I am curious to find a solution to having RunOnceEx install applications before the desktop is loaded after a clean install with winnt.sif. I am guessing it has something to do with a hotfix that was installed. I had RunOnceEx start before the desktop was loaded including IE7 installed. I have close to 100 hotfixes installed, so if it is the hotfixex. It could take me a while to figure out, if it is even the problem. any help for me???