App won’t work correctly when set to run at boot.

Kasun Lee

Hi!

I've just created a simple app to auto retrieve pics from google and set them as the desktop wallpaper. It also can convert the image to jpg and copy it to the Pictures folder and stuff. When I run it either via VS or by directly clicking the program, it works all well. But when I set it to run at Boot, when I boot the computer, functions like "copy to Pictures folder" won't work. Anyone know why is that? I have attached the source code below.

Thanks.

16 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Kasun Lee7y ago
@Amit.

Will do. Thanks.

Cheers.
Amit Gupta7y ago
@Kasun

The project modified by me is working fine on my system, it copies the bitmaps correctly. I suggest you to use the attached project file and rebuild the project and try again.

Do check and confirm the same.

Good Luck
Kasun Lee7y ago
@Amit

Yes I can run with it. Yet the problem remains.
Amit Gupta7y ago
Can you try at form load Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(path);
Kasun Lee7y ago
@Amit

All the codes in image retrieving methods work perfectly, no change needed there. The problems are with the "offline" methods. In "Copy to Picture folder" (toolStripMenuItem_CopyToImg_Clic()) method, the File.copy() method fails and gives me a runtime error, telling me it can't find the file to be copied (which cannot be, cuz the file is there). While doing it, It creates a duplicate file of the image file and converts that to a JPG before it gets copied into Pictures dir. When that duplication fails, everything rely on that fails. Again, this only happens when running at startup.

Thanks.
Amit Gupta7y ago
Can you explain the exact issue and in which function?
Kasun Lee7y ago
@Amit

Still won't work. Again, this is so weird. Everything works well, only when I'm not running it at startup.
Kasun Lee7y ago
@Amit

Thanks. May work. I'll try that and get back to you.
Amit Gupta7y ago
@kasun
The partial path I am talking about is here
File.Copy("image.bmp", "imageC.bmp", true);
Please change it to the following code
///

       /// Convert the image to jpg, and copy it to Pictures dir
       ///
       string path = Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.ExecutablePath);
       private void toolStripMenuItem_CopyToImg_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
       {
           File.Copy(path + "\\image.bmp", path + "\\imageC.bmp", true);

           Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(path+"\\imageC.bmp");

           SaveJPG100(bmp, path + "\\imageJPG.jpg");

           string dest = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyPictures) + "\\" +
               DateTime.Now.Year + "-" + DateTime.Now.Month + "-" + DateTime.Now.Day + "-"
               + DateTime.Now.Hour + "-" + DateTime.Now.Minute + "-" + "imageJPG.jpg";
           try
           {
               File.Copy(path + "\\imageJPG.jpg", dest);
               MessageBox.Show("Copied");
           }
           catch (Exception ex)
           {
               MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
           }
       }
The same file has been attached, try running the enclosed file and let me know
Kasun Lee7y ago
@Mohit It can't be. If that's the case, it will not work at all, right? Or are there different permission levels are assigned to startup items?
Amit Gupta7y ago
The code seems good. Can you check by writing error logs, it might be some minor glitches and can be resolved by writing logs and try to remove the opacity option so that the error can be determined easily. If everything works good then apply your stuffs.

Good Luck!
Mohit Vijay7y ago
It can be a permission issue.

Check below Microsoft link
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/e5cbca64-5d79-4f42-95ed-de9d427332eb/automatically-run-my-exe-when-startup-my-computer-in-c?forum=csharpgeneral

Thanks, Mohit
Kasun Lee7y ago
There are no "partial paths". The only long path was used for the Picture folder, and it's made by concatenating the file name with the standard Environment.GetFolderPath() method. It's impossible to fail, cuz when I run it by hand, it works perfectly. How does starting at bootup effects it is beyond my comprehension.

I've re-attached the source as a .Zip.

Thanks.
Amit Gupta7y ago
The attached file seems empty, please note if you are using partial path for saving the image and copy to destination then it won't work, pass the full path. Check those path and then try and let us know if it solves your issue.
Kasun Lee7y ago
Thanks Mohit.

But the basic thing works - Getting pics from the web. The file copy, or "Open wallpaper" (which is a simple call to Process.open() ) are the functions that doesn't work. It cannot be, cuz I checked, and there were the files that to be copied. Nothing missing that I can't find. Registry entries are OK, etc. Now, if I close the program and restart, it all starts to work again, all the functions. ???
Mohit Vijay7y ago
Hi Kasun Lee,

It can be because while your computer is starting, internet connection and other services not available at that time.
So once your program crash (because of not finding pre-requisites) it fail to do required job.

Thanks, Mohit