This tutorial will show how to add programs to Startup so they will be launched automatically after a user logged in (like Skype or Anti-Virus programs do).

Using Windows XP, this was really easy: Just drag the application shortcut of your program to Start -> Programs – > Startup. Using Windows 7,  this folder won’t be shown, but it still exists. Here is how to autostart any program:

• Go to your Startup folder. You can access it by typing “shell:startup” into the search bar in your Start Menu:
  
• Now create a shortcut to the application you want to autostart and put it into the Startup folder.
  
• That’s it basically. Now the application you linked to in the Startup folder will start always after YOU logged in. Other computer users have to do the same thing again!
• After you put the first shortcut into the Startup folder, it will be shown in the Start Menu, so you can easily remove the shortcuts again or place new ones there.
  

If you don’t want or can’t use the search, you can also access the folder by going to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and replacing <username> with your actual username. Better enter it directly into your address bar since the AppData folder is hidden and you may not see it.