Startup folder on Windows 8/2012?

Yes, it is still there. It actually is in the same place as it was in Windows 7 – you just could find it more easily because it was in the GUI. As this is not the case anymore you just need to do a Start->Run and then replace your username as shown:
C:\Users\chdavis\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

My username is chdavis, yours isn’t so don’t use that.wlEmoticon-smile_2_7FDFD919

I like, for instance, to have ZoomIt in there (Sysinternals tool) and some shortcuts. And yes, you can put an exe in that folder.

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