Hi Eckart,
This can't be done. There are two locations for starting applications 
automaticly: the WIN.INI (load= statement) and the start-up folder. Both are 
processed AFTER logon.
There is no way to start an application earlier. All Windows 95 and DOS 
applications have to run under the control of the Windows 95 desktop (Explorer) 
which is also started after logon. By the way, if you could start a program 
before Windows is running you wouldn't have long filename support.
Kindest regards,
Eric van Loon