load rainmeter before login

Question

i want to load rainmeter before click on sign in, is that possible?

here is my plan

change the Userinit value in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

to
"C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe", "C:\Program Files\Rainmeter\Rainmeter.exe"

the question is, is it safe?

Answer 1

Hi Tommy 753,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Running Rainmeter before the Sign‑in screen is not supported in Windows. The approach of modifying the Winlogon > Userinit registry value is not recommended, as this setting is a core part of the Windows sign‑in process and is intended to reference userinit.exe only.

While Rainmeter cannot run before Sign‑in, you can start it as early as possible after logging in using these supported methods:

Option 1: Start at user sign‑in

• Open Registry Editor
• Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• Add a new String Value pointing to: C:\Program Files\Rainmeter\Rainmeter.exe

Option 2: Task Scheduler (more control)

• Open Task Scheduler
• Create a task with:
  • Trigger: At log on
  • Action: Start Rainmeter.exe
• Optional: Run with highest privileges

Option 3: Built‑in Rainmeter setting

• In Rainmeter settings, enable “Start Rainmeter with Windows”

Using supported startup methods helps keep Windows sign‑in reliable while still allowing Rainmeter to load quickly after login. If your goal is to optimize startup timing or achieve a specific visual effect, these approaches provide the best balance between customization and system reliability.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

Modifying the Userinit value in Winlogon to launch Rainmeter is not safe and is not supported.

The Userinit registry value is critical to the logon process and is expected to point only to userinit.exe with the correct path and trailing comma, for example:

C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe,

If this value is changed or extended incorrectly, it can cause serious logon problems, including:

• Automatic logoff immediately after logon
• Inability to sign in with standard users
• Potential need to repair or reinstall Windows

This behavior is documented where issues occur specifically because the Userinit key was modified or its path changed, and the fix is to restore it to the correct userinit.exe path only.

To run programs at logon, use supported mechanisms instead, such as:

• Run / RunOnce registry keys:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• Group Policy: Run These Programs at User Logon (for supported editions)

These are the documented and safe ways to start applications when a user signs in. Running Rainmeter before the sign-in screen is not supported for normal desktop apps.

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References:

• My Documents open at startup
• When you try to log on to a Windows Vista-based computer, you briefly receive a "Welcome" message, and then you are logged off
• How to run programs automatically when a user logs on
• Run and RunOnce Registry Keys
• Automate reboots before you run an assessment