Auto Start your favorite programs

I like to save time, save clicks, get on with my life. Some people call this efficiency. I call it brilliant laziness. If I can get the computer to do a few extra tricks, then it's worth the setup time to make it happen. (In this case, about 15 seconds.)

First thing I want to do every morning is read my email. But I don't wait for the computer to start up only to click one more button to open MS Outlook and wait longer. It happens automatically when you set your programs to autostart.

Here's the trick...

Productivity Secret #4. Automatically startup a program when the computer starts up

For Windows XP...

1. On the Windows Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office,
and then point to the Office program you want to automatically start. (like Outlook)

2. Drag the the Office program to rest over the Startup folder on the Programs list.
(Don't let go of the mouse yet.) When the Startup folder displays a list of
programs, point to where you want the Office program to appear, and then
release the mouse.

3. If you drop it in the wrong spot, don't worry - just click and drag it to the right spot.

And another tip: while you're looking at your Programs list, click the right mouse button
and choose "Sort by Name". This will alphabetize the folders and programs in the list.