Skype doesn't auto-run at startup

Question 1

I'm running Vista SP2 and Skype 4.1.0.141.

I have "Start Skype when I start Windows" checked, but it's still not starting automatically. Is this a Skype bug, or something I can track down myself?

UPDATE: I've just upgraded from .141 to .179 and the problem is back, with the registry entry corrupted as before. Again, fixing the registry entry as described seems to have resolved it.

Question 2

Well, I have a solution, but I can't see any way that the problem could have arisen, except for a buggy skype installer .

msconfig was listing the command to run as:-

"C:\Program Files\Skype\\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized

Note the double slash in there before Phone!

Changing the registry entry for HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Skype to remove the extra slash fixed the problem.

Question 3

Excelent. It was the problem for me as well (Vista x64). To make things harder, autoruns did not display the double backslash, only a single one, therefore I missed the problem. This time I have used regedit and the problem was obvious.

Question 4

Try putting a shortcut to Skype in your startup folder

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Question 5

I had the same problem with Vista SP2. I used the same trick for when the Microsoft updates got stuck:

I deleted everything regarding Skype from the hosts.

Navigate to the following location:

Windows 95/98/Me:
```
%Windir%
```
Windows NT/2000/XP:
```
%Windir%\System32\drivers\etc
```
Windows Vista:
```
c:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
```
Double-click the hosts file.
If necessary, deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
When the file opens, delete all the (Skype) entries.
Save.

Question 6

Right click on Skype shortcut which is on the desktop (OR) right click on "Skype" which is in Start → Programs

In the Compatibility tab under "Run program in Compatibility mode" choose your version. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, then press apply.

Question 7

Right click on Skype shortcut which is in desktop (OR) right click on "Skype" which is in Start-->Program menu.. then,

Select Properties -> Compatibility tab. Uncheck the option "Run this program as an administrator". Save by pressing OK button.

It will fix 2 problems.

Auto start up of skype during system starts
Drag and Drop (send file) in the conversation window will work.

Question 8

I can confirm that this solution solves these two problems that appear in Skype when installed on Win7 Pro x64. I cannot believe it was this simple.

Question 9

Do

Run --> msconfig [enter]
startups tab
check on in skype check box
Ok
Restart your computer.

Question 10

Should be 'msconfig' rather than 'mstsc'.

Question 11

Tom: Yup. Corrected. Been a while, since I used Windows.

Question 12

Tried that - checkbox was already ticked... :-(

Question 13

When installing Skype 4.1, its base library Skype4COM.dll (version of 2009) is being stored in ?:\Program Files\Common Files\Skype but old version of Skype4COM.dll (of 2007) had been stored in \Windows\system32. After disabling startup of the new version, Skype starts by means of old library. The records of both libraries are in registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDlls (all listed dlls run at Windows startup, old Skype4COM.dll runs as if disabled Skype).

The method of curing:

Exit Skype
Delete both records from ....\SharedDlls key
Restart in safe mode, delete old Skype4COM.dll from system32
Restart Windows (Skype must not start if it was diasbled in settings)
Run Skype manually and set option "run at Windows startup"

Question 14

Maybe a different problem. I don't have the old DLL on my system.

Question 15

I have been searching for an answer to this for ages as my Skype stopped autolaunching with a 2017 update, so although this is a slight variation to the question (it's a different version of Skype and for Wimdows 10) this was the ONLY thread anywhere that I found that dealt with the problem so am posting a solution here for others still looking (ironically most other results were for how to STOP Skype from auto-launching!) The link below shows you how to add apps to the start-up folder in Windows 10:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026268/windows-change-startup-apps-in-windows-10

Question 16

Welcome to Super User! If the help at the link you included solved the same problem for you, please edit your answer to include the essential steps here- if the link changes or disappears your answer becomes useless. Thanks :)

Roddy 2,2904 gold badges15 silver badges14 bronze badges · Answer 1 · 2009-08-05 10:21:50Z

Well, I have a solution, but I can't see any way that the problem could have arisen, except for a buggy skype installer .

msconfig was listing the command to run as:-

"C:\Program Files\Skype\\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized

Note the double slash in there before Phone!

Changing the registry entry for HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Skype to remove the extra slash fixed the problem.

Excelent. It was the problem for me as well (Vista x64). To make things harder, autoruns did not display the double backslash, only a single one, therefore I missed the problem. This time I have used regedit and the problem was obvious.

kpoehls 8167 silver badges15 bronze badges · Answer 2 · 2009-07-31 13:58:01Z

5

Try putting a shortcut to Skype in your startup folder

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Share

Improve this answer

edited Jul 1, 2011 at 12:07

Gareth's user avatar

Gareth

19.1k15 gold badges60 silver badges70 bronze badges

answered Jul 31, 2009 at 13:58

kpoehls's user avatar

kpoehls

8167 silver badges15 bronze badges

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RICKY 111 bronze badge · Answer 3 · 2010-11-28 11:21:31Z

I had the same problem with Vista SP2. I used the same trick for when the Microsoft updates got stuck:

I deleted everything regarding Skype from the hosts.

Navigate to the following location:

Windows 95/98/Me:
```
%Windir%
```
Windows NT/2000/XP:
```
%Windir%\System32\drivers\etc
```
Windows Vista:
```
c:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
```
Double-click the hosts file.
If necessary, deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
When the file opens, delete all the (Skype) entries.
Save.

Mohamed 111 bronze badge · Answer 4 · 2012-04-25 11:19:16Z

Right click on Skype shortcut which is on the desktop (OR) right click on "Skype" which is in Start → Programs

In the Compatibility tab under "Run program in Compatibility mode" choose your version. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, then press apply.

Pravin 111 bronze badge · Answer 5 · 2011-07-28 11:30:12Z

Right click on Skype shortcut which is in desktop (OR) right click on "Skype" which is in Start-->Program menu.. then,

Select Properties -> Compatibility tab. Uncheck the option "Run this program as an administrator". Save by pressing OK button.

It will fix 2 problems.

Auto start up of skype during system starts
Drag and Drop (send file) in the conversation window will work.

I can confirm that this solution solves these two problems that appear in Skype when installed on Win7 Pro x64. I cannot believe it was this simple.

lprsd 2,9857 gold badges37 silver badges45 bronze badges · Answer 6 · 2009-07-31 09:38:36Z

0

Do

Run --> msconfig [enter]
startups tab
check on in skype check box
Ok
Restart your computer.

Share

Improve this answer

edited Jul 31, 2009 at 12:30

answered Jul 31, 2009 at 9:38

lprsd's user avatar

lprsd

2,9857 gold badges37 silver badges45 bronze badges

3

1

Should be 'msconfig' rather than 'mstsc'.

Tom
– Tom

2009年07月31日 09:40:00 +00:00
Commented Jul 31, 2009 at 9:40
Tom: Yup. Corrected. Been a while, since I used Windows.

lprsd
– lprsd

2009年07月31日 12:30:41 +00:00
Commented Jul 31, 2009 at 12:30
Tried that - checkbox was already ticked... :-(

Roddy
– Roddy

2009年08月05日 09:53:53 +00:00
Commented Aug 5, 2009 at 9:53

Add a comment |

user21393 · Answer 7 · 2009-12-14 15:40:24Z

When installing Skype 4.1, its base library Skype4COM.dll (version of 2009) is being stored in ?:\Program Files\Common Files\Skype but old version of Skype4COM.dll (of 2007) had been stored in \Windows\system32. After disabling startup of the new version, Skype starts by means of old library. The records of both libraries are in registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDlls (all listed dlls run at Windows startup, old Skype4COM.dll runs as if disabled Skype).

The method of curing:

Exit Skype
Delete both records from ....\SharedDlls key
Restart in safe mode, delete old Skype4COM.dll from system32
Restart Windows (Skype must not start if it was diasbled in settings)
Run Skype manually and set option "run at Windows startup"

Maybe a different problem. I don't have the old DLL on my system.

Justine 1 · Answer 8 · 2018-04-17 07:54:04Z

I have been searching for an answer to this for ages as my Skype stopped autolaunching with a 2017 update, so although this is a slight variation to the question (it's a different version of Skype and for Wimdows 10) this was the ONLY thread anywhere that I found that dealt with the problem so am posting a solution here for others still looking (ironically most other results were for how to STOP Skype from auto-launching!) The link below shows you how to add apps to the start-up folder in Windows 10:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026268/windows-change-startup-apps-in-windows-10

Welcome to Super User! If the help at the link you included solved the same problem for you, please edit your answer to include the essential steps here- if the link changes or disappears your answer becomes useless. Thanks :)

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