launch powershell script from registry

Question

I have a powershell script that I want to run on my PC every time I log on. I've added it as a REG_SZ in my current user "run" key, but it never executes.

I've altered the execution policy to "unrestricted", but still no luck.

The contents of the registry value are like this:

powershell.exe c:\path\myscript.ps1

That does work from the command prompt. Any idea why it won't run from the registry?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I usually run PowerShell scripts this way:

powershell.exe -file c:\path\myscript.ps1

For more information, run this from the command line:

powershell.exe -help

Answer 2

Today I read about a powershell script that continues after rebooting the computer. To do this, the scripter automatically writes to his run-key. If you take a look at this blogpost, you'll see that he just writes the scriptname plus its params to the registry key.

I wasn't able to test it yet, but if it's worked for him, that would mean, that you don't append "powershell.exe" in front of the scriptname.

Answer 3

Ok, I got this solved. You need to set the execution policy to remotesigned and not "bypass" as Microsoft told me. To do that run this command in powershell:

set-executionpolicy remotesigned

Then this is the REG_SZ in my registry run key

"C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -file c:\path\myscript.ps1

So now I have a powershell script that starts all my usual programs with a gap between them allowing me to get working on my machine immediately without the slowness every application trying to open at the same time.

Here is a little snippit of my *.PS1 file as others may find it useful:

# Chrome Browser
Start-Sleep -s 20
& "C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

# Outlook
Start-Sleep -s 10
& "c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.EXE"

# Messenger
Start-Sleep -s 10
& "c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background

# Snagit
Start-Sleep -s 30
& "C:\Program Files (x86)\TechSmith\Snagit 10\Snagit32.exe" /i /h

# Evernote
Start-Sleep -s 60
& "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Evernote\EvernoteTray.exe"

Answer 4

If I remember right you can't execute a powershell script directly (as in double clicking it), it has to be executed from the command line. Maybe Windows sees executing from the registry as executing directly. What you could try (and I my be out on a limb here) is calling the script from a batch file and then calling the batch file from the registry.