I have a project that adds a registry entry to HKLM:\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run so a program will run when the computer starts. This works on XP but not on Windows 7. I don't even get a notification that the program needs permission to start.
Since you mention asking about permission, does your program require elevation? If so, it will not be started from the Run key or related keys. See http://blogs.msdn.com/uac/archive/2006/08/23/715265.aspx for more information. As for how something should do this? Ideally it would probably be split into a service for any part that requires elevation, and a non-elevated client to that service that interacts with the user.
