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NANY 2010 Final Release: Startup Bully

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app103:
NANY 2010 Entry Information


Application Name Startup Bully Version 1.0.0.2 Short Description Removes Startup folder shortcuts made by misbehaving applications Supported OSes Win-All Web Page (page not created yet) Download Link http://appsapps.info/downloads/StartupBully.exe System Requirements
* Windows (any version)
* A misbehaving applicationVersion History
* 1.0.0.2 Initial releaseAuthor app103

Description
Every once in awhile you come across an otherwise good application with one single nasty little fault: Every time you run it, it insists on sticking a shortcut file in your Startup folder and has no option to opt out of this behavior. You delete the shortcut and the next time you run the application it comes right back.

I have found plenty of utilities that can handle preventing this sort of behavior when the application tries to add itself to startup through the registry, but none to handle when it is making actual shortcut files in the Startup folder.

Startup Bully will opt out for you by removing this unwanted shortcut each time you run the offending application.

Features

* Launches the application
* Waits a specified length of time
* Deletes the unwanted shortcut and then exits

Planned Features
none at this time



Usage
Installation
Copy StartupBully.exe to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

Using the Application
Edit the original desktop or quicklaunch shortcut (not the unwanted startup folder one!) to the misbehaving application as follows:


* Right click and select properties.
* In the target box, edit the text as follows: [path to StartupBully.exe] [original target] [text of unwanted shortcut] [seconds to wait]


Example:


* The original target for this particular misbehaving application was "E:\Programs Installed\Friendfeed Notifier\FriendFeed\FriendFeed.exe"
* The path to my StartupBully.exe file is "E:\Programs Installed\Startup Bully\StartupBully.exe"
* The text of the shortcut the misbehaving application keeps making is "FriendFeed"



* I want it to wait 10 seconds after launching before it deletes the unwanted shortcut.
So my desktop or quicklaunch shortcut target will be this:

"E:\Programs Installed\Startup Bully\StartupBully.exe" "E:\Programs Installed\Friendfeed Notifier\FriendFeed\FriendFeed.exe" "FriendFeed" 10

Make sure to use quotes around any paths that contain spaces, quotes around the unwanted shortcut text,  and to leave a space between each parameter.

I would start with 10 seconds to give the misbehaving application a chance to load and create the unwanted shortcut. If that isn't enough time, then adjust it as necessary.

If you want the desktop or quicklaunch shortcut to have the original icon of the misbehaving application, then before you close the properties box, click the "change icon" button, browse to the original exe file of your application, select it and choose the correct icon.

When you are finished, click "Apply" and "OK".


Uninstallation
Delete StartupBully.exe and any shortcuts you made that point to it.

Known Issues
none, I hope

mouser:
i don't know any applications that create startup entries without the option to disable, but i can definitely see how this would be useful if you had one.

if you just double-click the executable it gives an error about a value not being an integer.
i think a nice thing to do would be to show someone a simple message about how to use it if they launch it like that; a readme would be nice too.

app103:
I am truly amazed it compiled and actually works, considering how I have been feeling.

I'll take care of the details when I am feeling better.

cranioscopical:
I am truly amazed it compiled and actually works, considering how I have been feeling.

I'll take care of the details when I am feeling better.
-app103 (January 01, 2010, 06:01 PM)
--- End quote ---
Didn't you meet with Cody recently?
Probably bird flu!

Nice-lookin' app.

Ath:
Could this be tweaked to kill the unwanted QuickLaunch entry that Outlook creates every time it is started? Now that would be nice! Or am I missing some point here... :huh:

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