How to automatically start an application when windows starts up?

[siddnair54]

Hey Guys, i have created a windows application in c#.
I want to create a setup in such a way that once the application is installed, it should start automatically when the windows starts up. Can you help me with this?
Can i put the application in System tray or something, or is there any other way?

[tlhintoq]

Stick a shortcut to it in StartMenu | Programs | Startup

[siddnair54]

Stick a shortcut to it in StartMenu | Programs | Startup

but if i deploy the app, how would users know tat?
can i create a setup which will automatically add the shortcut in the startup folder?

[JamieHowarth0]

@siddnair54, it depends on how you're deploying the application. If you're using a Windows setup project template in Visual Studio then you can specify in the project to present to the installing user the options for shortcuts on Desktop, Start Menu, & Quick Launch.

Best,

codegecko

[siddnair54]

@siddnair54, it depends on how you're deploying the application. If you're using a Windows setup project template in Visual Studio then you can specify in the project to present to the installing user the options for shortcuts on Desktop, Start Menu, & Quick Launch.

Best,

codegecko

can you tell me how? please help me out with this.

[jkmyoung]

At this point, we need more information. How do you install your program on the user's computer? Are you using a windows MSI to install the program? What are you using to develop your installation package?

[ThatThatGuy]

There's absolutely no need to create a setup package....
Many gadgets don't need a setup .... you can always have a direct run program....

To Show your program in the systemtray... you can use NotifyIcon control...

and to programmaticall y enable your program to run at startup you can do the following:

Add a reference to 'Windows Scripting Host Object Model' COM Library....
This system library named IWshRuntimeLibr ary helps you to create a .lnk file which will be then pasted to your Startup folder.... which will help your application to run at startup....

Use this code to create a shortcut....

           WshShellClass wshShell = new WshShellClass();
                    IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut smShortcut;
                    smShortcut = (IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut)wshShell.CreateShortcut(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup) + "\\SystemMeter.lnk");
                    smShortcut.TargetPath = Application.ExecutablePath;
                    smShortcut.Description = "System Meter shortcut";
                    smShortcut.Save();

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