Awesome Techs

Microsoft Windows XP can be set to autostart your most often used programs when you start your computer. This is time saving, instead of you clicking on the desktop icons or icons on the taskbar for your most used programs. Here’s how it works — When Windows XP starts up, it reads in the “Startup” folder of the system “Start Menu” for shortcuts to programs and files. This folder is usually stored in D: > Documents And Settings > username > Start Menu > Programs (we assume that D drive is the location where Windows OS is installed on your hard disk). If any programs and files to programs are stored in this folder, Windows runs them automatically once you turn on your computer. Here’s how to schedule the autorun feature on Windows XP .

1. Click on the “Start” button on the taskbar. Select All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks.
2. Double left-click the “Add Scheduled Task”. This will start the Scheduled Task Wizard. Click “Next” in the first box. A second dialog box will display a list of programs that are installed on your computer and external drives.
3. First, we need to create program shortcuts in this Startup folder, in order to have XP recognize what programs or files to autostart when you turn on your PC. On the second dialog box, click on the programs you want autostart (by browsing your internal and external HDD, using the browsing feature on the dialog box), and enter information for the below items:

   [1] Choose and specify what program you want to auto-open at startup.
   [2] Set how often you want the program to run (i.e. when you start your computer, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly… etc.).
   [3] Enter account you want to use when the program is active. Enter a user name and password for this.

   Follow screen instructions for other options.

4. Click Next > Finish to complete the process on creating shortcut(s) to the Windows XP Autostart folder. From now on, when your start your computer, XP will auto-open the programs/files that you’ve just selected for the scheduled task. Close your most used programs or files before turning off your computer with no worries; Windows XP will reopen it (them) for you the next time you start your PC.

Credit:WikiHow

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