How do I ...

[wellinghall]

... set Windows XP so that a particular program (say, Word) opens automatically at start-up?

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

The easiest way is to drag a shortcut into Start->Programs->Startup.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that.

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

Why would you want to be using XP ? ;)

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

No doubt for the reason that 95% of XP users would give - "It came with my PC" ;-)

What would you recommend?

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

Well as far as M$ operating systems go it's one of the best. However, if you want speed and Windows try running Windows 3.1 on the same hardware!

If you're prepared to put up with a bit of a re-training / re-learning then try a Linux build. I can't recommend one, as I'm still too tied in to Microsoft and windows professionally so I haven't progressed down that route myself, but there are lots out there.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. Speed isn't a key issue for me, at least not with PC-uses at the moment. Compatibility with work is; both directly (so I can work on the same files both here and there) and indirectly (so I can take my familiarity from one machine to another).

What advantages would Linux offer?

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I was attempting to be humerous with my comment about speed.

Compatability is a major consideration. That is a significant reason why I'm still using Windows, that and lazyness: I simply can't be arsed to go through the bother of finding a Linux UI that I like and become familiar with how to do on it what I know how to do on Windows. For me my PC is a tool, not a toy, so for it to be out of commission during the conversion process would be a significant problem. I could dual boot, but then I've got to repartition the hard drive, and that is a pain in the arse too.

As for advantages of Linux: free (or at least inexpensive) is one, both to buy and for support. It tends to be faster. More secure, the security model is better, and there are less viruses targed at Linux. However, I am not a Linux expert, or even a Linux user, so I'm not the right person to be asking. Try emperor or alitalf instead.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

In practical terms, for a normal, non-technical desktop PC user, who just wants his PC to work without having to faff around, pretty much no advantages.

Linux exists pretty much to allow nerds of the worst sort to boast about how nerdy they are. (That and being good for servers.)

Stick to XP. Don't even think about Linux. Think about Vista when you next buy a PC, but not now.