How to run a program at startup?

The answer given by Abhinav S works fine, and here is how to do it using the registry:
Windows Program Automatic Startup Locations[^]

Regards
Espen Harlinn

First of all, writing a Windows Service is a serious option. It gives important benefits over regular applications, but also more difficult to develop and debug.

For all other ways, I have a different, more comprehensive method which I find very robust. You can find all different ways to register application for loading once or on regular basis following SysInternals application called AutoRuns:

1) Go to SysInternals site: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals[^].
2) Download SysInternals Suit: http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/SysinternalsSuite.zip[^]; you can also download separate applications, but there are more useful things, read utilities Index: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb545027[^].
3) Unpack and run AutoRuns, read it help and look at the top-level items of the tree: they show when you can install your applications.
4) Activate context menu and select "Jump To"; it will open Regedit on a selected item.
5) Write installation application which writes the path to your application and parameters in a right place in the Registry.

Good luck,

—SA

Same question asked and replied here[^].