Windows 10 Startup Batch Script stopped working

MMZWHAT · 21 Mar 2021

Hi all,

Quite a while ago I have created a startup script that does some basic file copying. It's nothing fancy: it runs after I log on to Windows and copies a few files. The batch file is in my "Documents" folder, I placed a shortcut to it in the "Startup" folder using "shell:startup". The shortcut is still there and I can run the script manually at will, both from the shortcut or the file itself.

But it no longer runs at startup, whether I shut down or restart. Any clues for me? TIA!

Windows 10.0.19042.868

dalchina · 21 Mar 2021

Hi, what happens if you replace it temporarily with another one that does something even more trivial like a simple prompt?

Just wondering if you're running into some issue with, say, this:
How to enable Controlled folder access to protect data from ransomware on Windows 10 | Windows Central

MMZWHAT · 22 Mar 2021

dalchina said:

Hi, what happens if you replace it temporarily with another one that does something even more trivial like a simple prompt?

Just wondering if you're running into some issue with, say, this:
How to enable Controlled folder access to protect data from ransomware on Windows 10 | Windows Central

Thanks for the idea. Nothing has changed with an even simpler batch and Windows Ransomware is not currently enabled at all.

dalchina · 22 Mar 2021

If stuck you could try launching it using the task scheduler.

Do you have any other shortcuts in the Startup folder that work?
If none, try creating a new one.

Download and use Autoruns (free from MS) and inspect the startups- make sure the shortcut isn't disabled.

Windows 10 Startup Batch Script stopped working-1.png

Matthew Wai · 22 Mar 2021

MMZWHAT said:

I placed a shortcut to it in the "Startup" folder using "shell:startup".

Does the shortcut appear on Task Manager? In my example below, the shortcut is "Testing".

Windows 10 Startup Batch Script stopped working-startup.jpg

MMZWHAT · 25 Mar 2021

Matthew Wai said:

Does the shortcut appear on Task Manager? In my example below, the shortcut is "Testing".

The shortcut was in the list and was enabled.

dalchina said:

If stuck you could try launching it using the task scheduler.

I added the script as a scheduled task and it's been working.

As long as this workaround functions, it's good enough for now. My investigative spirit will have to wait for a little more free time to figure out why the original solution failed.

Thank you all