Running exe file in the background on Windows Startup

[rm -rf]

I've got a C++ bit of code like this:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
  cout << "hello world!";
}

 

 

It's compiled as an .exe, how can I get this to launch without showing anything?

[Guest]

removing 

cout << "hello world!";

[rm -rf]

1 minute ago, dexxterlab97 said:

removing 

cout << "hello world!";

I still want the code to run, I just don't want to see it.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, rm -rf said:

I still want the code to run, I just don't want to see it.

minimize it?

[rm -rf]

Just now, dexxterlab97 said:

minimize it?

Though then it's in the task bar, I don't want to see it.

[TheKDub]

1 minute ago, dexxterlab97 said:

minimize it?

 

I believe he's meaning something more like the application runs in the background without a window or tray icon.

[rm -rf]

Just now, TheKDub said:

 

I believe he's meaning something more like the application runs in the background without a window or tray icon.

I'm okay with a tray icon as long as it can be in the "hidden icon" section.

[PlutoNZL]

START /MIN program.exe

[Guest]

Just now, PlutoNZL said:

START /MIN program.exe

it will start minimized and you need command prompt

4 minutes ago, rm -rf said:

I'm okay with a tray icon as long as it can be in the "hidden icon" section.

http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-7/program-autostart-and-hide-to-system-tray-or-background/16820.html

 

You need autohotkey

[fizzlesticks]

Depending on what your program does you could use the task scheduler to start the program as some other user.

[rm -rf]

2 hours ago, dexxterlab97 said:

it will start minimized and you need command prompt

http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-7/program-autostart-and-hide-to-system-tray-or-background/16820.html

 

You need autohotkey

Let's say the .exe I compiled from the .cpp file was at C:/.

What would I do to use auto hotkey?

[rm -rf]

2 hours ago, fizzlesticks said:

Depending on what your program does you could use the task scheduler to start the program as some other user.

Will this work if I don't have access any other user accounts on my computer?

[fizzlesticks]

19 minutes ago, rm -rf said:

Will this work if I don't have access any other user accounts on my computer?

You'll need access to some other account, it could be the SYSTEM account or Administrator or a new account you make (maybe even the guest account but I don't know about that one.)  But without knowing what your program is trying to do I can't say if this idea will even work at all.

[rm -rf]

1 hour ago, fizzlesticks said:

You'll need access to some other account, it could be the SYSTEM account or Administrator or a new account you make (maybe even the guest account but I don't know about that one.)  But without knowing what your program is trying to do I can't say if this idea will even work at all.

I can't create new accounts or use other accounts.

[DevBlox]

You can run it as a Windows service. You can write Windows service installers in C++ (those are some boilerplate code basically) into your application, or you can use NSSM.

 

EDIT: This will require Administrator account access, unless you have permissions to manage services.

 

Another option is to instead of a Console application, make a Windows application that produces no Windows, you could make it in a way that it will not appear anyhow.

[vorticalbox]

This idea seems off to me.

 

Firstly you can't create account implying you do not own the machine and you're trying to male it invisible to the end user.

[rm -rf]

47 minutes ago, DevBlox said:

You can run it as a Windows service. You can write Windows service installers in C++ (those are some boilerplate code basically) into your application, or you can use NSSM.

 

EDIT: This will require Administrator account access, unless you have permissions to manage services.

 

Another option is to instead of a Console application, make a Windows application that produces no Windows, you could make it in a way that it will not appear anyhow.

I do have Administrator permissions, though I think im going just going to code it as a windows application.

Thanks

[rm -rf]

11 minutes ago, vorticalbox said:

This idea seems off to me.

 

Firstly you can't create account implying you do not own the machine and you're trying to male it invisible to the end user.

I'm the only user who uses this machine, so don't worry, I'm not trying to do this for nefarious purposes  (though if I was would I say?...)

This is just apart of a project to automatically calculate how long it will take for windows 7 extended support to run out and update my forum signature.