I ran into a similar issue. The following is the solution that worked on my Windows Vista Ultimate (32).

I made sure that the Circle Dock was unzipped and the folder was placed in my Programs file (c:/Program Files/CircleDock0.9.2Alpha8.2)
Once this file is created and the files are in place. I made a shortcut of the CircleDock.exe file.
Right click CircleDock.exe and click on "Create Shortcut" towards the bottom of the context menu
I cut and pasted this file to the startup file in the Start Menu.

Note:
Anything that you currently have in the Startup Folder related to CircleDock, remove it first. ANy shortcuts or exe's that currently exist, delete them before proceeding!

You will not just want to copy the shortcut, or drag and drop the shortcut, this will not work properly in Vista!!! you will want to cut and paste the shortcut!!!

I right clicked the "CircleDock.exe-shortcut", and clicked "cut"
In order to get the shortcut to properly paste in the "startup" menu, I had to open start menu, click all programs, scroll down to "startup", right click the folder, and open/click "Explore".
Once the window came up I right clicked in the in the Startup open window field and clicked "paste", you may also go to edit, and then click paste (if you have your menu's enabled.
Now I got the UAC usual acceptance windows and the requiring admin privilege requests (Just a couple of clicks), you may not experience this.
Once the shortcut was placed, I right clicked on the CirckeDock.exe-Shortcut and checked the properties.
The properties windows should have the following information in the "Shortcut" tab:
Target: "C:\Program Files\CircleDock0.9.2Alpha8.2\CircleDock.exe"
Start in: "C:\Program Files\CircleDock0.9.2Alpha8.2"

Now I use Spybot S&D, so I had to make an exception for the entry (placing the shortcut in the Startup folder will create a "startonboot" registry entry).
I also had to make a trusted profile in my firewall (in my case, I use Comodo Firewall)
Check any anti-virus software, to ensure that the program is not restricted. (I did not have this problem. I use Threatfire and AVG, But a friend using Nortins 360, did, so an exception had to be created)

Prior to rebooting your system, check the following settings in CircleDock:
Turn on CircleDock. Right click, and bring up the settings.
In the general Tab/Settings, make sure that the "Enable Portability Mode" is NOT checked, if it is; clear the check box. Close Settings.

Reboot your system. Now hopefully CircleDock will come up during boot  :up:

Now there may be one last issue to check after booting (if CircleDock did not start)
The last check was in "Windows Defender",
now I checked to make sure that the program had "rights" to start at boot up.
The quickest way I know of to get to these properties:
Start Menu > Control Panel > Control Panel Home > (under "Programs") Change startup programs.
Once this window comes up:
Make sure that the "Category" says "Startup Programs"
In the list look for "Eric Wong" and/or CircleDock
Click on CircleDock, and look to the lower right of the this window and ensue that the "enable" Button is greyed out. If it is not, click "enable". Click the "Refresh" Button and double check that the CircleDock is enabled.

Reboot your system.

I hope this assists, and corrects your issue.
If not, I am at the end of the assistance that I can provide.

Good Luck.

My solution to the OD+ Tabbed Drawer was to go to sTabLauncher.
I find to be be an acceptable competitor to OD+ Tabs.
It is still in development, and has a couple of hinky issues with 360Desktop, but perfectly acceptable.
Combining Rocket Dock with stabLauncher, you fairly much have all the options of OD+, but not quite.
Although you have some options available to you that you would not get in OD+

Not only does sTabLauncher have a few skins and other stuff. They give you the PSD to outlay the skins yourself.
I have customized skins and icons that I have created with Gimp.
But if you have access to Ps3 or higher, better for you, and combined with Alien Eye Candy.
But for the rest of us poor folks, gimp is perfectly acceptable.
I actually utilize Gimp with Ps3.

But we are not here to discuss the tweaking of my desktop.
We are here to rain accolades upon the developer of Circle Dock and encourage his development to make CD all it can be and more; Yes!?!!

The only 2 issues I have, I consider minor;
1.) the ability to place shortcuts where I want in the order ( I will figure this out shortly, or when I have time to screw around)
2.) During start up, sometimes I will get my circle in the center and the shortcuts in the upper left hand corner. Easily fixed by center clicking twice.

I am currently working on several new design circles that I use for custom presentations.
For certain companies, it is nice to put their logo in the center of the circle, it gives the feel of proper presentation and a concern for the represented company, not to mention it wprks perfectly with my own business logo
It is so much faster and pleasing to have a semi-clear circle of necessaries pop up on screen, than to have to minimize everything and search the cluster on my desktop, or to have to activate the menu screen to find something.
For presentations, all I have to do is load the file, folders and Icons I need.

I guess and idea would be to have custom profiles. So that I can set up several presentations in advance and then open that profile with the appropriate icons, folders, and software on the fly.


I have always disliked the idea of having the Object dock or Rocket dock over run a presentation if I fly to the appropriate side of the display, but with Circle dock, it is there when I need it and where I want it.
Circle dock has allowed me to turn off the other docks as I do not want them popping up during a presentation.