Iam using windows xp and would like to know how to automatically start a program when my computer starts?

Cheers

Stick it in the Startup folder.

in a bit more detail;

go to c:/documents and settings

there will be an all users folder and folder for each person who has an account.

if you want the program to run for anyone who logs on click on all users; start menu; programs; startup.

more right click on the exe you want to run each time windows starts and drag it into the startup folder and choose copy here.

You can also use a program called firedaemon to install any application or script as a windows service. There's a few advantages to using a service; If you want the program to start up before a user logs in or you don't want it running in the taskbar then installing it as a service is probably the way to go.

As mentioned above, sticking a shortcut in the startup folder is probably the easiest way to do it though.

Originally posted by Lurch
Stick it in the Startup folder. cut and & paste a shortcut of the program into Startup ;)

The easiest way is probably to right-click the program exe, and select 'Copy'.

Then navigate to the relevant startup folder, right-click and select 'Paste Shortcut'

or in the registry:

run regedit:
goto
hkey local computer
software
microsoft
windows
current version
run

all of the stuff run there is what runs when the PC starts in addition to the start menu startup.