Startup Folder - Order In Which Programs Start

In the Windows XP "Startup" folder, is there a way to assign the order in
which the programs start durinig bootup? From the startup folder I start
automatically MS Outlook and MS Excel and want Outlook to start before Excel
so that Excel is positioned on the taskbar to the right iof Outlook. If I
can't assign a preference to the startup sequence, is there a way to change
the positions of the open programs and folders located on the taskbar?

Thanks for your help with this. Dave

DBavirsha wrote:

> In the Windows XP "Startup" folder, is there a way to assign the
> order in which the programs start durinig bootup? From the startup
> folder I start automatically MS Outlook and MS Excel and want Outlook
> to start before Excel


Instead of starting the programs individually, start them from a batch file
in the order you want.


> so that Excel is positioned on the taskbar to
> the right iof Outlook.


Even if you start them in order, the taskbar buittons may not come out in
that order. It depends on the program, how long it takes to start, when it
creates its taskbar entry, etc.


> If I can't assign a preference to the startup
> sequence, is there a way to change the positions of the open programs
> and folders located on the taskbar?



Yes, but only with a third-party program. There are several. Here's one
freeware choice: TaskArrange at
http://users.forthnet.gr/pat/efotinis/programs/taskarrange.html

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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