Run on System Start + win32 application

Of course you can do it. There are serveral ways of doing it.
1. You can add your program to the Startup folder
2. You can do it by adding an entry to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry keys.

Here are few pointers:

http://oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/windows/ron/startup_0401.html[^]

First and most advanced option is developing a Windows Service. It will run on system start if you use Auto option in its properties.

There are good number of place where to register an application to run on start. I use my own method based on SysInternals application "AutoRuns".

Visit Sysinternals, Download SysInternals Suite: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb842062[^] (you can download just AutoRuns, but whole suite is so useful, see the index: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb545027[^]).

Unpack and execute AutoRuns. It will show a tree with the comprehensive list of locations. You can use "go to registry" feature to locate the registry key, which you need to do programmatic installation.

—SA

you can add the application path in RUN entry in CURRENT_USER or LOCAL_MACHINE

well if you want the program to start up after the login screen then you got all the information you need.

if you want to run the program before the login screen, then there is a way too, at least for Windows XP Professional

RUN gpedit.msc

go to "Windows Settings" it is under "Computer Configuration"
Open "Scripts(Startup/Shutdown)"
Open "Startup" in right pane.
Click "Add" button and browse to your program and then click "ok".

(i am not sure if you can do this on post vista operating systems)