Start a program before explorer.exe

[shaywood]

I've always wanted to know if its possible to start a program prior to explorer.exe starting.

Im using Tclocklight and modifing the start button, so there is a slight delay before the start button changes. If however tclocklight could be launched first there would be no delay on the start button modification.

If anyone knows of a way to launch tclock before explorer.exe it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[cga]

You could try to run it as a service. I doubt that Tclocklight has an option for this, there is however a program called Any2Service that can convert any .exe to a service. Not 100% sure this works but maybe worth a try.

[Jonny Wright]

I know this dosent really answer your question but someone may be able to use it to answer it. The statrup order for Windows XP is...

Startup programs run. Windows XP Professional starts logon scripts, startup programs, and services referenced in these registry subkeys and folder locations:

* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce

* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run

* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

* systemdrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

* systemdrive\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

* windir\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

* windir\Profiles\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

EDIT: I think that startup list I posted is all things that happen after explorer.exe has loaded however you may find something here:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documen...mc_str_wtlu.asp

[gigapixels Veteran]

I'm not sure if it would even work if it ran first. It probably references the taskbar in the code, and if that is not even available yet, then it will crash. But I could be wrong since I don't have the source to it.

[shaywood]

^that could be true. I was just going on the fact that if i kill "explorer.exe" with tclock running, then run explorer. Explorer appears with the taskbar already altered :)