Windows XP's Autoexec.bat.......

[firewall]

In win98, we could put DOS formatted commands in the autoexec.bat file for setting paths and configuring sound devices (soundblaster). That doesn't happens in winxp. I have however used programs like iolo's system mechanic which can defragment the HD before windows fully loads. It displays a blue screen (like when it runs that disk checking utility, chkdsk.exe). How do they do that?

How can I make a command run before the Welcome Screen pops up in winxp?

 

[hopejr]

xp isn't based on dos like win98, so it doesn't really use an autoexec.bat. You can use the registry or autoexec.nt (which is modified using the System Properties control panel - under advanced (i think) and Startup and Environment Variables). You can do stuff to the registry using regedit (dangerous if you don't know what you're doing), or msconfig to configure start up stuff. You could also set it up as a service, using Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services.

 

[imported_BikeDude]

This link explains how/when autochk (chkdsk) is launched:
http://microsoft.com/resources/document.../XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_qugk.asp

IIRC there are some limitations concerning which API functions are available at this point (can only call NtXXX functions?). The authorative source of information on this is "Inside Windows 2000" from the http://sysinternals.com/ guys.

Edit: Left out an 's' from the systinternals link!