How to load systray apps and programs BEFORE Windows Sign In?

Hi, Have been a lurker for many years and I can usually solve problems myself but this his been niggling me since the Fall Creators Update.

I have 6 machines on my local home network, all are running Microsoft Windows Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.592). It is standard practice that when we turn a machine on, that we wait 5 minutes for all disk activity to stop before we sign in.

Now after signing/logging in at the Windows Login/Sign In Screen, 3 of the machines will have already loaded ALL the icons in the system tray, notification area and taskbar and the systems will be ready for immediate use. The other 3 machines will only just start loading the icons and programs and it can take 3-5 minutes before they have finished and then they are ready to use.

I have checked numerous settings and options but not found a way to have these 3 machines load and be ready to start BEFORE signing/logging in.

Having searched online it seems that several people have experienced this but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer on how to make all the machines behave identically (fast load before login). Any help, advice and suggestions would be most welcome.

It cant load icons until you sign in as its specific to the user if there is only one user then it may load them as it knows it will be the one user loging in. It may load icon from the all users templat but specific ones for a user wont.

I dont know were you get you times from my pc loads in 15 seconds and logs in under a min

Samuria said:

It cant load icons until you sign in as its specific to the user if there is only one user then it may load them as it knows it will be the one user loging in. It may load icon from the all users templat but specific ones for a user wont.

I dont know were you get you times from my pc loads in 15 seconds and logs in under a min

No, there are several users on each PC. As I said other people have experienced this:

Windows 10 latest build not pre loading at login screen

Having the desktop ready before login screen

Login Screen, Preload Desktop

I think those are probably the same issue.

Hi there
If things can be installed as SERVICES then those can be started automatically at boot time. As others have already pointed out though applications designed for specific users need the user to sign on before they can be started.

Some batch / cmd files can also be set to start at boot time too.

Some applications can be started by a user and continue even if that user logs off --for example if you run VM's using VMWare the VM gets (or can be) put into the background.

Cheers
jimbo

kado897 said:

Be interested to see the answer to this. I have one machine that loads them before log-in and one that doesn't.

It seems that it is an issue that some users with multiple systems see. Unfortunately those who haven't experienced it don't believe it is possible.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
If things can be installed as SERVICES then those can be started automatically at boot time. As others have already pointed out though applications designed for specific users need the user to sign on before they can be started.

Some batch / cmd files can also be set to start at boot time too.

Some applications can be started by a user and continue even if that user logs off --for example if you run VM's using VMWare the VM gets (or can be) put into the background.

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo, cheers, I do understand that but these machines are almost identical, I carry out maintenance on them all and have set them up all with the same settings etc but after the Fall Creators Update it affected 3 machines.

The standard windows behaviour that i expect is that nothing loads until you login. After the Fall Creators Update 3 of the machines have loaded everything in the System Tray/Notification Area and the Desktop is ready for use. The other 3 machines take time to load.

It isn't a major problem but I like to know why some of my systems behave in a certain way and why others don't.

W130SN said:

It seems that it is an issue that some users with multiple systems see. Unfortunately those who haven't experienced it don't believe it is possible.



Jimbo, cheers, I do understand that but these machines are almost identical, I carry out maintenance on them all and have set them up all with the same settings etc but after the Fall Creators Update it affected 3 machines.

The standard windows behaviour that i expect is that nothing loads until you login. After the Fall Creators Update 3 of the machines have loaded everything in the System Tray/Notification Area and the Desktop is ready for use. The other 3 machines take time to load.

It isn't a major problem but I like to know why some of my systems behave in a certain way and why others don't.

Hi there
some services are always loaded and started at boot time --go into task manager on the various machines --I'm sure the service starts won't be identical on the same machine(s).

Cheers
jimbo

Here is a video of a machine that was shutdown last night and stated this morning:

https://i.imgur.com/8TTfodU.mp4

As you can see, after login all items are already loaded and desktop is ready to go.


As expected, after trying an Alt-F4 shutdown on this machine, it starts fresh and does not load the items immediately.

To run something before a user logs on, you have to run it as a service. Not all apps can be run as one though. But you can also create your own services.