Program Startup when internet is present

[techwtr]

I have a exe file that I need to get ran each time a person accesses the internet. I would like to get this done automatically so no human error is involved in not running it. Anybody have an idea how to do this? I don't anywhere in IE that I can plug the file in for auto run when IE is started.

 

[Marcs41]

What exactly is it you want to run?


Marc
_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
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[techwtr]

There is a asset program that we would want to run each time a person dials into the internet. This program gives us an inventory of the computer equipment that is being used in the company and who is using it. When this exe program runs, it gathers inventory info from that computer then communicates back to our corporate computers.

This program runs automatically for those who work in one of the branches as soon as they log into the network. What we are trying to keep better track of are the computers being used our of people's homes ( remote employees) who only come into a branch once every three months if that. Grant you I could put a shortcut on their desktops to run this program, but then Human intervention falls into this and possibly the employee might not run it every day.

I've looked IE and don't see anyplace I could put a program that should auto start when IE starts. I also looked in the dialup program that some who don't have DSL use. I don't see anything there to automate the process. Figured I would ask around to see if anyone had any slick ideas on how to do this I am not thinking about.

 

[Marcs41]

Ok, I don't have a direct solution here, and IE cannot do it.
But, if you don't mind me asking, why would you run an asset program on every connection? The hardware is not changing everyday, so I really don't see the point here.
Am I missing something?

 

[techwtr]

I work for a company that wants to keep track of everything. It can tell what software and hardware is out there. In the past, trying to track down equipment has been somewhat hard. Personally, I have been emailing people in my territory the program and have them run it once a month. Those I deal with are good with running it.

Before Windows, I was a good Dos person. Do you recall is there some coding that I could put in a batch file so that whenever iexplorer.exe ran, a particular task would occur?

 

[Marcs41]

make a simple bat file with just 3 lines

start iexplore.exe
start assetprg.exe
exit

 

[techwtr]

Then I would probably say make this batch file a scheduled task to run Monday - Friday at say 1:00PM or some other time that one would expect people to be logged in to the internet. Early morning, some people could be traveling and not be connected.

It appears that this might be my only way to get this to run automatically as often as possible. I'll try that tomorrow to see if that works. Thanks....I'll let you know if that appears to do what the powers that be want.

 

[bcastner]

If you look at Scheduled Tasks you have not only the M-F type of scheduling, but also choices to run a task at Startup, and at Logon.

Perhaps at logon would be a good choice.

 

[techwtr]

When scheduled tasks indicates logon, what logon are they referring to?? logging into the computer or a particular program?? Somehow I didn't see the difference between startup or Logon. Appears both occur at the same time. Unless logon makes a particular tasks happen before startup. What is your experience on this??

I did try the bat file using the code marcs41 mentions above and it worked perfectly. I need to add some code to put a message on screen to not close IE while program is running.

 

[Marcs41]

Good if that part works!

Startup is BEFORE logon.
When a system starts up, several things get loaded already, like a server.
A logon is vasically only your acces to the desktop and applications.
In you case however, from what you describe (dial-ups etv.) that won't work.

 

[techwtr]

That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure my thinking was right. As I was working on this today, my initial thought is to run with a scheduled task in mid afternoon. That should get a good portion of the computers a couple days a week. What I did find was by just running the exe file for the asset program without calling IE to start first was ok. As long as dialup was established it ran without any problem.

Thanks for the assist!