Windows 7 - Startup programs

I have just taken delivery of a new computer running Windows 7 64 bit. I have copied short cuts to Skype and to Birthday reminder to the Startup folder but neither of these program s will start at boot up. Have seen varuious similar reports of the same problem on the internet and have tried some of the suggested fixes but none of them habve worked. I have now pinned Skype to Startup and i does run on boot up but unfortunately opens the skype window every time and I want it to run minimized i.e. in the background and not to open a window at boot up. The Birthday reminder did not repond to Pin to Startup! I have now spent two days on this problem and it is not resolved.
Can anyone help

For Skype : C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized

You will need to open the skpye.exe go to properties and put the /nosplash /minimized in startup options.

To Zigzag 3143

Thank you for the prompt reply to my post. However, I am now somewhat confused! Firstly Skype no longer appaers in my list of programs under the Start button. When I browse to C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone all I find is Skype.exe and similarly nothing more when I open its properties. Are you suggesting that I type in
" /nosplash /minimized or should it be there already?

Firstly I uninstalled Skype and then reinstalled it and it now again appears in my list of programs from the Start button. I have looked at the command column in the startup items for Skype and it reads:
"C:\Program Files\skype\Phone\skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
There was another entry in the startup items for Skype with a different command route so I unchecked the box for that entry. Skype now runs at Start up but it opens as a full window and not minimized. What am I doing wrong?

Skype is a good app, but it can be VERY annoying! As a workaround until you find out how to run it minimized, you can manually make the size of the Skype page smaller by using your cursor to drag each of the 4 sides in as far as you can. The resulting page will then be about 1/4 (or less) the size of your screen.

See this for skype How to Minimize Skype to Windows 7 System Tray (Notification Area) « My Digital Life

Imperfect 1 I was aware how to reduce the size of a Window and had already done so but just find that the fact that the Skype Window opens up at all (at boot) up very annoying especially since this didn't ha[[en when I was running XP - but thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my query so promptly.

Jacee I have looked at the link you gave me and tried it out the method suggested but all it seems to do is to remove the Skype icon from the system tray and the program still opens in full at boot up rather than minimized. Again thanks for your suggestion.

I am coming to the conclusion that I am trying to do the impossible and that i will just have to manually minimize the Skype Window each time I start up.

I have just attempted to make my first Skype call on my new computer after all the hassles relating to getting Skype to start minimized at boot up. I have now struck another problem. After a minute or so calling computer to computer the call drops out and I get a message saying that I have gone off line. All my cntacts are then shown as off line. I can still use my internet browser so the loss of internet connection is only affecting Skype. Can anyone suggest a remedy? As I am new to the forum perhaps someone can advise if I should I start a new thread for this new problem?

I keep my Skype minimized in the Service Tray at all times, BUT it frequently opens itself up for some self-advertising purpose when I log on --- very, very annoying and I don't think it can be stopped. Over the years, Skype --- which originally was a great, multi-functioned, troublefree, free service --- has progressively become more annoying, more intrusive, and more expensive!

In regard to your actually disconnect problem, I can only suggest that you go to Skype help + support for some hopeful resolution. I know that there are several levels of help --- I'd go through all of them to see if you can get some personal response. Keep clicking on the "Get More Help" links until you finally get to the screen where they allow you to send them an email with your specific problem. (They don't seem to provide telephone tech support.)

My other suggestion would be to go to the Skype forum: Go to the Support Network where other experienced users might be able to help.

With respect to my disconnect problem, I had already sent an email to Skype and got a very long reply with lots of suggestions some of which I had already tried. I resolved the problem myself however before receiving their reply by uninstalling and reinstalling Skype - about the fourth time in the past few days! I have come to the conclusion there is nothing I can do about the failure to open minimized - I have wasted enough time on Sjype over the past 4 or 5 days. Thank you for your help Imperfect1 and for taking the time to reply. I will mark this thread as closed.