This page documents all known autostart locations There are currently 53 autostart locations, consisting of 35 registry locations, 12 file locations, and 6 folder locations. Autostart Locations are listed in no particular order. Registry Autostart Locations HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ All values in this key are executed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\ All values in this key are executed, and then their autostart reference is deleted. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\ All values in this key are executed as services. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce\ All values in this key are executed as services, and then their autostart reference is deleted. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ All values in this key are executed. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\ All values in this key are executed, and then their autostart reference is deleted. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup\ Used only by Setup. Displays a progress dialog box as the keys are run one at a time. HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ Similar to the Run key from HKEY_CURRENT_USER. HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\ Similar to the RunOnce key from HKEY_CURRENT_USER. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon The "Shell" value is monitored. This value is executed after you log in. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\ All subkeys are monitored, with special attention paid to the "StubPath" value in each subkey. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\ All subkeys are monitored, with special attention paid to the "StaticVXD" value in each subkey. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop The "SCRNSAVE.EXE" value is monitored. This value is launched when your screen saver activates. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager The "BootExecute" value is monitored. Files listed here are Native Applications that are executed before Windows starts. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\vbsfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .VBS file (Visual Basic Script) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\vbefile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .VBE file (Encoded Visual Basic Script) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jsfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .JS file (Javascript) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jsefile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .JSE file (Encoded Javascript) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\wshfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .WSH file (Windows Scripting Host) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\wsffile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .WSF file (Windows Scripting File) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .EXE file (Executable) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\comfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .COM file (Command) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .BAT file (Batch Command) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\scrfile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .SCR file (Screen Saver) is run. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile\shell\open\command\ Executed whenever a .PIF file (Portable Interchange Format) is run. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\ Services marked to startup automatically are executed before user login. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog\Catalog_Entries\ Layered Service Providers, executed before user login. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Control\WOW\cmdline Executed when a 16-bit Windows executable is executed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Control\WOW\wowcmdline Executed when a 16-bit DOS application is executed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit Executed when a user logs in. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad\ Executed by explorer.exe as soon as it has loaded. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\run Executed when the user logs in. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\load Executed when the user logs in. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\run\ Subvalues are executed when Explorer initialises. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\run\ Subvalues are executed when Explorer initialises. Folder Autostart Locations windir\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ User\Startup\ All Users\Startup\ windir\system\iosubsys\ windir\system\vmm32\ windir\Tasks\ \desktop.ini File Autostart Locations c:\explorer.exe c:\autoexec.bat c:\config.sys windir\wininit.ini windir\winstart.bat windir\win.ini - [windows] "load" windir\win.ini - [windows] "run" windir\system.ini - [boot] "shell" windir\system.ini - [boot] "scrnsave.exe" windir\dosstart.bat windir\system\autoexec.nt windir\system\config.nt :\Autorun.inf