Windows 10: How To Automaticaly Start A Program Minimized

I have an old programme I like called Desktop Secretary that I am using With Windows 10. Its being run in compatibility mode for Vista SP2. The built in option to run on startup does not work for Win 10 so I am using Task scheduler to make it run automatically at startup. Is there any way I can get it to automatically start up minimised instead of maximised? Now it will start up automatically and I have to manually click on the "-" button to minimise it and then it will go to the system tray. I have tried disabling the task schedule and putting a shortcut in the Win 10 start up folder with the option to start up mimised. After doing that the programme does not start up at all. Manually clicking that shortcut starts it maximised and not minimised. Is there any other method or a way to use Task Scheduler to make it start minimised? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Kind regards
Chris

:)

 

Start Menu Automaticaly close. when expand all program

hello,

i need help with windows 10

start menu automaticaly close when i click all program

i using windows 10 build 10162

start menu work normally on previous build

 

Slideshow default directory

Hi all,



I've got a QTEK 8310 with WM5. When hooked to a PC it starts to run a slideshow automaticaly. It will display the pictures stored on my phone memory. What I want it to do is show pictures from my storage card. How can I make the slide show automaticaly starts
showing pictures from my Storage card. Anyone has a suggestion



Thanks in advance



Peter

 

I like to have Task Manager run automatically at start up, minimised to the taskbar. Task Manager has no options of its own to run minimised, so I start it from a .bat file in...
C:\Users\<my_username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
...containing the command:
start /min taskmgr

You could try launching your program with something similar, a command along the lines:
start /min "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary"

Try it from a command prompt first to see if it works as you'd wish.

 

Thanks for you help. In this case the issue is not actually with Task manager to start mimised. I want to start Desktop Secretary minimised by using Task manager or by another method. I apologise if I did not explain clearly.

Kind regards
Chris

 

No, it's me who didn't explain clearly. I'm suggesting you use 'start /min' command to run you program, with a command something like:
start /min "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary\desktopsecretary.exe"

 

Thanks. This might work. In Task manager I now have "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe" So if I understand correctly should I change it to: start /min "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe" ?

Kind regards
Chris

 

I think you mean 'in Task Scheduler', but basically yes. Try opening a Command Prompt and type the command:
start /min "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe"
...to test that it works as expected. If you can't get it to work in Task Scheduler, then write the command into a new text file on your desktop, rename it as DS_min.bat then copy or move it to your C:\Users\<my_username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder.

 

Thanks. Yes I mean task scheduler. I will try some tests and let you know how I get on.

Kind regards
chris

 

I tried various methods.

1- I tried adding the Start /min argument in Task scheduler and then it did not launch at all
2- I tried opening cmd and running
start /min "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe"
It will not run at all. I also tested a batch file with this command in the startup folder and no result.
3- With cmd I ran, start /min "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe"
Then it launches maximised and I still have to click onto the "-" to minimise it.

I am sure this can be done with the right syntax. Not sure if this is a permissions or privileges problem with Win 10. I want to enter the same command as when I click on the "-" in the window.

I will keep trying. Your suggestions are welcome.

Kind regards
Chris

 

Neither!

Intrigued by your problem I found and downloaded Desktop Secretary and tried it myself. The reason 'start /min' doesn't work is that Desktop Secretary doesn't open in a conventional window that can be minimised to the taskbar, rather it puts an icon in the system notification tray (much like Defender does). Ticking its option to start automatically adds the following 'Run' entry to the registry:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe" /background

Run this command from a command prompt, or from a .bat file in the Startup folder and it works as intended - but with one crucial extra step: as this is an unsigned program you have to click 'Yes' on a UAC prompt to let it run. The problem with launching it from the registry 'Run' entry is that you never get to see a UAC prompt. Presumably this is the same for launching it in Task Scheduler, which would explain why that doesn't work.

This Tutorial may help in launching from Task Scheduler without the need for a UAC prompt...
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

...if not, you can launch it with a .bat in Startup, but will have to click 'Yes' on the UAC each time, whether that's an improvement on clicking its '-' each time is a moot point. *Smile

 

Thank you very much. This information has solved the problem. Now Desktop Secretary will automatically run at startup and minimise to the system tray which is what its supposed to do. In the end the solution was quite simple. I copied and pasted the following line you gave me into Task scheduler.
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop Secretary(Free Version)\Desktop_Secretary.exe" /background
After clicking OK, task scheduler said this had an argument and did I want to apply it. I checked ok and the job was done. Please see the attached screenshot. I also note that to get Task scheduler to work I previously had to check the option to run with the highest privileges. I do not get any user account control prompt. In any case, I have UAC turned off.

Thank you again for all your help.

Kind regards
Chris

 

Glad to have helped you get it working. If you had UAC turned off just to try to get this working, I'd turn it back on now. It's there to prevent malware making changes without your permission.

 

Thanks for the advice. Actually I had it turned off for other reasons. I just turned UAC back on to the default settings and rebooted to test what would happen with Task scheduler and I am not getting any alerts which is fine. Thanks again.

Kind regards
Chris

 

For running the program minimized using the cmd.exe /C start /MIN, the focus of the window still changes since the first cmd.exe is launched in a real window. You can avoid this by using the vbscript with WScript.exe:

1. Create a .vbs script to the folder/name of your choice, I use startprocess.vbs in my example.
Code: Option ExplicitDim oShell 'WScript.Shell objectDim iOption 'WScript.shell.run visibility option'For iOption, see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee156605.aspxSet oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")If WScript.Arguments.Count >0 Then If WScript.Arguments.Count > 1 then iOption = CLng(WScript.Arguments.Item(1)) oShell.run WScript.arguments.item(0), iOption Else oShell.run WScript.arguments.item(0) End IfEnd If[/quote] 2. Create launcher for the script to run your program
wscript.exe /B /NoLogo [path]/startprocess.vbs "your command here with parameters" 7
e.g. wscript.exe /B /NoLogo "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C MyStartup.cmd > C:\Temp\MyStartup.log" 7
Now you can place the launcher to the Windows Task Scheduler (or any other place) and your command with parameters will be run minimized without changing the focus of the windows i.e. your work is not affected by the running process. This is due to the fact that wscript.exe does not create any windows when run with the batch mode with /B option.

Script does not contain any error handling or other additional stuff.

What the script does it uses the first argument (if it exist) as a full command line for launching the command and the second parameter as WShell.exec visibility option (Microsoft Windows 2000 Scripting Guide - Running Programs)

When using with the Windows Task Schedule, you place
C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe
as executable and the rest of the parameters as arguments, in my example
/B /NoLogo "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C MyStartup.cmd > C:\Temp\MyStartup.log" 7