Start on windows logon results in System.UnauthorizedAccessException

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I have written a windows forms application. Before I run the form, I write the startup time to a log textfile. This is done in the Program.Main() method.
When I run the program, everything works perfect.

But now I want to start the application on windows logon. So I have written the path+exe-name of the application in LM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Currentversion/Run. But when I log on to windows, an UnauthorizedAccessException is thrown with the following stack trace:

C#

<small>System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32, System.String)
System.IO.FileStream.Init(System.String, System.IO.FileMode, System.IO.FileAccess, Int32, Boolean, System.IO.FileShare, Int32, System.IO.FileOptions, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES, System.String, Boolean, Boolean)
System.IO.FileStream..ctor(System.String, System.IO.FileMode, System.IO.FileAccess, System.IO.FileShare, Int32, System.IO.FileOptions)
System.IO.StreamWriter.CreateFile(System.String, Boolean)
System.IO.StreamWriter..ctor(System.String, Boolean, System.Text.Encoding, Int32)
System.IO.StreamWriter..ctor(System.String, Boolean</small>

Can anyone tell me what I am missing here?

Posted 30-Sep-11 8:44am

Wannes Geysen

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3 solutions

Solution 1

Looks like you don't have access to the file using this login.
Make sure this login has access to the directory path.

Posted 30-Sep-11 8:48am

Abhinav S

Updated 30-Sep-11 8:49am

v2

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Wannes Geysen 30-Sep-11 14:51pm

I use my own login. And when I am logged in and run the application then, there is no exception

Solution 2

The registry key you mentioned (HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run) starts applications when windows is started, so at that time no user has logged on yet and your application does not have the right credentials to perform the write action you want.

If you want the program to start when a specific user logs onto Windows use the registry key HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run.

You could use the All Users Startup folder when you want the application to start for all users who logon to a machine.

Posted 30-Sep-11 8:54am

André Kraak

Updated 30-Sep-11 9:03am

v3

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Ray Radin · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-30T17:55:00

Does your app open or create a file using relative path?
If so, the cause of the problem is a difference of current directory.

If you run the app yourself, the current directory is the directory where the app is located.

If you use either HKLM\...\Run or HKCU\...\Run the current directory is the root of your login account.

The solution: set a proper current directory before accessing any file or always use absolute path.