What are the various methods for loading applications when windows starts. For example, you can place things in the start menus start up folder, and you can place addresses in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder of the registry. There must be another place that I am missing as I am finding that applications ( such as MSN messenger and RealPlayer ) are still loading at startup, yet they are not contained in these locations. Any Help Appreciated ~Spike You can contact me here

4 ways, AFAIK
1) place it in the starup folder of the current user
2) place it in c:\windows\all users\start menu\startup\
3) place it in win.ini, put run="path" or load="path" (just edit win.ini to see what i mean)
4) like you said, put it in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\current version\run

I think it is in the windows.ini or the system.ini
I have no window on this moment running so can''t check for you.

The ini files would prolly be the easiest to deal with, but they are really just in there for old 16-bit application support. I believe on Windows NT they even have a comment at the beginning of the win.ini and system.ini stating this. If I were you, I''d place the code in the registry.