In the Windows operating system, "inicialização automática" refers to the automatic startup of programs when the system boots up. This functionality is crucial for running essential applications or scripts without user intervention. Windows provides several methods to achieve automatic startup, including using the Startup folder, Task Scheduler, and registry modifications. Below, we will explore these methods with practical examples.

Method 1: Using the Startup Folder

The Startup folder is the simplest way to add programs to run automatically at startup.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type shell:startup and press Enter. This will open the Startup folder.
3. Place a shortcut of the program you want to run automatically in this folder.

Example:

To automatically start Notepad:

1. Find Notepad in the Start menu.
2. Right-click on it and select "Open file location."
3. Copy the shortcut and paste it into the Startup folder.

Method 2: Using Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler allows for more advanced configurations, such as setting conditions for the program to start.

1. Open Task Scheduler by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Click on "Create Basic Task" in the Actions pane.
3. Follow the wizard to name the task and set the trigger to "At startup."
4. Choose "Start a program" and browse to the executable you want to run.
5. Finish the wizard and the task will be created.

Example:

To start a script at startup:

• Create a batch file example.bat with the following content:

  @echo off
  echo This script runs at startup

• Use Task Scheduler to create a task that runs example.bat at startup.

Method 3: Modifying the Windows Registry

Editing the Windows registry allows you to add programs to the startup process directly.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
3. Right-click in the right pane and select New > String Value.
4. Name it after the program and set its value to the path of the executable.

Example:

To add a program located at C:\Program Files\Example\example.exe:

• Create a new string value named ExampleProgram.
• Set its value to "C:\Program Files\Example\example.exe".

Method 4: Using PowerShell

PowerShell can automate the process of adding startup entries.

Example:

To add a program using PowerShell:

$programPath = "C:\Program Files\Example\example.exe"
$registryPath = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $registryPath -Name "ExampleProgram" -Value $programPath

This script adds the program to the registry key for startup.