Delphi: How to create a Windows autostart application like Skype does?

Question

I'd like to add an option to my application similar to the Skype's option "run Skype as my computer starts".

Skype doesnt't go on the "Auto start applications" of the start menu folder, I'd like to have the same effect.

Note, one answer to this question suggets to add a key here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

but I checekd on my machine and Skype is not there, so another way is used.

Answer 1

See this question. The question is about C#, but it only involves writing a registry value. It will be easy to convert it for Delphi.

Answer 2

If you type "msconfig" into the run window and look at the startup tab you can see where "everthing" starts from in the Location column. I don't use skype but my guess would it's in the registry in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

You just need to add a registry entry for your app in there (and delete it if the user unticks the box)

you can use the TRegistry class to help you reading and writing to the registry.

Answer 3

Skype installs via a registry entry, but it's in HKEY_CURRENT_USER , not HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

This allows Skype to be installed or not on a per-user basis. Using HKLM will autostart for ALL users.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Answer 4

Hi

Just run msconfig and select startup tab. You'll see the applications along side the registry key used.

Oddly, when I run regedit without elevation don't see the value HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Skype also. But if I run it elevated then the value is there (I guess that Windows is playing registry redirection).

Best