I ran into a strange problem with Lync 2013 in a customer environment. The Lync client automatic startup on login cannot be disabled, and I think I have checked all the possible reasons already..
Deleting the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run\Lync registry key disables the autostart temporarily, and so does removing the autostart checkmark in Lync client options. However, on next restart of the Lync client it adds the registry key again. The registry
key is added immediately when the Lync client is started, not sure if it happens when the client starts or when it signs in.
All the usual suspects are of course ruled out already: There are no group policies that would touch the registry key, only Lync-related group policy setting is disabling the first run wizard of the client. As far as I know, the Lync server-side client policies shouldn't affect autostart behaviour either? And by the way, they should be in their default settings.
Software version is Lync 2013 with February 2013 cumulative updates installed (and possibly with some newer updates, but at least Feb2013 CU level) and the workstation operating system is Windows 7.
Any ideas? And yes, there are reasons to disable the autostart, related to 3rd party VOIP software which has to be started before Lync to reserve HID devices only to that program with HID device sharing disabled. Of course also ways to make Lync client totally ignore HID devices (handsets) would be welcome. :)