In May, Microsoft plans to roll out a new Windows scheduled task that launches automatically to help Microsoft Office apps load faster.

What Is Task Scheduler? Task Scheduler is a built-in Windows utility that lets you schedule and automate tasks to run at specific times or under certain conditions. Whether it's launching an app ...

It arguably does a better job, and you can use Task Scheduler to automate the process. Create a basic task, choose how often it will run, and select Start a program on the “Action” screen.