Get program to copy itself into program files, then start on startup.

Hey everyone,

I'm a beginner windows programmer, but I'm trying to make a program that copies itself into the windows "Program Files" folder and run on startup.

This is a console program in c++ and I'm stuck.

I tried doing something like:

Code:

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system("mkdir %programfiles%\\AntiLeetSpeak");
system("copy AntiLeetSpeak.exe %programfiles%\\AntiLeetSpeak\\AntiLeetSpeak.exe");

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It copied the executable into the program files folder, but now I have no clue how to make it startup on system start.

I know you can place it in the registry (SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run) - but as far as that goes, I'm stuck...

just make a shortcut and place it into
Start/Programs/StartUp folder

I'd do that, it's just that people becides me are probably going to use this program and I would like it to be automatic...

I used to have a code example of this (with functions like OpenRegEx() or something and you could set a value...)

Do it automatic

I prefer programs that do not play with the registry, and especiialy with the Run key, when it can be avoided.

In your case - it definitely can be avoided.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by guitarist809

I'd do that, it's just that people becides me are probably going to use this program and I would like it to be automatic...

I used to have a code example of this (with functions like OpenRegEx() or something and you could set a value...)

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Code:

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// Assuming that c:\program files\Myapp folder exists and the MyApp.exe is in this folder
#pragma comment(lib, "advapi32.lib")

#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>

char szRunKey[] = {"Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run"};
char szMyAppPath[] = {"C:\\Program Files\\MyApp\\MyApp.exe"};
char szMyappSubKey[] = {"MyApp"};

int main(void)
{
    HKEY hKey;
    if(RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, szRunKey, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS, &hKey) == ERROR_SUCCESS)
    {
        if(RegSetValueEx(hKey, szMyappSubKey, 0, REG_SZ, (const unsigned char*)szMyAppPath, sizeof(szMyAppPath)) == ERROR_SUCCESS)
            printf("Create Run key successful\n");
        else printf("RegSetValueEx failed\n");
        RegCloseKey(hKey);
    }
    else printf("RegOpenKeyEx key failed\n");
    return 0;
}

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and now that I have that little tidbit of information, we will do the same thing we do every night Pinky, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD, MUAHAHAHAHAHA

This

Code:

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const unsigned char*

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Can be shortened to

Code:

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BYTE*

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And none of the API takes const IIRC, so it's just as much useless to cast into.