How to Run Programs Automatically When a User Logs On

ID: Q240791

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use group policies in Windows 2000 to configure a program to run automatically when a user logs on.

MORE INFORMATION

You can apply a policy to an individual user or to a computer, and you can use any valid program (custom, third-party, or Windows 2000 programs such as Microsoft Internet Explorer). For example, use the appropriate method to configure Notepad.exe to run when a user logs on:

To configure Notepad to run when any user logs on to a specific computer:

Edit the following group policy:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Run These Programs at User Logon

Type the full path name of the program. In this example, type the following path name:

c:\%windir%\system32\notepad.exe

To configure Notepad to run when a specific user logs on (regardless of the computer he or she uses):

Edit the following group policy:

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Run These Programs at User Logon

Type the full path name of the program.

NOTE: If the program does not run, make sure the path is correct. The program does not run (and no error message is displayed) if the path is not found.

Additional query words: application

Keywords : kbenv
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto