Run a command on Windows startup (not login!)

Question

How do you tell Windows to run a command on each system startup?

I have a large number of servers on which I will need to run a command on system startup that makes a non-persistent configuration change.

I can run the command either:

How do I instruct Windows to run my command on every boot, without any sort of login?

mfinni · Answer 1 · 2011-05-04 18:12:30Z

up vote 5 down vote accepted

Define a startup script with your desired BAT file. Do this either via Local Computer Policy (for standalone machines) or via GPO (if in a domain.)

answered May 4 '11 at 18:12

mfinni
14.1k11330

	How do I programmatically merge my changes into the computer policy? Do I just create a new key under `HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Startup` and put the appropriate entries there? – MikeyB May 4 '11 at 19:15
	You're generally not supposed to manually touch anything in GPOs, AFAIK. And scripting options for making specific changes to GPOs are fairly lacking, from what I recall. You can export, import, create/delete, and link GPOs from scripts, but I don't think you can make specific changes to specific GPOs (easily.) Anyway, that's a different question, and one probably better suited to StackOverflow. – mfinni May 4 '11 at 19:31
	Yeah, writing up my question now. I'll need to add an entry to the GPO as part of an installer. – MikeyB May 4 '11 at 19:37
	Actually, now that I know what to look for: nsis.sourceforge.net/LGP_Startup/Shutdown_Script – MikeyB May 4 '11 at 19:45

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Jon Reeves · Answer 2 · 2011-05-04 18:13:24Z

up vote 5 down vote

Use Group Policy to run a Computer Startup script - this will run when the machine starts up without needing someone to login

answered May 4 '11 at 18:13

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2 Answers