WiX: How to register application to start when Win

Question

I'm exploring distribution of .NET desktop applications with MSI generated by WiX.

So far it works great. But I've got a few questions, googling can't help out with.

What's the advised way of registering application to start when windows launches (in WiX)?

What WixUI could I use and how?

Notes:

• The application is not a Windows Service and should not be registered as such.
• It would be nice to let user to disable that option in the setup process.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I would suggest you ask the user with a custom form if the application should startup automatically and then create a link in the users startup folder.

Answer 2

I found this using Google (Providing automatic program start via the Registry); it also includes adding UI. Don't forget you should also provide an option outside the setup to enable/disable autostart.

The basic Wix for it is:

  <Property Id="ASSISTANCE_START_VIA_REGISTRY">1</Property>

  <!-- Auto-start via Registry -->
  <Component Id="MerliniAssistanceAutostart" Guid="Place-your-own-GUID-here">
    <RegistryValue Id="MerAs.rst" Root="HKMU" Action="write"
                   Key="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
                   Name="Merlinia Assistance Client"
                   Value="[INSTALLDIR]Assistance.exe"
                   Type="string" />
    <Condition>ASSISTANCE_START_VIA_REGISTRY</Condition>
  </Component>

  <ComponentRef Id="MerliniaAssistanceAutostart" />

Answer 3

Take a look in the registry at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. If you want it to start per-user then look in HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. If you want it to start when Windows starts, without requiring a user to log on, that's a Service.