How to Add Windows 7 Startup Programs

This tutorial will show you how to get programs to start when you start Windows 7.

This tutorial will show you how to add Windows 7 startup programs.

Step # 1 -- Finding the Executable of the Program

First of all we are going to need to find the program that we want to run at startup. In this example we are just going to use Notepad. From the start menu open "Computer" and in the search box in the top right of the window type the name of the program you want to run, here "notepad".

Step # 2 -- Navigating to the Right Part of the Registry Editor

Now, click the start orb and in the "Search programs and files" box type "regedit" and press "Return". Click "Yes" in the dialog box that appears. The "Registry Editor" will open. You are going to need to navigate to:

"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"

On the right you will see a list of values determining what launches when you start the computer, you are going to want to add a string here.

Step # 3 -- Creating a New Registry Entry

Right click anywhere on the frame and navigate to "New" then click "String Value". Enter a name and press return. Now right click on the entry you just created and click modify. Into the window enter " " " then the location of the program, then another " " ". Click "OK".

Step # 4 -- Making Sure the Program Starts

To make sure that the registry addition has worked restart your computer. When it boots up the program should begin automatically and that is how to add Windows 7 startup programs.

[mylesa.pepper]

other way:
on the start menu, click "all programs".
scroll down to the folders, and find the folder called "Startup"
open it.
You can paste your program in the folder, so right click and click paste to paste the program.
There, you can restart your computer to see the changes.

[odulsodulio]

this tutorial is top-notch 10/10 would recommend

[Chris-qfhv]

Thanks Microsoft for makiing what should be a simple and easy task next to impossible.

[dre]

Thanks! Worked for me. None of the other methods (that should work) did not, because they refer to folders or options that simply do not exist in my Windows 7 Home Premium. This method does not count on those other things.

[theskipperky]

This was a great help for me. I use it as a reminder. Thank you.

[Schmidteren]

I can't. :S:S I get an error. Cannot edit hotslogs. Error writing the values new content. I also tried putting a copy into Startup, a shortcut etc. Tried changing the read only for Startup folder to non read only, but it can't change.. What do I do?

[cactusdg]

i folow ur steps but not worcking with quietHDD, can u hellp me to solve it?

[mipe]

Good manual method but there is a simpler one. Navigate to: Menu\Programs\Startup" and paste your EXEs there. Voilà!

[abdulmominkhattak]

how to add a task at startup?? i want use internet on andriod, every time i have to write in cmd " netsh wlan start hosted network" how can it do automattically ??