FixMyXP.com - Your One Stop Windows XP Fix It Site - Run Programs Secretly by Setting them To Open Minimized

Yesterday was a productive day.  Slowly getting all of my computers set up so I have a very centralized system for backup, access and control.  Started turning my HTPC  into a full data server.  One nice feature was setting up iTunes for access on the network by sharing the iTunes media on the server to our laptops.

To do so, I set the following parameters:

1.  Turn shared libraries on in iTunes:
Windows: Sharing your iTunes library across computers
Mac OS X: Sharing your iTunes library across computers

2.  Start iTunes on system startup (in Windows).  Pretty simple, create a shortcut to the iTunes executable and drag the shortcut into the Startup folder.  You can also have iTunes appear in the system tray instead of as a minimized window.  Go to iTunes preferences, Advanced tab, General tab.  Near the bottom, select “Minimize iTunes window to system tray.”
3.  Use these steps to start iTunes minimized.

Now iTunes is pretty much a Windows service in the background in place of a program taking up valuable visual space.