, App_Name

    End If

    RegCloseKey hKey

exit_sub:
Exit Sub

SetStartupError:
    MsgBox Err.Number & " " & Err.Description
    Resume exit_sub
    
End Sub

[deathfxu]

There is a "Startup" folder in your Start Menu (usually located at "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" in XP) and any programs located in that folder are automatically run by Windows when it is starting up.

You can also add your program's path to one of the Windows startup registry folders. The registry startup paths are:

[These will make your program start when Windows starts, for all users]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce

[These will make your program start when Windows starts, for the current user only]
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx

Also notice the "Run Once" folders, so if you want your program to run when Windows starts up just once, then you have that option as well.

As for the code you were using, I would avoid that if possible and use one of the conventional methods I just listed.

Enjoy!

[JamieWarren09]

i see! thankyou very much, but how would i make it so if u check a check box then it will start on startup where as if its unchecked then it wont?

thanks mate.

[techgnome]

When the check box changes, see if it is set or cleared.
If it is set, write to the registry to put the app into the Run node.
If it has been cleared, REMOVE the setting from the Run node in the registry.

-tg

[JamieWarren09]

hey thanks ;p

can you just explain that in newbie language? i dont understand any of that aha sorry :>S!

[deathfxu]

If you don't know how to use the registry (which it sounds like is the case), here is a great tutorial by Koolsid that starts very basic and gets quite in depth.

For more information about creating a shortcut on a computer, see this, or here for some cut-n-paste subroutines that can be easily modified for what you are trying to do.


I found another great link after I posted this. This code will also help you create a shortcut (that you can add to the startup folder).

[isnoend07]

I created a startup in the past by using a special folder CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP
http://www.codenewsgroups.net/group/...topic7381.aspx

[JamieWarren09]

thanks, the thing is i have a installer that will install every file needed e.t.c

Plus i want the option to have it run on windows start up or not?

Any other suggestions.

THanks!

[deathfxu]

Is it a self-made installer, or a premade install packager?

[JamieWarren09]

a pre made installer "inno setup"

thanks!

[deathfxu]

I haven't used Inno myself, but most times you can't add an option for that in the installer. It's probably going to have to be an option in the program itself, using one of the two options listed above (putting a shortcut in the Startup folder or adding an entry in one of the Startup registry paths).