Windows Toolbox: Start Tasks on Shutdown

You can use Windows' Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder and Task Scheduler to launch applications or perform other tasks automatically at specified times--except when it's time to shut down your computer. If you'd like to clean up the day's temp files or reset your volume control to mute when you turn your computer off, these utilities will help.

For the freebie approach, try ActiveSaver, a scrawny 45KB screen-saver file (.scr) that can be used like a standard screen saver to launch a file, exit Windows, or do both after a preset interval. The screen-saver Settings button is used to configure ActiveSaver (right-click the desktop, choose Properties, and click the Screen Saver tab)--but ActiveSaver doesn't even have to be the active screen saver to work. Just drag the file ActiveSaver.scr to the Start button or to the Quick Launch toolbar on the taskbar, and then choose it instead of the usual Start, Shut Down command when you're ready to call it a day.

ActiveSaver lets you launch only one program at shutdown, and on my Windows 2000 machine, it didn't work with the computer's power-down feature. If this bothers you, or if you just want a more full-featured utility, consider ShutdownPlus. This shareware allows you to launch multiple tasks at shutdown, and in Windows 98 and later versions it replaces Windows' own Shut Down dialog box with its own. This means you don't have to launch a separate application to exit. ShutdownPlus comes in personal ($30) and professional ($40) versions. Go to January's downloads page to get both ActiveSaver and ShutdownPlus.

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