Execute a script a startup and shutdown

June 2014
To perform certain customized functions, scripts can be run when the Windows operating system starts or shuts down. The
method to execute a script at startup or shutdown varies with different versions of the Windows operating system. For the
professional and full editions, you don't need to modify the registry to run scripts. Instead, it is possible to add scripts at
startup from the policy editor of the local group. For all editions of Windows, modification in the registry is required to execute a
script at startup and shutdown. Backup the registry before making any changes to it.

Execute a script a startup and shutdown

This trick works in Windows XP, Vista and 7, but the method varies depending on your edition of Windows.

For professional or full editions

Start the policy editor of the local group: Start Menu > Run > Type gpedit.msc
Under Vista, you can type the command in the search bar of the start menu or press Windows key + R
Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)
Depending on what you want, double click on Start or Stop system
Click Add > Browse and select the script you want to add.

For all editions

These steps involve modifying the registry. It is therefore recommended to make a backup before proceeding. Open notepad
and copy the code below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Startup]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Startup\0]
"GPO-ID"="LocalGPO"
"SOM-ID"="Local"
"FileSysPath"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\GroupPolicy\\Machine"
"DisplayName"="Stratgie de groupe locale"
"GPOName"="Stratgie de groupe locale"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown\0]
"GPO-ID"="LocalGPO"
"SOM-ID"="Local"
"FileSysPath"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\GroupPolicy\\Machine"
"DisplayName"="Stratgie de groupe locale"
"GPOName"="Stratgie de groupe locale"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Startup\0\0]
"Script"="C:\\script1.bat"
"Parameters"=""
"ExecTime"=hex(b):00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
Once you understand the code, you can adapt it to suit your needs by changing some of the variables.
C:\\script.bat represents the path to your script on the hard disk.
0 represents the number of the script in case you have several scripts to run.
Startup is the time of execution of the script (at startup is Startup and shutdown is Shutdown)
It is possible to add multiple scripts:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Startup\0\0]
"Script"="C:\\script1.bat"
"Parameters"=""
"ExecTime"=hex(b):00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
It is also possible to specify parameters for the execution of this script by changing the Parameters field. Finally, save this text
file:
Go to File > Save
Give it a name ending with .reg
Select All files in the list box File Type
Save the file to the desired location and double click on this file
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