Best way to run a desktop application at startup of Windows 8

Question

Hi All.  I have a command line application that I'd like automatically start up when Windows 8 boots up.

I've tried to make a shortcut in the Startup folder. However, that hasn't worked.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Three options,

1) Add it to the current user's Startup folder. This requires the least permissions for your app to run, and gives the user the most control and feedback of what's going on. The down-side is that it's a little more difficult determining whether to show the checkbox already checked next time they view that screen in your program.
2) Add it to the HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key. The only problem here is that it requires write access to the registry, which isn't always available.
3) Set it up as a windows service. Only do this if you really mean it, and you know for sure you want to run this program for all users on the computer.