I used the following steps to launch apps on boot:
* Open "mmc".
* Select File -> Add/Remove Snap-in.
* Select "Group Policy Object Editor" and then click "Add".
* Click the "Browse" button in the wizard window.
* Click the "Users" tab in the new window that popped up.
* Select the current user you set up to automatically log in and use for your MAME arcade machine.
* Make sure the checkbox in the wizard is unchecked.
* Click "Finish".
* Click "Ok" in the "Add or Remove Snap-ins" window.
* In the User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System folder, open "Custom User Interface".
* Select the "Enabled" radio button in the "Custom User Interface" window.
* Under "Options" it says "Interface File Name".
* Enter the path of your front end executable in the field below it.
* Click "Ok".
* Exit the Policy Editor and reboot.
It works. However, it does not work correctly with attract mode. Attract mode loads, but it goes directly to the tab menu with non of your settings loaded. If I run explorer as a new task, and click on the attract.exe it loads fine. So I figured I’d boot to a batch file that starts attract mode. Same result of being launched with no config. I copy and paste my batch file into a cmd window (with explorer launched) and confirm the same result of not loading configs.
@echo off
start C:\Arcade\attract\attract.exe
Stumped. Whats going on here?