Windows 2000

[mrieper]

I'm migrating from WIN98SE to WIN2K and I can't find a way to add a program to be included in the Startup sequence

I use a PIM program called A&B.EXE and I'd like to have this running in background as I had it set up to run under WIN98SE's Bootup

How does one add programs to the Startup sequence of WIN2K ?

Awaiting any helpful comments

Max Rieper
mrieper@bigpond.net.au

[Leif]

Running as a service (i.e. before logon) or in the startup sequence when a specific or any user logs on?

[mrieper]

Leif

It's after I've booted up I want the A&B program to be running continiuosly in background just as it did under WIN98SE

It was somewhere in the Start sequence as the machine boots up

OK ?

Cheers n Beers
Max

[MaryJ]

how did you start it before? in a run key in the registry or from the startup folder?

you can add it to the services to be run at boot. i forgot the switch to register it as a service though... install maybe? that way it loads if the computer is running but you aren't logged in.

[MerC]

[img]/w3timages/icons/question.gif[/img] Have I got this right : you want a program to run when you start Win 2000?
Why not put a shortcut to it in the StartProgramsStart Up folder? Right-click Taskbar, Properties, Advanced, Advanced, Programs, Start Up and drag it in there. Or is it something more complicated you're looking for? [img]/w3timages/icons/question.gif[/img]
Rgds

[Leif]

I think installing as a service is simply a matter of running the following from the command prompt:

prog add

where 'prog' is the name of the program without any extension. (i.e. if it's abcde.exe, you enter "abcde add"). The program probably needs to be in your system32 folder (?) where it can be found.

If it fails, you should get an error report.

I assume the program is suitable for W2K?

[DaveA]

Do you want these programs to ALWAYS run or only when you log in as a user?

If ALWAYS add short cut in the ALL user's startup group.
If only when you the user logs in add the short to your user account's startup group.

You may not what this programs to start when you log in as the ADMINISTRATOR.

[WyllyWylly]

To install a service:

INSTSRV

Installs and removes system services from NT

INSTSRV <service name> (<exe location> | REMOVE)
[-a <Account Name>] [-p <Account Password>]

Install service example:

INSTSRV MyService C:MyDirDiskService.Exe
-OR-
INSTSRV MyService C:mailsrvmailsrv.exe -a MYDOMAINjoebob -p foo

Remove service example:

INSTSRV MyService REMOVE


To install a service, the program must configured as such. You can't just choose any old application and fire it up as a service. In the Windows 2000 Resource Kit, there is a helper tool to allow you to run an application as a service.

What's the difference?

An application, such as Word, isn't going to run as a service. it has no need to and is not designed to work with the NT Service Control Manager (SCM).

What are services?

"Server" processes which need to start at boot time and persist across various GUI login sessions.
IIS
Oracle
Tasks which need to run in the background, independant of whether or not a user is logged in.
McAfee AntiVirus
Norton SpeedDisk
Tasks which need to impersonate other users
Telnetd
SuNT
Parts of the OS itself
RPC
Client Service for NetWare

IFrom all that I've been seeing in these posts, you simply have a program that you want to start up automatically. If that's the case, MerC was correct in stating that you should create a shortcut in the startup group. You can do this in two places in NT/2000, All Users and the currently logged in User.

If you are the only person using the PC it doesn't matter where you put the shortcut.

If multiple people log in and have different desktops and such, it will only be available to them if you plcae the shortcut in 'All Users'. To make it available to anyone new logging in also place a shortcut in Default User. By doing this, any new user will get a profile based on the contents of this profile, and anything under all users will launch as well.

Hope that helps.

[mrieper]

Thanks Leif

When I get back to getting WIN2K working again I'll see if your suggestion works

At the moment I have been trying to recover from a disaster when I tried to tidyup WIN2K by re-installing it on top of itself as I've done many times with WIN98

It was a disaster and I've spent hours getting back to my old WIN98 OS *&^^

Thanks anyway for your help

Cheers n Tears
Max

[mrieper]

Thanks Mark

I've saved your advice and when I get back to having WIN2K as my OS I'll try your suggestion

I've had to return to WIN98 due to a disaster with WIN2K

Thanks agin

Cheers n Tears
Max