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?

abstrask · Answer 1 · 2016-06-02T12:09:02.120

16

If you need to set the startup script programatically, you can use Scheduled Tasks:

schtasks.exe /create /tn "Task Name" /ru SYSTEM /Sc ONSTART /tr
"C:\command2run.cmd"

To run the task with elevated permissions (Vista and later), add the parameter /RL HIGHEST

edited Jun 02 '16 at 12:09

answered Aug 27 '13 at 13:57

abstrask

4

Much nicer (and simpler to do) solution!! You can also use the Task Scheduler GUI if you prefer. – Jaans Jan 06 '15 at 04:25

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered May 04 '11 at 18:12

8

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 04 '11 at 18:12

mfinni

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 04 '11 at 19:15
1

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 04 '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 04 '11 at 19:37
Actually, now that I know what to look for: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/LGP_Startup/Shutdown_Script – MikeyB May 04 '11 at 19:45

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered May 04 '11 at 18:13

6

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

answered May 04 '11 at 18:13

Jon Reeves

3 Answers3